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Ozone and Cli­ma­te Fri­end­ly Coo­ling in West and Cen­tral Af­ri­ca (RO­CA)

The ROCA project promotes ozone- and climate-friendly cooling technologies in the four African countries Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali and Senegal. It started in April 2021 and will run until March 2024. 

Map with partner countries

Partner Countries

RAC appliances are spreading rapidly across Africa, particularly in the cities. In rural areas, on the other hand, there is still a lack of refrigeration equipment for agriculture and medical care. The rising number of RAC will contribute to increased energy needs as well as the use of refrigerant gases, many of which are highly damaging to the ozone layer and the global climate. To limit this dual impact, it is necessary to introduce a wide range of ozone- and climate-friendly cooling solutions.

Technicians at a training for Senegal's network of women in refrigeration, February 2023

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ROCA (Refroidissement respectueux de l'Ozone et du Climat en Afrique de l'Ouest et Centrale) contributes to an increasing use of Green Cooling technologies through improving the policy and regulatory framework on the one hand and building capacity for the use of such technologies on the other.

ROCA includes the following measures: 

  • Analysing current and future cooling demands in the partner countries (RAC inventories)
  • Advisory services for the governments, based on RAC inventories and assessment of existing policies
  • Trainings of RAC technicians on safe handling of natural refrigerants online and in Germany (Cool Trainings) as well as in the partner countries
  • regional workshops on climate finance and business models to promote the accelerated adoption of ozone- and climate-friendly as well as energy-efficient appliances using natural refrigerants
  • Pilot projects using Green Cooling technologies; e.g.
    • Air Conditioning: R290-ACs for public buildings
    • Food Security:
      • cold rooms for agricultural cooperatives in Mali and Senegal;
      • an ice machine for a fishermen's cooperative in Senegal
      • a cold chain between the slaughterhouse and the market in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
    • Good Health: cooling for vaccines in Burkina Faso and for a hospital in Cameroon

The project is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

La­test News

RO­CA Pro­ject Launch in Ca­meroon

16.12.2022 , News :

ROCA promotes Green Cooling in Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali in Senegal. It's official launch in Cameroon took place in September, with a speech by the Minister for the Environment and a workshop with relevant stakeholders.

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On Friday 30 September 2022, the Cameroonian Minister of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development officially launched the project "Refroidissement respectueux de l'Ozone et du Climat en Afrique de l'Ouest et Centrale" (climate and ozone friendly cooling in West and Central Africa) (ROCA). The main objective of the project is to reduce the climatic impact of the use of cooling appliances (air conditioners and refrigerators).
The project is built around 4 main axes

  • analysis of current and future cooling demand and alternatives on the market
  • Policy advice to adapt policy instruments for the market adoption of natural refrigerants;
  • training of trainers to build a pool of technicians capable of using natural refrigerants; 
  • and pilot projects to facilitate the acquisition of the technology and raise awareness of its economic issues and technical viability.

This project, co-financed by the European Union for a total cost of 6.36 million euros, covers four countries: Cameroon, Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Mi­nis­te­ri­al Speech

Image: GIZ / Hervé Lemoine
The Minister, Hélé Pierre, during his speech.

In his speech, the Minister of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development underlined the importance of the topic for Cameroon which has made commitments at the national, sub-regional and international levels in terms of environmental protection, especially the fight against greenhouse gas emissions and the proliferation of ozone-depleting substances.

He recalled the vital role that the ozone layer plays in protecting life on earth and stabilising the climate. The project's response in Cameroon is the promotion and use of Green Cooling technologies. It is therefore a project that provides sustainable employment opportunities through the training of technicians that will be organised.  But it is also a good opportunity to promote economic sustainability as purchase prices could decrease during the implementation phase of the project, thus promoting net savings over the life of the appliances. ROCA is an additional platform for Cameroon to meet its commitments under the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali amendment.

Quote of the Minister

"I congratulate the European Union and the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) for such initiatives and hope that all stakeholders involved in this project will fully participate by making constructive and meaningful contributions throughout its implementation."

Hélé Pierre, Minister of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, Cameroon

Sta­ke­hol­der Work­shop

This launching phase was preceded the day before by group work sessions, where various participants (DG Customs, MINESEC, Carrefour Supermarket, Order of Architects, etc.) were able to draw up action sheets for the proper implementation of ROCA project activities.
At the end of this official project launch, the ROCA project implementation contract was signed between Cameroon and the Federal Republic of Germany, represented respectively by MINEPDED and GIZ.

gallery stakeholder workshop

(opens enlarged image)Image: GIZ / Hervé Lemoine
(opens enlarged image)Image: GIZ / Hervé Lemoine
(opens enlarged image)Image: GIZ / Hervé Lemoine
(opens enlarged image)Image: GIZ / Hervé Lemoine
(opens enlarged image)Image: GIZ / Hervé Lemoine
(opens enlarged image)Image: GIZ / Hervé Lemoine