Introducing waste gasification for electricity generation to Ghana Note: This project has been cancelled, because the project partners have decided to withdraw the project.The applicant, Advanced Processes Inc., is an American firm established in 1998, employing fifteen staff. Advanced Processes Inc. is specialized in waste processing and electricity generation. The local partner Caltech Ventures, is a Ghanaian firm established in 2005. Currently, Caltech grows cassava for production of cassava flour but in the near future also for production of ethanol. Caltech owns 3,400 ha of land of which 250 ha has been planted with cassava. The partners plan to generate renewable energy from cassava waste and municipal waste in the Volta region. The partners will set up a joint venture with equal shareholding and will establish a 600 kW waste to energy plant. The power produced by the joint venture will be sold to the national electricity provider and to Caltech. This will be the first gasification plant in Ghana. Cassava waste will be collected from cassava farmers and municipal waste will be sorted and briquetted at the local landfill site. The electricity off take is guaranteed by the Public Utility and by the local partner. Fertilizer pellets will be produced as a by-product and will be sold to Caltech and other agro-communities.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The project is positively contributing to the reduction of municipal waste in Ho, particularly at the landfill where the waste is currently being dumped. The production of renewable energy saves fossil fuels and wood that would otherwise be necessary to generate electricity.The partners pay particular attention to health and safety measures, good and safe working conditions, non-discrimination, fair wages and gender.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe monthly salaries of staff working for the joint venture will be above living wages. The joint venture will cooperate with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and/or the Ho Polytechnic on a trainee programme involving at least 10 trainees.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeIt is the first gasification plant in Ghana. Gasification is the heating of biomass with limited oxygen to high temperatures (over 700°C) to produce a combustible gas which can be used to generate electricity and produces fertilizer. The gasification technology has not yet been applied in Ghana. In addition this project is using municipal waste as feedstock for energy generation purposes. Zoom lion produces compost fertilizer out of waste but not electricity. This will be the first waste to energy provider to supply power to the Ghanaian net. Currently, there is no contribution of renewable energy to the grid other than hydropower and solar power.•	Chain effectsImpact on local suppliersSmallholder cassava farmers will have less waste on their premises as their cassava waste will be collected and processed for free. Due to the lower priced fertilizer pellets farming costs will be reduced.Impact on local customers or consumersThe Public Utility will reduce its electricity shortage and will benefit from the continuity of supply of electricity in Ho. The PU will offer renewable energy which is positive for their CSR.The electricity consumers in Ho will benefit from improved electricity availability as well as Caltech.•	Impact on the sectorThe partners expect a lot of interest in the waste to energy plant from other local companies as well as from knowledge institutes as the technology is new in Ghana and it has good replication potential. The Government of Ghana has recently revised the national energy policy in favour of renewable energy projects and it is likely that when the project is successful it will be replicated.•	EnvironmentThe production of renewable energy is positive for the environment as it saves fossil fuels and wood that might otherwise be needed to generate electricity. The amount of municipal waste in Ho will be reduced which will have a direct effect on the landfill as there will be less waste which will have a positive effect on the environment. The environmental problems caused by landfills are numerous.•	Position of women30% of the employees will be female staff. At least 17 females will be employed in the positions of shift supervisors, administration staff, gasifier operators, handling staff, landfill sorters, briquetting machine operators and support staff.•	Impact on food safetyThe Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) aims to achieve 6% agricultural growth rate. This implies that yields for cereals will need to increase by 50% and yields for cassava, cocoa and sweet potato will need to increase with more than 100% by means of intensive and improved technologies. Currently, there is widespread low use of inorganic fertilizers in Ghana. By producing 2,450 tons of fertilizer per year, the joint venture will contribute to the plans of MOFA, assisting in overcoming the challenges in the fertilizer sector and improved food security. To generate renewable energy (600 kW) by establishing the first gasification plant in Ghana powered by cassava and municipal waste.