African refineries advised to go into bio-fuel production

Accra, July 3, GNA - The Acting Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery, Dr Kwame Ampofo, has said it was important for African refiners to shift their focus from conventional fuels to bio-fuel to be in a better position to satisfy the international market. Dr Ampofo said other countries are gradually focusing on bio-fuel, making it important for African refiners to go into its production. "It is renewable and regenerates itself."

He said this on Thursday during the opening of a two-day meeting of heads of laboratories of oil refineries in Africa. The meeting was organized by the Africa Refiners Association (ARA) in collaboration with TOR for 45 participants in the refineries from 10 African countries including Ghana. The meeting, which is a follow up to a previous one held in Dakar, is aimed at reviewing discussions and mapping up strategies for the way forward.

Dr Ampofo said should African refineries fail to go into the production of bio-fuel they would loose their relevance when the use of conventional fuel finally fades out.

He said plans were underway to integrate TOR into the production of bio-fuel and that even though TOR has staff to go into the production it would be fully ready to do so within 18 months. Dr Ampofo said most economies would be consuming up to 50 percent of energy generated from petroleum in the next decade and the proper management of the sector would determine the future of the economy and appealed to refineries to come out with quality products to meet modern standards.

The Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr Kwabena Donkor, appealed to the experts to address the issue of adulteration and contamination of products that is normally done in connivance with some colleagues in the profession.

He called for a new breed of professionals in the laboratory as Africa strives to improve fuel quality leading to better health for both people and the environment.

Dr Donkor expressed the government's determination to include renewable energy sources in the country's energy mix and called on African experts to explore bio-fuel as being done by the advanced countries. Mr Joel Dervian, President of ARA, said the meeting was to enable experts in the field to meet and exchange ideas as part of African integration. 03 July 09