Brief History of Business Development Unit (BDU)

The Business development Unit (BDU) was established in 2001 in response to the amendment of the original Act that established GAEC, Act 204. The amended Act, Act 588 of 2000, among others, mandated GAEC to encourage and promote the commercialization of research and development results through its institutes.

Through the efforts of BDU, GAEC has become an Associate Member of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and an ex-officio member of the Technical Committee of the Chamber. This has improved GAECs relationship with the mining industry. The BDU is promoting ISO 9000 and ISO 17025 quality management systems with the hope that the laboratories of GAEC will be accredited and become internationally competitive.

Purpose of BDU

The BDU is involved in marketing GAECs products/services to the mining, industrial, health and agricultural sectors in Ghana.

Products/Services

1. Elemental Analysis by Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) Technique

60% of the elements on the periodic table can be analysed with the NAA technique without sample destruction. Elements that can be analysed include:Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Co, Cd, Ca, Co, Cu, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, Hg, Ho, I, In, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mo, Na, Nd, Ni, Pd, Rb Ru, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, Tm, U, V, W, Yb, Zn, Zr.

1. Radiotracer Apllication

·  Measurement of the retention times of solid and liquids in leaching tanks.

·  Evaluation of the mixing efficiency of gold leaching process through resident time measurement techniques.

·  On-line scanning of distillation columns to check for anomalies such as blockage and damage to trays.

·   Level/interface measurements in hydrogenous systems

1. Non-Destructive Testing, NDT

Thickness measurements, inspection of welds, castings etc for discontinuities, inspection of storage tanks, pipeline-lines etc. Training of NDT personnel and certification of welders.

1. Radioactive Waste Management Services.

Management of spent radiation sources in accordance to existing international and national regulations.

1.   Personnel Dosimetry Services

Ensuring the safety of personnel working with radiation sources.

Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL)

·  Calibration of radiation-measuring instruments;

·  Performance testing of protection level of radiation-measuring instruments.

Food and Environmental Monitoring

Public exposure control against radioactive contamination of food, soil, surface and underground water as well as imported industrial raw material.

1. Training in Radiation Protection and Safety.

·  Training in the safe use/handling of radiation devices eg. Nuclear density gauges .

·  Training in medical application of x-rays, safe use of industrial radiography , etc.

1. Regulatory Control

Safety Assessment Evaluation, Inspection and Enforcement, Licensing and Authorization, Operator Training and Qualification, Radiation Regulations/Control.

Machine and Fabrication Shop

·  Fabrication of mining equipment components and parts such as bolts and nuts, gears, splined shafts. Welding works including vertical welding..

·  Manufacture surface and underground storage tanks, steel and aluminum hangers, balustrades, security metal gates, steel trusses, ,canopies, U-bolts.

·  Lathe work, milling, surface grinding

Contacts

The Business Development Manager:

Email address: e.tackie@gaecgh.org or bdu@gaecgh.org

Cell No. 0244 299 229 or 0243 663 327