Centro Studi Galileo (CSG) has successfully concluded a five-month series of specialized HVAC/R training sessions in Egypt and Morocco, focusing on alternative and flammable refrigerants as well as F-Gas certification. These initiatives, held between September 2024 and January 2025, were conducted in partnership with United Nations agencies, aiming to promote the use of low-GWP refrigerants and ensure safety standards in the rapidly growing North African HVAC/R market.
In September 2024, CSG organized two Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions at the STI Ameria Center of Excellence in Cairo, an institution affiliated with the Egyptian government. The sessions were part of a project in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme – OzonAction. Trainers Said El Harch and Kivanc Aslantas led the courses, which focused on the safe handling of flammable refrigerants such as R290 and R32.
The training included both theoretical and hands-on components, emphasizing safety and regulatory compliance. Participants completed the REAL Alternatives certification test, with high success rates demonstrating their improved skills and readiness to adopt low-GWP refrigerants.
From November 16 to December 3, 2024, CSG expanded its activities in Egypt with an advanced training course for 60 HVAC expert technicians from five leading Egyptian air conditioning manufacturers - Power, Fresh, Miraco, Unionaire, and Elaraby.
The program, hosted partly at the STI Ameria Center of Excellence and in the manufacturers’ laboratories, covered advanced maintenance techniques and after-sales service practices. National instructors George Edward Youssef Soliman and Mohamed Amin Noureldin delivered in-depth sessions on innovative HVAC technologies and solutions for post-sales operations.
In Morocco, CSG held two F-Gas certification sessions between December 2024 and January 2025. These sessions were part of a broader initiative led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The goal was to certify new F-Gas trainers and build local capacity for HVAC/R assessment and certification.
The first session, from December 18 to 20, was hosted at the Institut Spécialisé du Génie Thermique et du Froid, while the second session, from January 22 to 25, took place at the City of Crafts and Skills in Casablanca. Both venues provided modern facilities to support the training. National trainers, previously mentored by Said El Harch, were joined by Madi Sakande, President and Founder of the Pan-African Association U-3ARC, to conduct the certification programs.
CSG’s continuous engagement in Egypt and Morocco reflects its mission to share knowledge and develop a skilled and sustainable HVAC/R workforce. As both countries rapidly expand their HVAC/R infrastructure, the efforts of CSG, in cooperation with UN agencies, are helping to lay a foundation for long-term growth and sustainability in the region.