The College of Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has begun talks with ATRI Energy and the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat to forge a strategic partnership aimed at supporting Ghana’s energy transition and industrial development agenda.
The engagement brought together representatives from academia, the private sector and government to examine opportunities for collaboration in energy research, skills development, innovation and consultancy services aligned with national development priorities.
Professor Francis Kemausuor, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, stressed that strong collaboration among universities, industry and government is essential for delivering practical and sustainable energy solutions.
“Partnerships that integrate research, industry experience and policy direction are critical if we are to develop energy solutions that are innovative, scalable and relevant to national development,” he said.
Group Chief Executive Officer of ATRI Energy, Mr. Shishir Kalkonde, said the company is particularly interested in investing in biogas and other renewable energy technologies as part of its contribution to Ghana’s energy transition.
He noted that ATRI Energy’s investment approach focuses on improving energy security while supporting industrial growth and community-level development through locally adapted solutions.
Officials from the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat explained that a key objective of the initiative is to link international investors with credible local institutions such as KNUST. They indicated that such partnerships are crucial for technology transfer, capacity building and inclusive economic growth.
Discussions during the meeting centred on the development of a structured internship programme, joint research projects, faculty and student exchange initiatives, and consultancy support across various energy engineering disciplines.
Priority areas identified for collaboration included biofuels, solar energy, biogas, and other emerging and conventional energy solutions that align with the goals of the 24-Hour Economy initiative.
The KNUST technical team was led by the Head of the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Dr. Kwame Sarkodie, who reaffirmed the university’s readiness to serve as a technical and research partner to ATRI Energy.
“KNUST has the multidisciplinary expertise to support applied research, workforce development and consultancy services required to drive Ghana’s energy ambitions,” he said.
Other members of the university’s expert team, including Dr. Patrick Boakye of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Dr. Oliver Kornyo of the Department of Computer Science, contributed perspectives on process engineering, renewable energy systems and sustainable energy development.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to develop a framework for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise collaboration in research, training, innovation and consultancy, followed by a tour of KNUST’s Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
