KUMASI, GHANA–(Posted initially through Marketwired – Jan. 28, 2015)

Compressed Gas Technologies (CGT), with offices in the United States and Canada, has partnered with Project Peanut Butter (PPB) to equip PPB’s third RUTF (Ready to Use Therapeutic Food) production facility in Ghana, Africa with two nitrogen generation systems.

The Ghana production plant, which will begin full operation in the spring of 2015, is the third PPB facility tasked with producing RUTF. Project Peanut Butter anticipates that this new site will eventually treat 18,000 severely malnourished children in Ghana each year.

RUTF is a peanut based product fortified with essential vitamins clinically tested to treat Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). SAM affects some 20 million children and is the leading killer of children under the age of five worldwide. Since 2004, PPB has successfully treated hundreds of thousands of children suffering from severe malnutrition through its existing facilities in Malawi and Sierra Leone.

PPB currently distributes RUTF through its locally run clinics and provides the life-saving product to other aid organizations such as Unicef and Doctors Without Borders. Some organizations require a supply of RUTF to be stockpiled for future use, making shelf life an important benefit of the product.

Nitrogen, a technically inert gas, is used to displace oxygen in the packaging of foods susceptible to spoilage. Project Peanut Butter flushes packages of RUTF with nitrogen, effectively doubling its shelf life from one to two years. Nitrogen is typically either purchased from a gas supply company or produced by the user on-site. The use of a nitrogen generator, a device which separates naturally present nitrogen gas from a supply of compressed air, is critical in areas where a supply of the gas is not easily obtained.

“In Sierra Leone it (delivered nitrogen) wouldn’t be available,” said Martin Histand, Project Manager for Project Peanut Butter. “In Ghana it would be really difficult to get.”

The nitrogen generator installed at the new Ghana facility is the second provided by Compressed Gas Technologies at cost, the first has been in operation at the Sierra Leone facility since spring of 2013.

“In Africa it’s difficult to find technicians to work on things,” explained Histand. “The nitrogen generator provided by CGT has been a dream machine. Truly plug and play.”

Compressed Gas Technologies provides both membrane and PSA nitrogen generators around the world for a variety of applications. The partnership with Project Peanut Butter is among their most important.

“Martin found us through our website and requested a quote,” said Pat McCloskey of CGT. “When I learned what it was for I wanted to find a way to help them with their important work.”

The support that CGT has provided to Project Peanut Butter will provide a real benefit in their fight against severe malnutrition. “It’s so helpful when we find someone interested in our work and willing to help us out,” said Histand. “There are a few groups that are our favorites to work with, and CGT is definitely one of them. The money we saved goes directly back in to other projects, feeding severely malnourished Children.”

About Project Peanut Butter

Project Peanut Butter produces and distributes a peanut based, vitamin enriched product called Ready to Use Therapeutic food. Developed and clinically tested by founder Dr. Mark Manary, professor of pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Mo., Project Peanut Butter successfully treats thousands of severely malnourished children each year. Since 2004 Project Peanut Butter has been supporting communities by purchasing local products where possible and staffing its production facilities and mobile clinics with local workers. If you are interested in learning more about Project Peanut Butter, please visit their website: www.projectpeanutbutter.org

About Compressed Gas Technologies

Compressed Gas Technologies has been providing a wide range of membrane and PSA based nitrogen generators since 2001. Combining both application and nitrogen system knowledge, the CGT team have successfully placed hundreds of nitrogen generators, allowing clients to take direct control of their nitrogen supply. Through return on investment reports and individual application evaluations, Compressed Gas Technologies is committed to providing the information needed to make informed decisions about nitrogen supply. To learn more about Compressed Gas Technologies, please visit their website: www.nitrogen-generators.com

To view the video associated with this release, please visit the following links:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXaXBRlzXrA&x-yt-ts=1422327029&x-yt-cl=84838260