October 17-21, 2022 – Taguig City. The “Training of Trainers on Safe Operation and Maintenance of Ammonia-based Industrial Refrigeration System was conducted at the CCI-Hub in Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Complex.
The five-day face-to-face training was participated by 31 key industry stakeholders, TESDA and Technical-Vocational Institute (TVI) Trainers and technicians. It aims to equip the participants on how to properly manage industrial refrigeration systems using ammonia covering topics such as ammonia applications; ammonia refrigerant purging, recovery, and neutralization; and, safety protection for ammonia systems, among others. It also included a site visit at Mets Logistics in Cavite wherein participants were able to have a first-hand experience on how industrial refrigerating systems using ammonia operate safely and effectively.
Engr. Cesar Luis Lim of Kilojoule Consultants Int’l. Co. was the resource person for the training. Working in the ammonia industrial refrigeration field for over 40 years, his experience exposed him to courses and training programs abroad which he wants to be available locally. He expressed that the training brings his dream of setting up an Ammonia Training Center in the Philippines closer to reality.
“The training [at CCI-Hub] would make sure that ammonia refrigeration is safe in all our Cold Chain facilities, which is about 95% of our cold storage capacity – ice plant, food processing, poultry dressing plant, abattoir, commissaries, and ammonia package chillers. With this training we are promoting the safe use of the most climate friendly refrigerant available – Zero ozone-depleting potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP) in the market for 120 years. Ammonia is the most energy efficient refrigerant available, thus our carbon foot print will be reduced by converting all Halocarbon (HFC) Refrigeration Systems…”, noted Engr. Lim.
“Some industrial refrigeration players are hesitant to use ammonia due to its toxicity but with proper handling and management there is very low risk. Through this training, we want to let the industry realize that the benefits outweigh the risks when it comes to using natural refrigerants”, said Engr. Gilda Garibay, Project Lead of the Global Partnership for Improving the Food Cold Chain in the Philippines (FCC) project.
“The industry lacks technicians and skilled professionals that know how to handle ammonia. This is a big challenge since 95% of industrial refrigeration systems in the country use this and the demand for such labor will increase as our cold chain capacity is projected to grow in the coming years. FCC project aims to address the lack of available training for ammonia by linking together TESDA, field experts and technicians. This way we can generate more ‘green’ jobs for the industry”, said Mr. Manny Azucena, FCC Project Capacity Building Coordinator.
National Policy and Regulations Coordinator
Global Partnership for Food Cold Chain in the Philippines Project