UNEP OzonAction has highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) controls and Venezuela’s progress in refrigeration technician training and refrigerant management. The two countries feature in the “10 Years, 10 Perspectives” series marking the 10th anniversary of the Kigali Amendment.
Nigeria updated its regulations on ozone-depleting substances in 2023 to incorporate HFC phase-down provisions. The National Ozone Office has worked with permitting authorities, customs officials and other stakeholders to strengthen implementation of the national HFC licensing and quota system.
Customs training activities reached 40 customs trainers, 50 customs officers and 80 clearing agents. The training covered Kigali Amendment requirements, HFC controls and quota implementation, supporting efforts to identify potentially non-compliant shipments while facilitating legitimate trade.
In Venezuela, refrigeration training programmes expanded in 2025 to cover refrigerant recovery, leak prevention, hydrocarbons, energy efficiency and safe handling of natural refrigerants. During the year, 153 technicians received accreditation, 526 technicians participated in awareness and technical activities, and 100 thermal-mechanics students completed training.
The Venezuelan Fund for Industrial and Technological Conversion Foundation (FONDOIN) also supported refrigerant recovery and regeneration activities. It provided refrigerant identifiers and technical training to regeneration centres and supported procedures for assessing recovered refrigerants. At the Francisco de Miranda National Refrigerant Regeneration Centre, 1,260 kg (approximately 2,778 lb) of fluorinated refrigerants were collected for regeneration and 340 kg (approximately 750 lb) for destruction. Work also progressed on establishing a regeneration centre in Zulia.
The country snapshots form part of UNEP OzonAction’s weekly series ahead of the 38th Meeting of the Parties. The experiences are based on country submissions and will also appear in the OzonAction Scoop and a compilation on the OzonAction website.
