The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in partnership with the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) on Thursday in Lagos inaugurated a Bioclimatic Testing Chamber for Air-Conditioners (AC) to reduce carbon emissions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chamber was co-funded by the European Union and German GIZ (Duetsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit) within the Framework of the NESP.

The NESP is a technical assistance programme in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power.

The Director-General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, represented by Mr Terso Orguwdwen, Director, Certification Dept., said the commissioning of the chamber would raise standards in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning.

“SON together with the NESP in collaboration with the EU and GIZ is ensuring that these things come to reality.

“This occasion represents a significant leap in the field of testing, particularly in the area of heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

“This commissioning is a great leap in making sure that we are complying with the global goals on environment.

“It is particularly exciting that this specialised testing facility designed for evaluating the performance, energy, efficiency and durability of the air-conditioning unit will provide a more concert confirmatory assessment solution in this sector in Nigeria and across the West Africa,” Salim noted.

He said that the chamber would provide several significant opportunities in the areas of energy efficiency testing, climatic adaptation, durability and reliability testing.

“I call on every stakeholder, manufacturer, and assembler to remember the responsibility that comes with this privilege.

“We wish to emphasise that the stakeholders, and particularly the consumers, should check what they use in their houses.

“In a short while, SON will make a pronouncement on the ban on importation of non-energy friendly equipment into our environment,” the SON director-general said.

In addition, The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mr Temitope Fashedemi, represented by Engr Abubakar Dashiru, appreciated the sponsors and vowed continuous support in achieving renewable energy strides in the country.

“The ministry continues to appreciate the German government for its continuous support towards its mandate of ensuring energy security system in the most affordable manner.

“This particular chamber being commissioned today is a game changer in the energy efficiency industry, and is one of the very important equipment for the SON to use in testing our ACs for maximum performance.

“The presence of this testing equipment facility at the SON laboratory will strengthen our standard ecosystem and make it even more vibrant creating an enabling environment for energy efficiency to thrive,” Fashedemi said.

The permanent secretary said that the cardinal objectives of the chamber’s commissioning was achieving cleaner energy and eliminating degradation of the ozone layer by reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

He said that, if the equipment that was being commissioned was efficiently operated for the purpose that it was meant for, it would eliminate at least 200 small and medium power plants by the year 2030.

On his part, the Programme Lead at NESP, Mr Duke Benjamin, said the chamber would reduce proliferation of substandard air-conditioners into the country.

“The mandate of NESP, which is sponsored by the European Union and the German government, is to help the Nigerian government and the private sector to create an enabling environment for renewable energy markets in the country.

“So, part of the things we have done over the past years or the energy efficiency of our work is that we supported the minimum energy performance standards for ACs testing facilities in the country.

“This means that we need to set a standard together with the SON on what requirements electrically need to be reached for an AC to enter the country to reduce emissions and ensure quality.

“Hence with this AC testing facility that is launched, SON will be able to test, accordingly, products that are coming into the country to ensure they meet the minimum requirements for consumption of Nigerians,” Benjamin said.

The Vice Consul-General of Germany to Nigeria, Mr Jochen Schindelarz, also emphasised the importance of achieving a zero-emission environment and the continued support of the German government.

“I am delighted to be here today for the commissioning of the Bioclimatic Testing Chamber for Air-Conditioners.

“This is an outstanding achievement and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to SON and all the partners who have played a pivotal role in making this accomplishment possible.

“I would like to commend the NESP, as well as its coalition partners, the EU and the German GIZ for the unwavering support to the Nigerian Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency sector.

“This commissioning signifies Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“And it aligns with our ambitious goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2016,” Schindelarz said.

He said that Germany had consistently supported the Nigerian government in its pursuit of economic growth, with a particular focus on practical sectors, such as renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The German envoy noted that the facility being commissioned would have a profound impact on the quality and efficiency of air-conditioners, whether locally manufactured or imported.