KNUST gets petrochemical lab
The Ministry of Petroleum has commissioned two new laboratories for the Chemical and Petro-Chemical Departments of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) at a ceremony in Kumasi over the weekend.
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The facilities, which involved the redesigning and layout, refurbishment works and installation of specialised equipment for the existing Process Engineering and Unit Operations laboratories was constructed at a cost of $2.8 million.
The project is a component of the Oil and Gas Capacity Building Project aimed to support and strengthen the capacity of KNUST to be able to provide high-level degree programmes in petroleum and petrochemical engineering programmes.
The facilities have also been equipped with teaching materials such as measuring, unit operation equipment for petroleum and petrochemical engineering courses.
Strengthening Local Capacity
The Minister of Petroleum, Mr Armah Kofi Buah in a speech read on his behalf at the commissioning indicated that the implementation of the oil and gas capacity building project has helped mitigate some of the obstacles in the oil and gas sector.
According to him, the project has as well enhanced transparency by way of strengthening local technical skills in the oil and gas sector. “The project has also improved policy formulation and regulatory capacity of key public institutions in the sector”, Mr Buah said.
The Minister indicated that the passage of the Local Content and Local Participation Regulation (L.I 2204) of 2013 had ensured that indigenous Ghanaians participate fully in the value chain.
“It is therefore important to ensure that students of the two departments as well as persons seeking to be players in the sector are given the requisite skills and knowledge to be able to make a difference”, Mr Buah intimated.
Employable Skills
The Minister added that government’s quest to ensure the availability of expertise and skills had seen the introduction of some innovative measures to create employment opportunities in for young people.
He emphasised that the Ministry in collaboration with the Petroleum Commission (PC) has introduced a two year career skills development initiative under the Ghana Upstream Sector Internship Programme (GUSIP).
The GUSIP programme which entails a comprehensive practical skills development aimed to expose young people to the oil and gas working environment would ensure they have practical experience, vocational skills and professional integration into industry.
The Minister, thus challenged young graduates wishing to work in the sector to embrace the initiative as a career development pathway.
Maintenance
The Minister, congratulating the management of KNUST for effectively driving the project to completion, encouraged both students and Lecturers of the school to ensure the highest level of maintenance culture.
That he stressed would ensure the maximum benefits of the investments made in the two facilities would be derived.
The Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor William Otto Ellis commended the Ministry for completion of the project and assured the two facilities would be put to good use.
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