Tema, Jan. 13, GNA - The Board of Directors of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has approved a 250,000 dollar support for the establishment of a Chair of Petrochemical Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the support was signed between the two institutions at Tema on Thursday.

Dr Kofi Kodua Sarpong, Managing Director of TOR signed for his organization while Professor Kwesi Andam, the Vice Chancellor signed for KNUST.

Five trading and Technical partners of TOR also pledged 135,000 dollars for the support.

They were, Trafigura Limited, which pledged 50,000 dollars, KEK Insurance Brokers 10,000 dollars and Sahara Energy and Resources 30,000 Dollars.

The rest were, Glotec Engineering that pledged 30,000 dollars, Grace Davison, Suppliers of Catalyst, for TOR's Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker, pledged 15,000 Dollars a year for the next five years. Dr Sarpong, said the need for closer collaboration between TOR and KNUST was realised from the need to build capacity in research and development in Petrochemical Engineering and Human Resource Development to ensure a steady growth and profitability of the refinery. He said establishment of the Chair of Petrochemical Engineering at the College of Engineering, KNUST, proposed by TOR was to build the capacity in research in that field and to enhance human resource development.

Dr Sarpong was optimistic that the success of the programme would enhance "TOR's operational flexibility, efficiency and ensure sustained superior performance."

Prof. Andam, said establishment of a Chair of Chemical Engineering at the University was the first of its kind in the country. The chair, he said, would have technical, industrial, managerial and financial experience to work effectively to fulfil the terms of the MOU.

He announced that KNUST would soon establishment a Bachelor of Science Engineering in Fire and Safety Engineering as well as postgraduate programmes in fire and safety.

Dr Benjamin Adu-Amankwa, Dean of the Faculty of Chemical and Materials Engineering of KNUST, said currently the College of Engineering offered programmes in Chemical, Petrochemical and Materials Engineering for the award of a degree.

He said a petrochemical technology option was being upgraded to include hydrocarbon, raw materials processing, refinery processing, conversion, purification of petroleum products and bulk transportation. Dr Adu-Amankwa gave the assurance that the Chair would coordinate activities and work with the technical and human resource staff of TOR.