The Director of Renewable Energy of the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Seth Mahu, has averred the time has come for biogas to be brought into proper focus in Ghana because of the enormous benefit it has for the country.
Addressing the gathering at the second Digital Global Biogas Cooperation (DiBiCoo) Ghana stakeholders’ consultative workshop,;he assured that a regulatory framework will be developed for the biogas industry in the country.
“My search at the Energy Commission indicates that the Commission has already taken measures to draft;the first biogas regulatory framework and after this event, we are going to escalate it and get the Minister to communicate to the Executive Secretary to expedite action in developing and completing the framework for the industry.
“I want to give you the Ministers’ assurance that;we are going to work with the Energy Commission to ensure that;the regulatory framework for biogas is developed as quickly as possible.”
Seth Mahu
Mr. Mahu indicated that when this is done,;it would assist in turning waste into useful products such as biogas for electricity generation,;for heat and other applications while helping to address the major sanitation issues that confront the country.
Investment to accelerate development
Mr. Mahu indicated it would also go a long way to bring in the needed investment,;both local and foreign, to be able to accelerate and sustain the development of the economy.
“We have been able to develop Bio-Energy National Action Plan and the draft-final is currently on the Minister’s desk. Shortly we would be inviting some of you here,;if not all, to join us to do the final review of that document to ensure that it meets the expectation of the industry.
“We believe that can be a precursor to provide the necessary information, the necessary data, as well as what we will be getting from the private sector to help us come out with a regulatory framework that would be organic; that is going to address the needs of the industry.”
Seth Mahu
Also speaking at the gathering, Mr. Prosper Ahmed Amuquandoh, the Inspector in-charge of Renewable Energy at the Energy Commission, urged persons in the biogas industry to be self-regulatory by pointing out quacks among them.
He was of the view that, in every jurisdiction where the market thrives, the statutory regulation has very little role to play because the industry is self-regulatory.
“So you guys have to open your eyes and rout out the bad ones among you because if you have quacks; he or she would contribute to the negative experiences and negative practices either for the market or the technology.”
Mr. Amuquandoh
Mr. Amuquandoh said concerning the Renewable Energy Act, it was sent back to Parliament for amendment, which had already been done to allow Bui Power to get to the forefront of Renewable Energy activities and to address issues with tariffs and competitive bidding.
