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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).

Pro­kli­ma Im­pact Sto­ries

Let us give the word to people in our project countries.

Learn more about Alimata

"As refrigeration technicians, we contribute to environmental pollution and global warming", explains Alimata COULIBALY KINDO, trainer in refrigeration and air conditioning . Her sector is responsible for up to 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are caused by the high electricity consumption of the appliances and the high global warming potential of the refrigerants in use. In October 2022, Ms Coulibaly took part in our Cool Training. "In the GIZ Cool Training, I learnt how to use natural refrigerants to reduce pollution and save energy."
One year later, she says that she uses the content of the training in her lessons. She says: "Other generations will come after us. So we are all called upon to protect this planet!"

Country: Burkina Faso

Project: ROCA (opens in a new window)

Donors: European Union, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

Listen to Alimata and other Cool Training participants who explain the advantages of natural refrigerants:

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Learn more about Simplice

Simplice Tirogo is a nurse and head of the centre for health care and social support in Tovor, Burkina Faso. The project 'Ozone and Climate Friendly Cooling in West and Central Africa (ROCA)' supported his health care centre with a vaccine refrigerator in 2023. "Our refrigerator was broken since 2020, so the vaccines had to be stored in a neighbouring village. Each time, we had to travel 15 km to bring back the vaccines in a transport box that lasted cold during only a day or two. That means, the cold chain was not sufficient and many vaccines spoiled", explains Simplice Tirogo. "Since we received the refrigerator, we can store the vaccines and keep them fresh on site. We can now instantly immunise the pregnant women and the children who come here and whose vaccinations had to be postponed before. This is very satisfying. I thank all partners who made this possible."

The new refrigerators in Tovor and other municipalities are even more climate-friendly than the previous ones: they are very energy-efficient and run on the natural refrigerant isobutane (R600a). The necessary electricity comes from solar panels, which were also procured by ROCA.

Country: Burkina Faso

Project: ROCA (opens in a new window)

Donors: European Union, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

More stories coming soon...

La­test News

Ma­li: Trai­nings in Green Coo­ling

19.03.2024 , News :

More than just training: Mali's refrigeration technicians are committed to combating the climate crisis and protecting the environment.

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The trainers and some participants in front of training equipment that has been purchased by ROCA.

The low level of knowledge of refrigeration and air conditioning stakeholders in Mali about fluorinated gases and natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons, as well as the growing demand for refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, motivated the project "Ozone and Climate friendly Cooling in West and Central Africa (ROCA) (opens in a new window)" to organize ten training sessions on the safe handling of natural refrigerants. The training sessions took place from 24 October to 08 December 2023 at the Ecole Centrale pour l'Industrie, le Commerce et l'Administration (ECICA) in Bamako.

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

The ROCA project is co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of the Republic of Germany. It is implemented by GIZ in four countries, three of which are in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal) and one in Central Africa (Cameroon). In Mali, it is supervised by the Ministry of the Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development (MEADD).

This growing demand is undoubtedly contributing to increased energy requirements and greater use of refrigerant gases, most of which are harmful to the environment and contribute to global warming. As a result, these training sessions are a great help in supporting the Malian government's efforts to combat the climate crisis, protect the environment and implement the strategic axes of the Kigali Amendment and Mali's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

167 New Ex­perts on Na­tu­ral Ref­ri­ge­r­ants

Consequently, to ensure that Mali does not remain adrift and a repository of synthetic refrigerants such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), the ROCA project plans to set up a pool of competent trainers in refrigeration and air conditioning. The aim is to promote the widespread use of natural refrigerants such as Propane - R290, or Isobutane - R600a.

Thus, this training approach allows to put in place experts in refrigeration and air conditioning in Mali that lay the groundwork in a sector that suffers from a lack of specialists. These training sessions enabled 167 people - a total of 25 women and 142 men - to be trained in the handling of hydrocarbon fluids, energy efficiency in refrigeration and in the installation of refrigeration and air conditioning appliances that work with natural refrigerant gases.  

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Wo­men Power

Involving women in the training will contribute to the wider dissemination of natural gas refrigeration appliances, as women form part of the driving force behind development, and play an important role in the transmission and application of information.  

In the words of one participant: "These training courses will enable us women in refrigeration and air conditioning to compete with men in a profession they think is theirs. Well, they're wrong, because we women are more dedicated and we are capable of fully exercising this profession of refrigeration. And we're proud of it! ".

 

Following these training sessions, Mali now has experts who are able to install air conditioners that work with natural refrigerants, and training pools in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.

 

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Mo­re Ac­tivi­ties by RO­CA