Professor Edward H. K. Akaho, Director-General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) on Monday, emphasised the importance of the radiotracer technology in the commercial production of oil in Ghana.
He said the methodology and application of radiotracers in ore processing was very essential to industries especially the Mining and Petro-chemical industries, adding that the technology improved industrial performance as well as effective quality control of processing.
Prof. Akaho made this known when opened a five-day training course on the methodology and applications of radiotracers in ore processing and mills.
"This is necessary to support industrial growth and strengthen the National Nuclear Research Institute (NNIR) of the GAEC capacities and capabilities in the use of the technology for socio- economic benefit of both Ghana and International Atomic Energy Agency member countries," he said.
Prof. Akaho said GAEC with the support from the IAEA in 1999, established the Radioisotope and Radiotracer Group, which consisted of research scientists and post-graduate students of the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, with the aim of developing and implementing the techniques for diagnosis and optimisation of the processing procedure of local industries.
He noted that the organisation of the course by the NNIR was to demonstrate the applications of radiotracer techniques for troubleshooting and optimising processing in the ore processing plants and mills.
It is also intended to bring scientists of the various groups of Radioisotope and Radiotracer techniques of Member States together to share their experiences and exchange information in the area of specialisation.
Prof. Akaho said the Radioisotope and Radiotracer Group had undertaken projects such as the determination of mixing efficiencies and contact times in process vessels and chemical reactors, flow rate measurement in pipelines to help calibrate existing flow meters and the liquid level and interface measurements.
He expressed the hope that the participants would acquire additional knowledge to enable them use the technology with great confidence to support industrial growth of participating countries.
Ms Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of Mines, affirmed the critical role radiotracer technology and other methodologies and application could play in Ghana's oil exploration sector, citing their advantages as far as production downtime was concerned.
"The advantages of the methodology and applications of radiotracers in ore processing and mills is that production could continue, while investigation is on-going, thus reducing production downtime. Real time results are produced on site ready to be discussed with clients," she said.
Ms Aryee commended GAEC for the enormous work it did in ensuring quality control in Ghana's industrial sector.
