VATIS UPDATE Article

Samoa’s efforts to recover ODS have been boosted tremendously. It follows the arrival of three 499ltrs capacity refrigerant recovery cylinders. The cylinders were donated by Refrigerant Reclaim Australia Limited (RRAL), a non-profit organization established to recover, reclaim and destroy ozone depleting and synthetic greenhouse gas refrigerants. The cylinders were shipped to Samoa with the kind assistance of BOC Samoa Limited.

BOC has been a great supporter of ozone protection activities in the country and they have also imported ozone safe refrigerants as alternatives to ODS. Samoa as a Party to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer has been committed to phasing out ODS since 1992. ODS and contaminated refrigerants from refrigeration and air conditioning systems have been collected and recovered into 10ltrs and 20ltrs cylinders in the past years and stored by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E).

ODS destruction has always been an issue however with access to these massive cylinders, Samoa is heading in a positive direction to make ODS recovery easy. This initiative complements the current Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) phase-out schedule in effect also highlighting that HCFC alternative refrigerants will be increasingly important for use in existing refrigeration and air conditioning systems. M.N.R.E will work with the Samoa Refrigeration Engineers Association (S.R.E.A) to ensure these refrigerant recovery cylinders are put into best use.