As the search for alternative sources of power supply continues to dominate discussions in the media, workshops and fora, it appears there is a glimmer of hope in the exploration of Biowastes For Sustainable Products (BioWastes4SP), being executed by the Institute of Industrial Research (IIR) under the Council For Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR).

The project is seeking to turn wastes arising from households, institutions and food industries to create a Biowaste Technology to provide power supply as part of Ghana’s long term plans for sustainable energy.

It is in this direction that a National Platform has been inaugurated to steer affairs and ensure that Ghana enjoys the full potential of Biowastes4SP in view of Ghana’s energy challenges.

The project is being chaired under the distinguished patronage of His Royal Highness, Nana Richmond Kojo Aggrey, the Chief of Gomoa Benso, who also doubles as the Chairman of the IIR.

Addressing journalists, Nana Aggrey said his group would work assiduously to ensure that Ghana explores other sustainable means to enhance its power generation capacity.

He stressed that the IIR has the capacity in helping government arrest the current erratic power supply in the country, which he added, has adversely affected several businesses.

“The IIR have the experts and the technical knowhow to come out with pragmatic solutions to change the current state of affairs in the power sector.

“…We are working to help government find a lasting solution regarding the crisis and Ghanaians must be hopeful that direction,” the respected chief submitted.

On his part, a Senior Research Scientist and acting Deputy Director of the IIR, Dr. Gabriel Nii Laryea, the approach of the project has been to identify potential that can be turned into value added products like Ethanol, Lactic Acid, Amino Acid, Butane and Biogas among others.

He revealed that the raw materials for the project would come from Animal and vegetal wastes from the food commerce and manufacturing industries including farming and animal husbandry services.

“The project is known as ‘Turning Biowastes into Sustainable Products: Development of Appropriate Conservative Technologies Applicable in Developing Countries. This is being pushed by European countries, African countries and Malaysia.

That is the countries that we are partnering with are those that have the technology while we provide raw materials from Africa.

“…This project started in 2012 with 16 institutions with a budget of 3.7million Euros.

The total grant given by the EU was almost 3million Euros and is a three year project but Ghana was supposed to get a budget of 260,000 Euros but the EU contributed to Ghana’s quota was 197.8million Euros so the top up shall be provided by the Institute of Industrial Research in which case we are using our Human Resource, logistics among other things to top up to make up that difference,” Dr. Nii Laryea disclosed.

It is estimated that the project when completed could bring relief to Ghanaians so far as the energy sector is concerned.

The meeting was attended several IIR scientists as well as representatives from the Power Ministry and the Energy Commission.