On 4 February 2026, the Ozone Center conducted a seminar “Action Plan for the collection, transportation, storage and disposal of refrigerants in the Kyrgyz Republic” for refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians of Bishkek city and Chuy region. In total 24 specialists participated in the seminar.
The main objectives of the seminar were to:
- strengthen practical skills related to the safe recovery and handling of refrigerants;
- reduce leakage and losses of refrigerants during servicing and operation of equipment;
- ensure compliance with national requirements of the Kyrgyz Republic and relevant international obligations;
- provide guidance on the collection, temporary storage and transfer of refrigerants for the environmentally sound disposal.
The seminar highlighted the critical importance of proper refrigerant management for:
- ensuring occupational safety of technicians;
- fulfilling responsibilities related to the prevention of emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs);
- complying with the requirements of inspection and regulatory authorities.
The Ozone center representatives provided information on the international and national legal framework related to ozone layer protection and climate change mitigation, including, key provisions of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer; requirements of the Kigali Amendment; and relevant provisions of the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic, in particular the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on ozone layer protection.
A representative of the Service for Environmental and Technical Supervision under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic delivered a presentation on state control mechanisms related to:
- accounting and reporting of ODS and HFCs;
- monitoring of ozone-depleting substances consumption;
- development and implementation of measures for the timely recovery and storage of residual quantities of ODS in containers/cylinders for the purpose of recycling or disposal.
Jusupov Rasul explained that the authorized body issues mandatory compliance orders to legal entities and individuals to eliminate identified violations of the legislation on ozone layer protection; and even may take decisions to restrict or suspend the operation of facilities where activities are conducted in violation of national ozone protection legislation.
The Head of the Ozone Center informed participants that a facility for the destruction of used refrigerants is currently under construction in Kostanay, Republic of Kazakhstan, which will enable the environmentally sound disposal of collected refrigerants through regional cooperation.
The Chairperson of the public association “Ecoholod” presented information on:
- monitoring and inspection activities related to the use of an equipment, a 5-ton recovery cylinders for the collection of used refrigerants, in Osh, Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul regions, as well as in Bishkek;
- information and awareness-raising activities conducted among refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians in autumn 2025.
During the monitoring visits, technicians expressed a strong interest in cooperating on the collection of used refrigerants. At the same time, several challenges were identified, including the lack of specialized recovery cylinders and containers for refrigerant collection.
In response to these needs, the Ozone Center procured specialized recovery cylinders for the collection of used refrigerants, which were demonstrated during the seminar. One recovery cylinder was handed over to a representative of “Abdysh-Ata” company.
As far as the cylinders are filled, the Ozone Centre will collect them and transfer the recovered refrigerants into the 5-ton storage cylinders. Once fully filled, the collected refrigerants will be transported to the Republic of Kazakhstan for environmentally sound disposal in line with environmental standards.
Special emphasis was placed on the importance of sustainable training for technicians in light of:
- the widespread transition to A2L and natural refrigerants;
- increased flammability and toxicity risks;
- the introduction of new requirements for personnel qualifications and equipment.
The seminar contributed to strengthening technicians’ environmental responsibility and enhanced their practical capacity for the proper recovery, storage and transfer of used refrigerants to the Ozone Centre for subsequent environmentally sound disposal.