South Africa’s heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration sector is undergoing a significant transition as the phase-out of ozone depletion substances and phase-down of high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants accelerates, says refrigeration gas services company A-Gas.

This shift, driven by global environmental regulations, affects sectors such as cold chain logistics, automotive and manufacturing, with A-Gas head of environmental services Michael Labacher noting that regulatory requirements are mandating a move towards lower GWP and natural refrigerants.

“South Africa’s hydrochlorofluorocarbon import quota will drop to just 2.5% in 2026, resulting in significantly less chlorodifluoromethane (R22) entering the local market. For end-users still operating legacy systems, this will translate into tighter availability and inevitable price pressures.”

He adds that since virgin R22 supply will decline, refrigerant recovery will play a key role in ensuring continued access “well beyond the quota reduction”.

He notes, however, that South Africa’s recovery rates are low, at about 2% of the R22 installed base, highlighting the need for improved refrigerant management.

A-Gas’s recovery and buy-back programmes allow for used refrigerants to be returned for reclamation or safe disposal, reducing reliance on imports. It has also expanded its laboratory services to help customers test refrigerant quality and maintain system efficiency.

Meanwhile, many businesses have transitioned to hydrofluorocarbon alternatives that are also subject to future phase-downs under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. As a result, the market should aim to adopt newer refrigerant blends with lower GWP, before its current blends become noncompliant or obsolete.

“A-Gas supplies next-generation low-GWP refrigerants to help industry reduce [the] carbon impact without compromising performance,” Labacher says, adding that the company’s life-cycle refrigerant management approach supports the transition.

However, he points out that these next- generation refrigerants behave differently from traditional gases and require adjustments in system design, maintenance and operation. Many of these alternatives are zeotropic blends, requiring careful handling to maintain efficiency.

Consequently, the number of technical challenges has increased, with compatibility issues and system redesigns, as well as a need for new components, safety practices and investment. This will likely increase costs, owing to the cost of new refrigerants as well as the capital investment required to implement the necessary upgrades.

He also highlights a potential widening of the skills gap: “As alternatives become more complex, technician upskilling is critical,” warning that poor training can lead to inefficiency and safety risks.

Labacher concludes that companies that invest in proper refrigerant management and suitable technologies will be better positioned to manage the transition.