The government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Polytechnic to train and license technicians in the air conditioning and refrigeration sector in the Maldives. The MoU was formalized at a ceremony at the Ministry of Environment, with Minister Thorig Ibrahim representing the ministry and CEO Zushan Kamaluddin representing the Polytechnic.
This three-year agreement will encompass training programs focused on refrigeration and air conditioning services, procurement of training materials, and refrigerant recycling and reclamation, as stated in a press release from the Ministry of Environment.
The initiative aims to create job opportunities within the sector and will eventually require individuals working in this field to hold a special license. The agreement will also offer training opportunities for the Polytechnic’s trainers.
“The primary goal is to develop the refrigeration and air conditioning services industry in the Maldives, enhance technicians’ skills, and strengthen the sector,” the ministry explained in its statement.
According to the ministry, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are widely used in the Maldives’ refrigeration and air conditioning services. The Maldives is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, which aims to reduce the substances contributing to global warming. The government has committed to an 80 percent reduction in HFC usage by 2045.
As some alternative gases to HFCs are flammable, the ministry highlighted the importance of providing training for technicians working with these substances.
