Disbursement of EU Grant Funds to ARIA

On Monday June 10, 2013, The Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development as the National Authorising Officer of the European Union Grant Funding held a press conference to commemorate the disbursement of over $400,000TTD in grant funding among five NGOs and the Vet-Med, UWI at the La Lune Room, Level 20, and Eric Williams Financial Complex.

The Air- Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ARIA) was one of the NGOs to receive European Union  (EU) grant funding.  ARIA has been a long time and valuable stakeholder of the NOU; partnering with the Unit on numerous occasions including training of the air-conditioning and refrigeration sector on alternatives of ODS and best practices, the TPMP and the successful phasing out of CFCs and its current work on the HPMP.  In light of this, two members of the NOU; Mr. Javed Lakhan and Ms. Anastasia Gordon, attended the press conference in support of ARIA.

The EU Grant Funds were used to support the Re-training Session for the air-conditioning and refrigeration sector in good refrigeration practices. Training technicians in the industry is essential for the wise use and prevention of  the incidental release of refrigerants into the atmosphere.  ODS need to be safely recovered (not vented into the atmosphere) from equipment during maintenance operations by a trained technician through the use of recovery and recycling equipment. 

L-R: Mr. Kenneth Boodoo, President, ARIA, receiving grant funds from the Ms.  Arlene McComie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development and Ms Daniela Tramacere, Charge d'Affaires, EU Delegation.

EU Grant Fund Awardees including Mr. Kenneth Boodoo, ARIA (3rd from the left) with the Senator, Dr. the Honourable Minister Bhoendradatt Tewarie (4th from the right) and Ms. Arlene McComie, Permanent Secretary, both from the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Training on Alternatives to Methyl Bromide for Pest Control Operators

Methyl Bromide (an ozone depleting substance - ODS) is used in fumigation for pest control. Under the Montreal Protocol, this substance must be phased out by 2015. Therefore, training in the alternatives for fumigation pest control is extremely important. The NOU held training sessions from March 11- 13, 2013 at Premier Quality Services Limited in Trincity Industrial Estate, Macoya.

Training sessions on March 11th and 12th, 2013 were aimed at informing pest controllers on the current alternatives to Methyl Bromide. In addition, a sensitisation session for the Pest Control Sector was also held on Wednesday 13th March, 2013.  This session was geared towards educating pest control companies of fumigation best practices in the industry.  

Mr Anthony Ramdeen (Consultant for the Methyl Bromide Phase Out Project) carrying out the training on the alternatives of Methyl Bromide for fumigation and fumigation best practices.

   

 

Dr.Gowrie  giving an introductory presentation to the pest control operators on the Montreal Protocol and the NOU

Hydrocarbon Sensitisation Training

The National Ozone Unit comprising Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) and Ms. Neera Singh (Ozone Officer) held Hydrocarbon Sensitisation Training sessions over the month of August 2012. 

The dates and venues of the sessions included:

• August 6th and 10th, El Sororro
• August 7th, Macoya
• August 8th, Couva
• August 27th, San Fernando
• August 30th, Tobago 

A key obligation of Trinidad and Tobago under the Montreal Protocol is the phase-out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). To facilitate the phase out, the refrigeration and air conditioning sector needs to be properly trained in alternative refrigerants. This is set out in the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP)  for Trinidad and Tobago.

One of the alternative refrigerants currently being explored is hydrocarbon, which is considered to be a green refrigerant. It is non-ozone depleting and has a low global warming potential (GWP). However, hydrocarbon is a flammable substance and therefore, proper training is required for technicians to safely work with the refrigerant.

The sessions served to build awareness of the importance of training service technicians in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry to work with hydrocarbon systems. Mr Ruben Marchand (Hydrocarbon Expert) and Mr Vernon Ramjattan (School of Practical Air-Conditioning) were the trainers for the sessions. Stemming from these sessions, the way forward will be to begin training technicians to service systems utilising hydrocarbon as a refrigerant.                                                                                      

Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) speaking at the Tobago Session

Technicians at the Hydrocarbon Sensitisation Session in San Fernando

Methyl Bromide Sensitisation Training

The National Ozone Unit held two sessions of Methyl Bromide Awareness Training for the Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Food Production, Housing, Land and Marine Affairs, Trade, Industry and Investment and the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago who deal specifically with plant quarantine and fumigation.  

The sessions were facilitated by Mr. Anthony Ramdeen (Consultant for the Methyl Bromide Phase-Out Project) and Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) on March 23, 2012 and May 18, 2012 at the El Socorro Office of the Ministry of Housing and the Environment (now Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources). 

The purpose of the training was to increase the awareness of various stakeholder groups on the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and Methyl Bromide, their usage and the alternatives available.  

Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) addressing the participants

Mr. Anthony Ramdeen, Project Consultant, demonstrating fumigant 

detection equipment to the participants