National Stakeholder Consultations on the Proposed Refrigerant Labeling Standard for Trinidad and Tobago

The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources is inviting all companies and/or individuals involved in the retail, import, distribution and servicing of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment and/or refrigerant gases to an important meeting on the proposed refrigerant labeling standard for Trinidad and Tobago.

This meeting will be held on Monday 15^th July at 10:00 am at the compound of the TTBS, Century Drive, Macoya.

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.

Ozone Awareness at ABS

The National Ozone Unit (NOU) continues its education of the air-conditioning and refrigeration sector on the Montreal Protocol and the impending phase out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) scheduled to begin in January 2013, through its lectures and outreach activities. 

The NOU most recently conducted training and awareness raising at Abel Building Solutions (ABS) at its Mount Hope Offices for the entire engineering department including senior staff, technical professionals and procurement officers.

Attendees were informed about the phase out targets for HCFC as well as the elements of the HCFC Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) which include equipment provision, further training in good refrigeration practices, retrofitting of equipment, and the establishment of a certification programme for technicians.  

To learn more about ABS, you can visit the company's website.

From L-R: Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer), Mr. Adam Sabga (General Manager; ABS ) and Mr. Winfield Clamens (one of the founders the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association)