UG Legon to commercialise fuels made from plastic waste

The Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) at the University of Ghana (UG) is set to commercialize the production of high-value fuels derived from plastic waste.
It is therefore seeking investors to provide the necessary financial support to expand the production plant and produce large quantities.
Supported by the French Government, the IAST has developed a plant that converts plastic waste into high-value fuels and chemicals for households, outboard motors, and small engines.
This initiative, the first of its kind to be piloted in Ghana, aims to address the plastic waste problem sustainably while creating employment opportunities for young people.
Through the use of pyrolysis, plastic waste is put into a metal container (cylinder), tightly closed, and heated up.
Pipes connected to the cylinder collect and condense gases, which are separated into fuel: diesel, petrol, and LPG gases.
The project aims to produce fuel on an industrial scale, with plans to train young people in the value chain and conversion process as part of its community impact.
The goal is to produce affordable fuels while protecting the environment.
By doing so, the project aims to make a significant contribution to the development of Ghana’s green plastics circular economy, reducing the menace of single-use plastic waste and marine plastic litter.
In Ghana, the manufacturing sector uses about 2.6 million metric tonnes of raw plastics annually, leading to over 1 million tonnes of annual plastic waste generation.
However, only around 9.5% of it was collected for recycling, with the rest ending up in landfills, seas, lands, or being burned.
Professor David Dodoo-Arhin, Director of IAST, announced the installation of a conversion plant in Osu, Accra, designed to collect and process plastic waste that would otherwise pollute the sea.
Speaking at the 7th IAST Industry-Academia Interaction Series in Accra, he said, “The idea is to incentivize our fisherfolk that when they catch plastics instead of fish, it is not waste. We provide alternatives by converting it into high-value fuel.”
He emphasized the need for partners to scale up the project, as large-scale commercialization cannot be achieved alone.
Prof. Chris Gordon, Chairman of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, stressed Africa’s need to actively participate in the global energy transition discourse and leverage its resources for meaningful impact.
“We need to ensure that Africa is not just a recipient of information but also a provider,” he said.
Chief Executive (CEO) of the Private Enterprise Federation, Nana Osei-Bonsu, urged the private sector to be incentivized to stabilize operations and create solutions supporting the national transition agenda.
He encouraged the IAST to develop policy briefs from the dialogue series to aid policy decisions.
The 7th IAST Industry-Academia Interaction Series, themed “Sustainable Energy Transitions and Climate Change: The Role of Partnerships,” highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and experts to innovate and support Ghana’s energy transition agenda.
In line with global climate commitments, Ghana has developed a comprehensive framework to transition from fossil fuels to green energy by 2070.