The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has cautioned motorists against using fuel produced experimentally from plastic waste by a young Ghanaian innovator at Asesewa in the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region.
The caution follows a visit by officials of the NPA, led by the Eastern Regional Director, Mr Salifu S. Nagumsi, and his technical team, after a video showcasing the young man’s innovation went viral on social media.
The team conducted preliminary tests on the product and inspected the locally fabricated equipment used in converting discarded plastic materials into fuel.
Speaking during the visit, Mr Nagumsi said the NPA Chief Executive directed the team to establish first-hand information about the innovation, its production process and the innovator’s future plans.
He explained that preliminary investigations established that the young man, a welder and fabricator by profession, developed the equipment out of personal interest and experimentation, rather than for commercial purposes.
According to him, the maximum quantity of fuel the innovator has produced in a day is about two litres, dismissing concerns that the product was being supplied to the Ghanaian market in commercial quantities.
However, Mr Nagumsi raised concerns about safety standards at the production site, describing the setup as inadequate and potentially dangerous to both the innovator and residents in the surrounding community.
He noted that the equipment was made from materials that had not been certified by the relevant regulatory agencies, including the Ghana Standards Authority and the NPA.
He also identified the absence of protective equipment, fire extinguishers, warning signs and proper safety supervision as major risks associated with the experimental production.
On product quality, Mr Nagumsi said preliminary tests indicated that the fuel was not suitable for the Ghanaian market and had not been approved for use in vehicles and machinery.
He consequently advised motorists, motorbike riders and other machinery operators against using the product, warning that its chemical composition and effects on engines were yet to be established.
He said samples had been taken to the NPA’s main laboratory in Accra for comprehensive quality tests to determine the chemical compounds in the product and assess its potential applications.
Mr Nagumsi, however, expressed the Authority’s willingness to engage the young innovator further and explore possible avenues of support, particularly because the initiative seeks to convert plastic waste into a potentially useful energy resource.
He said the NPA would submit its findings to management for further direction, adding that the Authority’s visit was intended to understand the innovation, address safety concerns and guide the young man on the appropriate way forward.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
