ECG installs electricity laboratory at KNUST

A collaboration between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the College of Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has resulted in the installation of a high voltage electricity laboratory at the college to boost research, teaching and learning.

The project, valued at $250,000 and solely financed by the ECG, is to help in the teaching and learning of high voltage and power electronics at the engineering faculty so that by the time students graduate they would be abreast of the operations of the systems.

The project was inaugurated last Friday, at a ceremony attended by the board and management members of the ECG as well as those from the university.

The chairperson of the ECG board, Madam Perpetua Darfour, said the ECG and KNUST had collaborated on a number of issues of mutual concern.

In 2007, the relationship was formalised into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at which the ECG pledged to spend $500,000 over a three-year period to equip the College of Engineering with modern equipment and other materials.

On the other side, the KNUST promised to release a portion of the university land to ECG for the construction of its Ayigya district office, which has already been completed for use.

Besides, the sites for the ECG's KNUST sub station and the second bulk supply point at Anwomaso in Kumasi were released to the company by the KNUST free of charge.

The university also facilitated the construction of a number of 33kV feeders on its land.

Madam Darfour said it was to fulfil its part of the MOU that the ECG constructed the high voltage electricity laboratory.

She stated that the university had made additional requests for other tests platforms and measuring tools which would soon be delivered.

'Additional areas identified for collaboration include training of KNUST faculty members on electricity distribution equipment, sponsorship of KNUST faculty members to present research papers abroad and part time lecturing by experienced engineers of ECG,' the board chair said.

The Provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. S.K. Ampadu, commended the ECG for the project and expressed the hope that the relationship between the two institutions would continue to grow.

The Pro Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Prof. Samuel Nii Odai, said the university was making strides in its activities, especially in the area of engineering.

By Kwame Asasre Boadu/Daily Graphic/Ghana