The National Ozone Unit (NOU), housed under the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy (MIME), is spearheading Namibia’s crucial transition towards environmentally friendly cooling technologies and fulfilling its commitments under the Montreal Protocol. The NOU’s recent activities demonstrate a strong commitment to skills development, regulatory enforcement, and global environmental leadership.
Empowering the Workforce: Investment in Technical Skills
The NOU recognizes that adopting greener refrigerants requires a highly skilled workforce. Recent initiatives focus heavily on capacity building for technicians and supporting vocational training centers (VTCs).
- Major Equipment Donation: On March 24, 2025, the NOU (then under MIT) partnered with the Cooling Programme for Southern Africa (CooPSA) to donate specialized tools and equipment worth over N$1.65 millionto four key institutions: Windhoek VTC, Gobabis VTC, Valombola VTC, and NIMT. This massive investment, officiated by MIME Executive Director, Mr. Sikongo Haihambo, is aimed at enhancing technicians’ skills in the safe and sustainable handling of refrigerants.
- Flammable Refrigerant Training: In collaboration with GIZ, training for the safe use of flammable refrigerants(like R290) began at the Windhoek VTC on March 24, 2025. This ensures that as Namibia introduces new, environmentally friendly cooling technologies, the necessary expertise is available for safe implementation.
Strengthening Regulatory Controls and Trade Management
Effective trade monitoring and border control are critical to preventing the illegal importation of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
- Customs and Clearing Agent Training: The NOU hosted a training session from April 7–10, 2025, at the Hilton Hotel, Windhoek, specifically for Customs and Excise officers and clearing agents. This training is mandatory to equip them with the skills to identify and handle illegal importation and prevent the misclassification of HFC and HCFC trade, ensuring accurate national statistical data for reporting to the Multilateral Fund and Ozone Secretariat.
Leading Global Dialogue on Climate and Ozone Protection
The NOU is actively engaging stakeholders and sharing Namibia’s progress on the international stage to tackle the complex issue of “banked” harmful substances.
- End-of-Life Management Strategy: On June 23, 2025, NOU and GIZ held a critical national stakeholder meeting in Windhoek to discuss the management and destruction of ODS and HFC Inventory Banks. These substances, stored in old RAC equipment, contribute to ozone depletion and climate change. Namibia is taking proactive steps, supported by the Multilateral Fund, to develop a national Action Plan for the environmentally responsible disposal of these substances, utilizing feedback from this stakeholder session.
- International Panelist Role: Namibia’s data collection methodology for ODS/HFC banks was recognized globally. On July 6, 2025, NOU Namibia was honored to serve as a panelist at the 2025 Workshop on ODS/HFC Banks and Inventories and National Action Plans in Bangkok, Thailand, sharing its experiences and challenges.
- Industry and Public Awareness: The NOU highlighted the importance of cooling technologies as Key Note Speaker during World Refrigeration Day on June 26, 2025. Furthermore, the team conducted an inspection and information-sharing trip to the fishing sector in Walvis Bay (August 25–28, 2025) to engage industry players on policy and regulatory measures directly.
These combined efforts firmly establish the MIME’s NOU as a national leader committed to environmental protection, skills enhancement, and sustainable industrial practices under the global framework of the Montreal Protocol.
