Ghana needs lithium research centre

Prof David Dodoo-Arhin, Director, Institute of Applied Science and Technology, University of Ghana, has called for the establishment of a Lithium Research Centre to provide training for students, professionals, and local communities in the mineral development.

That, the Professor stressed, would help enhance the country’s human capital in the lithium industry.

 
The Centre, the Professor said, would help graduates with specialised knowledge to contribute directly to mining operations, exploration, and environmental management. 

“Lithium beneficiation plants will also create jobs, boost our economy, and empower communities,” he said.

The Professor made the call in Accra at an inaugural lecture organised by the University of Ghana on the topic “Beyond the Limit: Engineering Sustainable Solutions for Basic Human Needs”.

According to the African Green Minerals Strategy of the Africa Development Bank, lithium will see the fastest growth rate, with demand growing by over 40 times in the sustainable development scenario.

 
In 2018, Ghana made a significant breakthrough by discovering lithium deposits under the Ewoyaa Lithium Project within the 42.63 km2 area in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region of Ghana.

 
A definitive feasibility study conducted in June 2023 revealed promising results: A mineral resource estimate of 35.3 million tonnes at 1.25 per cent lithium oxide was found with the potential for 3.6 million tonnes of spodumene concentrate production over the mine’s 12-year life.

The Professor also called for the establishment of a battery research and innovation hub to power homes, schools, and hospitals across the nation.

“Developing indigenous battery technologies would reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported batteries, which aligns with the country’s goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency,” he said.

 Professor Dodoo-Arhin called on the country to leverage its expertise in engineering, science, policy, and social sciences to co-create holistic solutions that were contextually relevant and culturally sensitive.

 
By harnessing the power of materials science and engineering, he said the country could create a world where safe drinking water was not a luxury but a fundamental right readily available to all. 

The Professor said that to make effective use of renewable energy technology, it was important to develop high-performance, low-cost, and environmentally friendly energy conversion and storage technologies. 

He stated that significant progress had been made in developing alternative technologies to harvest and use clean and sustainable energy, including solar energy, wind power, biofuels, and hydrogen, in concomitance with clean energy technologies such as fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries.

 
“Carbon-based materials, such as graphene, have been playing a significant role in the development of alternative clean and sustainable energy technologies due to their unique properties, which include high surface area, electrical conductivity, chemical stability, and low cost,” he noted.