MBABANE – The Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Hon. Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, received a refrigerant recovery vehicle from UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Henrik Franklin, at UN House in Mbabane on March 27.
Valued at E674,000, around USD39,000, the vehicle is funded by the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol under Eswatini’s HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan. The project is implemented by the Eswatini Environment Authority, EEA, with support from UNDP in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, UNEP. Eswatini aims to phase out Hydrochlorofluorocarbons, HCFCs, by 2030.
The vehicle will assist in recovering refrigerants, improve servicing practices for refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, and extend services to technicians across the country including remote areas. 
Receiving the vehicle on behalf of EEA, Mkhonta-Simelane said it complements existing recovery infrastructure and strengthens Eswatini’s role as a responsible member of the global community. “To our technicians and industry players, this investment is for you. We call upon you to uphold best practices, ensure proper recovery of refrigerants, and prioritise safety as the sector transitions to environmentally friendly alternatives,” she said.
Franklin said the handover is part of a broader global effort and praised Eswatini’s role in the success of the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment. “Phasing out HCFCs, particularly HCFC-22, which is still in use here, is not only about environmental compliance. It is about reducing greenhouse gases and cooling the climate,” he said.
