WRD - World Refrigeration Day, also celebrated in Africa
Across the world, June 26th is dedicated to the celebration of Refrigeration. Africa is no exception.
From Burkina Faso to Côte d'Ivoire, including Madagascar… refrigeration technicians, gathered within their national associations, are celebrating or have celebrated World Refrigeration Day. In Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, Luc Yoda, President of the Organizing Committee, announced yesterday the colors of the 7th Edition of World Refrigeration Day, organized by the Association of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Professionals (APFC), during a press conference. He supported: "...the celebration of World Refrigeration Day, scheduled for June 26, 2025, under the theme: 'I am a refrigeration technician, I commit myself to order and discipline for my homeland,' provides for a range of activities." An international awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness of the refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump sector and highlighting the essential role of this sector and its technologies in modern life and society, this Day remains crucial, he insisted. As we write these few lines, the event is in full swing.
In Côte d'Ivoire, the General Assembly of the National Association (UNTPF.CI, for the National Union of Professional Refrigeration Technicians of Côte d'Ivoire) was combined, on June 25, 2025, with the celebration of World Refrigeration Day in the country. The event was held under the theme "Refrigeration for Food Self-Sufficiency in Côte d'Ivoire."
In Madagascar, since June 26 coincides with a national holiday, the regional association of Tulear (URAFT) anticipated the celebration of World Refrigeration Day, organizing it the day before. Ms. Joséphine Soavanona explains that the activities began with a volunteer equipment maintenance initiative at the Tulear Regional Hospital, followed by a reception to share their skills. They concluded with the presentation of souvenirs to the participating technicians.
Africa in the game
Elsewhere on the continent, to take advantage of this critical awareness day, events are taking place in a similar vein. The President of U-3ARC, Madi Sakandé, took the opportunity to share his speech, with the help of a virtual platform.
He particularly emphasized fundamental technical skills, namely the basics of mastering air conditioning and refrigeration techniques. First, one must have a thorough understanding of refrigeration cycles, the different types of systems (commercial, industrial, residential, and tertiary refrigeration), and their components (compressors, condensers, evaporators, expansion valves, etc.). Second, knowing how to read assembly plans, electrical, and fluid diagrams is essential for installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
Given that modern systems increasingly incorporate electronics and automation, it is crucial to understand electrical circuits, sensors, regulators, and programmable logic controllers. A good technician must also have soldering and brazing skills. These skills are essential for assembling and repairing refrigeration circuits.
Also, the ability to quickly identify the source of a fault and resolve it is essential. Indeed, diagnosis and troubleshooting require analytical and logical thinking. In this vein, the technician must be able to anticipate breakdowns and carry out the necessary interventions to ensure the proper functioning and longevity of the installations.
The president emphasized the need for a good refrigeration technician to have knowledge of refrigerants. In the era of eco-friendly but flammable refrigerants, mastering their handling, properties, and associated regulations is essential.
In addition to these technical skills, it is important to consider those related to the evolution of the sector. Refrigeration professionals must be able to optimize installations to reduce their energy consumption and limit their environmental impact. This is the entire energy efficiency component.
The technician must also be proficient in cutting-edge technologies (home automation, BMS/BMS, IoT, etc.), have knowledge of programming and modeling software, thermal stimulation, CMMS, etc. They must monitor technology and regulations. To be complete, the refrigeration technician must not omit transversal skills, such as soft skills.