Plastic waste is set to become a new source of industrial fuel and employment in Ghana following a landmark agreement between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and Numatter Recycling Technologies Limited (NRTL) to establish the country’s first large-scale plastic-to-fuel processing plant.
The project, which is expected to process more than 100 tonnes of plastic waste daily, represents a significant investment in Ghana’s circular economy and waste management value chain, transforming a longstanding environmental challenge into an economic opportunity.
Under a binding feedstock agreement signed by the two parties, AMA will coordinate the supply of post-consumer plastic waste collected across the capital to support continuous operations at the planned pyrolysis facility. NRTL, in turn, will provide the processing infrastructure needed to convert the waste into premium-grade petrol, diesel, kerosene and activated carbon.
Industry observers say the agreement creates a commercially viable market for low-value plastics that have traditionally been difficult to recycle, opening new opportunities for businesses operating within the waste collection, logistics and recycling sectors.
According to a statement issued by NRTL, the agreement marks a major milestone in Ghana’s efforts to build a circular economy where waste materials are reintroduced into productive use rather than discarded.
The project was initially announced in September 2025 through a Memorandum of Understanding, but the latest agreement establishes legally binding commitments for the supply of plastic feedstock, providing the certainty required to unlock financing, commence construction and support long-term operations.
The facility will utilise proprietary technology developed by Hydroxy Systems to convert end-of-life plastics into marketable energy products. The arrangement is also expected to strengthen Ghana’s domestic fuel production capacity while reducing dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
Beyond fuel production, the project is expected to generate approximately 1,500 direct and indirect jobs across multiple segments of the value chain, including waste collection, sorting, transportation, logistics, plant operations and technical maintenance.
The facility will operate on a 24-hour basis, aligning with government’s industrialisation and 24-hour economy agenda while creating opportunities for businesses and workers across the waste management ecosystem.
Plastic pollution remains one of Accra’s most costly urban management challenges, contributing to blocked drainage systems, flooding, property losses and environmental degradation.
By creating demand for hard-to-recycle plastics such as sachet water packaging and multilayer films, the project is expected to reduce the volume of waste ending up in drains, landfills and open-burning sites.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive Michael Kpakpo Allotey described the initiative as a strategic investment capable of turning plastic waste into an economic asset.
He said the project would support sustainable urban development, create jobs and contribute to a cleaner city while generating value from materials that have traditionally been viewed as waste.
Chief Executive Officer of Numatter Recycling Technologies Limited, Kelvin Boateng, said the agreement demonstrates how African cities can leverage environmental challenges to build new industries and create long-term economic value.
He noted that plastic waste should increasingly be viewed as an industrial raw material capable of supporting manufacturing, energy production and sustainable urban growth.
The Waste Management Director of AMA, Solomon Noi, reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to initiatives that combine environmental sustainability with industrial innovation and economic development.
With feedstock supply arrangements now secured, the project is expected to move into full construction and mobilisation, positioning Accra as a potential hub for waste-to-energy investments and circular economy infrastructure in West Africa.
