Goldfields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mine Donates to the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) Department of Minerals Engineering – 2018
A Group Picture of the Dignitaries after the Handing Over Ceremony
Goldfields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mine has constructed an extension to the Laboratory building of the Department of Minerals Engineering at a short ceremony at a cost of GH¢243,921.50. the Laboratory was handed over to the University at a short ceremony by a member of Goldfields Ghana Foundation, Mr Mawuli Ababio, assisted by the Vice Chancellor of UMaT, Prof J. S. Y. Kuma and the General Manager of the Tarkwa Mine, Mr Stephen Osei Bempah.
Mr Mawuli Ababio stated that the Goldfields Foundation will continue to support the University in its quest to do more quality research and was excited that the Foundation made it possible to support the project. The General Manager, Mr Osei Bempah, also an Alumnus of the University, was full of praise to the University Management for the work they were doing to increase knowledge through quality research and learning. He was hopeful that the handing over of the Laboratory to the University will benefit both students and faculty in their quest to acquiring new knowledge for the development of the mining sector in the country and beyond. He stressed that UMaT has been a reliable force in the training of human resource for mining companies in the country and in the world at large. He pledged that Goldfields will continue to support the University in the best way they can to aid research.
Mr Bempah being assisted by Prof Kuma and Nana Kwasi Ansah to Cut the Tape
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Kuma indicated that UMaT being the best Public Funded University in the Country today was committed to putting the laboratory to proper use for the benefit of the community and the country at large. He assured the Board and Management that the expanded laboratory building would be used to improve on the quality and innovative research that has being going on already in the Department of Minerals Engineering.
Prof Kuma gave examples of areas of innovative research that some of the faculty members are focusing on and undertaking in the Minerals Engineering Laboratory. They include a bauxite upgrading technology using waste plastics which is led by Dr J. R. Dankwah. In Ghana, the alumina that is obtained from the bauxite ore is between 40 to 45% but with the development of this technology, it will be possible to upgrade the bauxite ore to 90% alumina which then will increase the price of the ore to about 10 times.
Another research which has been undertaken in the Minerals Engineering Laboratory is a polymer reduction technology that uses carbonaceous materials found in plastic waste as a reducing agent to produce iron. This technology has been successfully tested on the iron ores of Opon Manso, Shieni, Pudo, Akpafu Todzi in Ghana and also on ores from Nigeria, Liberia, China and Australia; the research team is also led by Dr J. R. Dankwah. Also, a new technology has been developed to use the same plastic waste to produce diesel fuel. Significant amounts of liquid fuels have been produced from pure water sachets.
The Extended Minerals Engineering Laboratory Building
Prof Kuma also indicated that the University has also conducted research into the production of activated carbons using local waste materials such as palm kernel shells and coconut shells in the laboratory. The derived activated carbons have qualities comparable to those imported for various industrial uses such as for gold adsorption. The researchers are in the process of developing a field scale reactor which will be able to produce activated carbons commercially. This research is led by Prof W. K. Buah.
Prof Kuma reiterated the fact that graduates of UMaT were found all over the world where mining is practised and this according to him was a manifestation of the quality of teaching and research taking place in the University. Prof Kuma expressed the gratitude of the University to the Board and Management of Goldfields Ghana Limited for the gesture.
Present at the ceremony from Goldfields Ghana Limited were Mr David Ebo Johnson, Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Relations, Mr Paulo Okpoti, the Legal Adviser, Mr Robert Siaw, Sustainability Development Manager – Community Relations, Mrs Florence Bioh, Community Affairs Manager, Mr Godfred Avane, Mineral Resources Manager, Mr Roger Adamah, Unit Manager, Projects, Ms Maud Ofori, Community Affairs Superintendent and Nana Kwasi Ansah, the Chief of Brahabebom.
Also present from UMaT were the Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof V. A. Temeng, the Registrar, Mr A. K. Doku, Deans and some students of the Department of Minerals Engineering.