Construction of fertilizer factory commences in Somanya
The construction of a fertiliser production factory under the one-district one-factory initiative, has commenced in Somanya in the Yilo Krobo Municipality, to process both faecal and bio-degradable waste.
The construction of the factory is part of the “Creating and Capturing Value” (Capval) project, launched in 2015 by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Jekora Ventures Limited with support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
The Capval project seeks to demonstrate that sanitation and waste management could support a circular economy.
At a ceremony to outdoor the construction of the fertiliser production factory, Dr Josiane Nikiema, the representative from IWMI, said the institute is focused on the sustainable use of water and land resources in developing countries.
She said for more than a decade, IWMI has been exploring ways to recover useful materials from waste generated in urban settings such as waste water, faecal sludge and agro industrial waste.
Dr Nikiema said the smaller facility would be positioned to produce 200 metric tonnes of compost annually, by transforming 5,000 cubic metres of faecal sludge and 300 metric tonnes of solid waste.
She said there would also be the bigger processor within the factory, which would produce 1,000 tonnes of low cost fuel prickets annually, for use by households and institutions in the Municipality.
On his part, Mr Eric Kwakye Dafour, the Eastern Regional Minister, said the siting of the plant would help in making good use of waste generated in the community and its environs such as maize husk, adding that it was commendable as waste products over the years, had posed many environmental problems.
He said farmers relied heavily on fertilisers to cultivate crops due to the land tenure system and that the factory would provide ready access to fertilizers.
He commended the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and other partners who are supporting the project.
“We are trying to consume less and maximise the reuse of raw materials with the aim of having a circular economy in 2050,” Ms Katja Lasseur, the Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands to Ghana said.
Ms Lasseur said the country is committed to working with other nations to achieve its aim and in the process learn from partner countries like Ghana. She added that, the Capital Project was a perfect example of such partnership.
Mr I. B. Nartey-Tokli, the Managing Director of Jekora Ventures Limited, said the factory would see its inauguration early next year.
He said the contractor was selected from the Municipality and that all the artisans working on the project are from the community, all in ensuring the presence of strong local content.
Mr Eric Kwakye Darfuor, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly, said the commencement of the factory in the Municipality, would empower them in the effective management of waste.
Source: GNA