Africa calls for a ban on non-inverter AC splits

AFRICA: A leading figure in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry is calling for an end to the importation and sale of inefficient non-inverter air conditioners in Africa.

Madi Sakandé, president of U-3ARC, which represents the ACR industry in all 54 African countries, has called for an end to imports of cheaper but far less efficient on/off, non-inverter, split systems. 

Air conditioners fitted with inverter technology can save up to 30% on electricity compared to similar non-inverter products.

Sakandé has called the continued import of on/off units “a criminal activity” which aims to keep Africa in poverty and misery.

More than 90% of air conditioners coming into Africa are on/off units, it is claimed, mostly coming in from the Middle and Far East. Madi Sakandé maintains that they appear to be lower technical specification models produced specifically for the African market and probably other developing countries.

“This is probably related to cost,” he told the Cooling Post, “but in term of energy efficiency and environment damage, it’s more expensive for all mankind. I think this is the big mistake from our industry.

“How new regulations can ban the use of greenhouse gases and forget to ban this kind of production which cause more damage to these developing countries where there is already energy production deficit, lack of knowledge and training in RAC sector?”

Speaking at the 46th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in July, Sakandé called for an outright ban on non-inverter splits, claiming that they accentuate the energy deficit, compromise economies and harm the environment. 

A recent report by the African Development Bank estimated room air conditioner sales in Africa in 2021 at 3.44 million units.

“Unfortunately, some famous brands are writing “Inverter” on the cover of the internal and external units, even if these ACs are not inverter technology but on/off,” Madi Sakandé claims. “This is due to the ignorance of local end-users and the lack of control or minimum efficiency performance standards.”