The Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) in partnership with Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, has invented a machine to produce electricity from charcoal.

The technology, which could be used to provide electricity to rural communities, was transferred to Ghana by Mr Harrie Knoef of the Biomass Technology Group (BTG) of The Netherlands and it is the first of its kind in Africa.

Mr Michael Kweku Commeh, a Research Fellow and Project Leader of TCC told Ghana News Agency in an interview that the machine which is known as “Ferro Cement Charcoal Gasifier,” produces heat produce by combustible gas from charcoal.

It could also be used in a modified Mercedes engine to drive a generator to produce electricity.

Mr Commeh said the gasifier was built from materials readily available in Ghana such as cement, sand, iron rods and chicken wires.

He said South Africa and Mozambique have shown interest in the technology following the development in Ghana.

Mr Amagoin Keita, SNV Country Director expressed gratitude to the team from the Allied Industrial Ceramics/Rural Energy and Enterprise Development Unit under TCC for the breakthrough achievement.

He said one of the objectives of the project is to create interest in the gasification technology.

Mr Keita expressed the hope that Masters of Science and Doctor of Philosophy students would develop the technology further while private sector parties would become interested.

He said SNV sees practical application of the gasification technology in Ghana for electricity generation, but also for cocoa drying.

Mr Enno Heijndermans of SNV said the realisation of the project was a blend of art and science, demanding knowledge, creativity and flexibility.

He explained that for sustainable operation, the charcoal must come from grown biomass, adding that; “this can be from agricultural and forestry residues, waste such as faecal sludge charcoal briquettes”.