The 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ATRI Energy Transition Private Limited to expand opportunities in Ghana’s energy transition sector, particularly in clean energy and sustainable urban mobility.
The signing ceremony, held at the Secretariat in Accra, establishes a framework for collaboration to advance clean energy and mobility solutions while supporting the government’s economic transformation agenda.
The partnership aims to inject 2,000 megawatts of electricity into the national grid within the next five years and is expected to create about 165,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Speaking to the media after the signing ceremony, the Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Development programme, Augustus Goosie Tanoh, said the agreement forms part of broader initiatives that will include solar energy, battery energy storage systems, and biomass power generation.
According to him, the primary objective of the project is to supply power to the Volta Economic Corridor, while surplus electricity will be sold to licensed operators across the national grid, from the high-tension 330kV transmission lines to the 33kV distribution networks of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company and the Electricity Company of Ghana.
Mr. Tanoh explained that under the framework, a PAX Energy Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be created to drive the initiative. The SPV will be jointly owned and developed by the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat and will attract private sector investment, including participation from ATRI Energy, to support power generation and distribution.
He added that implementation of the project will involve close collaboration with the Ghana Grid Company Limited and the Volta River Authority, as well as regulatory oversight from the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, the Energy Commission, and the Ministry of Energy.
Beyond improving electricity supply, the initiative also aims to deliver cheaper power for consumers. Under the 24-Hour Economy programme, electricity supported by battery energy storage systems must remain within a cap of seven cents per kilowatt-hour, while projects without storage must fall within the four to five cents per kilowatt-hour range, far lower than the current average of about 15 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Mr. Tanoh noted that although power will be sold to ECG and other distributors, mechanisms will be introduced to ensure that retail and wholesale tariffs remain capped, making electricity more affordable for businesses and households.
He said the project is particularly timely as Ghana’s electricity demand continues to grow. According to the Ministry of Energy, the country recently experienced a peak demand increase of about 800 megawatts, driven largely by electric vehicle battery charging and the rapid growth of data centres and data hubs.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen Ghana’s drive toward energy self-sufficiency and competitive electricity pricing, especially as neighbouring countries such as Benin currently offer electricity at around seven cents per kilowatt-hour.
Under the agreement, the project will include the development of 40,000 hectares of palm and Napier grass plantations, solar parks, and agro-ecological parks that will integrate with the Tamale International Airport cargo hub and other strategic infrastructure.
The 24-Hour Economy initiative is designed around integrated value chains, linking energy production, transportation and a multimodal logistics system to be developed along Lake Volta and across urban mobility networks to support economic growth and export development.
The Chairman of ATRI Energy Transition Group,
Smruti Kishore, stated that the company is actively seeking to engage in Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy initiative and plans to leverage its expertise in biofuel production, battery storage, and mobility solutions to contribute to the programme.
He emphasized the company’s commitment to introducing advanced technologies that are socially responsible and economically viable, aiming for sustainable long-term investments in Ghana.
Mr. Kishore noted that the agreement provides ATRI with the opportunity to tap into essential sectors nationwide, particularly along the fertile Volta River basin, which boasts abundant water resources and skilled agricultural labour.
He added that ATRI aims to enhance agricultural value through biofuel production, addressing both industrial and energy demands saying that the company also plans to implement large-scale solar power systems in rural areas, supported by battery storage solutions, while tackling transport challenges.
Mr. Kishore described Ghana as a promising landscape for large-scale project implementation and assured that the investments would remain economically sustainable. Immediate plans include establishing a 20-tonne-per-day biofuel processing plant and a 100-megawatt solar power facility, along with developing an 18-kilometre mobility corridor connecting Accra to surrounding regions.
He pointed out that over the next two years, ATRI Energy intends to convert 500 to 1,000 buses to electric vehicles, either by retrofitting existing models or introducing new electric fleets.
On his part, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah noted that this initiative underscores Ghana’s commitment to fostering productive partnerships that drive economic transformation.
He noted that the 24-Hour Economy programme aims to reshape the country’s production, trade, and economic expansion strategies, enhancing productivity and creating job opportunities saying central to this agenda is the Volta Economic Corridor, which seeks to unlock the agricultural, energy, and logistical potential of the region.
The Chief of Staff stressed that the partnership with ATRI Energy aligns with this vision, as the company focuses on advancing clean energy and sustainable mobility solutions under the leadership of Professor Kishore, an entrepreneur with extensive experience in renewable energy.
He noted that the collaboration is expected to yield ambitious projects, including large-scale agroecological parks in the Northern, Savannah, and Oti regions for cultivating oil palm, cassava, fruits, and vegetables, linked to export markets via a cargo and cold chain hub at Tamale Airport.
Mr. Debrah emphasized that Investments will also cover up to 1.5 gigawatts in solar power projects and battery energy storage systems, alongside efforts to improve urban mobility through the conversion of buses to electric systems and the development of a railway corridor from Buipe to Tamale.
He stated that the government of Ghana recognises the need for a collaborative approach, providing a conducive environment through sound policies while the private sector brings capital and innovation.
ATRI Energy Transition Private Limited focuses on expanding opportunities in the energy transition sector, particularly in clean energy and urban mobility with two major areas responsible for global carbon emissions.
The company aims to deliver solutions that are both socially impactful and economically sustainable. Its work includes innovations in bioenergy and biofuels, flow battery energy storage systems, and the replacement of coal with biomass, all aimed at accelerating the shift toward sustainable energy.
At the same time, ATRI Energy is reimagining urban transportation systems by tackling congestion and connectivity challenges through automated guideway transit systems and ropeway transport solutions.
Through partnerships and acquisitions of technology-driven companies, ATRI Energy integrates advanced innovations across the value chain to develop scalable, impactful, and sustainable solutions for a low-carbon future.
