The government of Ghana has signed a $5.7 million agreement with Germany to construct a 400kW waste -to-energy plant in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi to improve waste management in the country.
According to the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the completion of the 48 months project will help to ensure the conversion of waste to energy commences in Kumasi this year and later extended to other parts of the country.
The pilot plant will use a hybrid solar PV, biogas and a pyrolysis plant to generate electricity from domestic waste.
The minister further commented that, once completed, the project will deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
“The project will create opportunity for German Small Medium Enterprises to take advantage and extend their products and services in the area of waste to Ghana. Therefore, the project’s success will not only help Ghana to address her energy and sanitation challenges but also encourage replication of the project nationwide,” he stated.
Apart from creating more than 50 jobs for Ghanaians, Professor Boateng also said that the project will also include the training of two post-doctorates, three doctorates, ten masters’ students and 20 academics professionals on hybrid bio-gas pyrolysis systems.
Federal Minister of Education and Research of the Federal Republic of Germany, Madam Karliczek underlined that the 12,000 tonnes of waste generated daily in Ghana would be put to good use and provide employment.
According to Karliczek, German researchers have innovated solutions and are willing to collaborate with their counterparts in Ghana to ensure the success of the project and the potential of building ten more plants by 2040 on a large scale to generate between 1-5MW.
The initiative is in line with Ghana’s quest to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.
Source: esi-africa.com/www.energynewsafrica.com
