Ghacem Limited has announced the commencement of the 3rd edition of its Quarry Life Award (QLA) competition and is inviting Students and scientists as well as NGOs to participate.

Interested groups or individuals would be required to submit a project proposal from August 2015 to 1 March 2016.

The QLA is a research competition organised by the Heidelberg Cement (HC) Group and its subsidiaries across the globe, including Ghacem Limited of Ghana, to source ideas towards the effective regeneration and management of biodiversity in its mining sites across the world.

It essentially, seeks and rewards the most effective ideas on possible ways to reclaim lands in areas where the HC Group operates globally.

A statement released by Ghacem Limited said the company is committed to promoting the exceptional local flora and fauna in its quarries and pits worldwide.

Dr. Bernd Scheifele, CEO of Heidelberg Cement said: “We believe that research projects and ideas can raise the knowledge about the biological value of quarrying sites and thereby contribute to further protect and promote biodiversity.

“That’s why we implement the Quarry Life Award for the 3rd time in a row,” it read

Dr. Scheifele announced that this year’s competition will take place in more than 20 countries in Europe, Africa, Central Asia and Asia-Oceania. Students and scientists as well as NGOs can participate by submitting a project proposal by 1 March 2016.

He further indicated that, in this third edition, the contestants are required to build a project around specific categories including: Habitat and species research, Biodiversity management, Education and raising awareness, Beyond quarry borders and Student class project

The five best project ideas in each country will be selected to enter the field work phase based on their innovation, feasibility, added value, stakeholder engagement and educational aspects.

From April to September 2016, all selected projects will compete simultaneously at national and international level and will be individually assessed by both national and international juries. The best ideas will be awarded with national prizes of EUR 1,500, EUR 3,000 and EUR 5,000.

At the international level prizes of EUR 10,000 will be awarded to the best project in each category and a Grand Prize of EUR 30,000 will be granted to the best overall project.

The winning projects will be revealed in the fall 2016.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Ghacem, Mr. Morten Gade has assured the Company’s readiness to ensure the success of the 3rd edition of the QLA.

“These unique habitats will be opened again for research”, he said.

He said through the QLA young people – students, graduates and researchers – will have the chance to add true ecological and educational value to a mining site.

Two finalists from Ghana made impressive showing in the 1st and 2nd editions of the competition, held in 2012 and 2014 in Germany and Czech Republic respectively.

Mr. Paul K. Nsiah, a 37-year-old lecturer at the then Sunyani campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), emerged the 1st runner up at the global event in Germany while Kwasi Boadu Ntiamoah, then  a final year student of the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa won one of the category awards ”Innovation and Biodiversity.“ In the Czech Republic.

Heidelberg Cement is the global market leader in aggregates and a prominent player in the fields of cement, concrete and other downstream activities, making it one of the world’s largest manufacturers of building materials.

The company employs some 45,000 people at 2,300 locations in more than 40 countries.