The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Dr. Toni Aubynn, says Ghana’s ambitious multi-billion-dollar Petroleum Hub Project at Jomoro in the Western Region is attracting strong investor interest from both local and international partners.
According to Dr. Aubynn, over 70 investors have expressed interest in the project, with 45 companies demonstrating concrete commitments toward its development.
Out of these, two firms have already signed a $12 million agreement to commence work on the first phase of the project, a key step that underscores growing investor confidence in Ghana’s energy sector.
“In fact, two companies have already signed a 12-million-dollar agreement to develop phase one of the hub,” Dr. Toni Aubynn said.
In another development, the PHDC has also agreed to a Qatari-Ghanaian partnership to establish a fertiliser plant within the hub. The collaboration aims to strengthen linkages between the energy and agriculture sectors by converting by-products from the hub into high-quality fertiliser for domestic use.
Dr. Aubynn noted that the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Eric Opoku, had committed to purchasing all fertiliser produced locally under the arrangement.
He added that the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry had also expressed keen interest in the industrial and agribusiness components of the hub, which will support Ghana’s broader industrialisation drive.
While significant preparatory work and documentation have been completed, Dr. Aubynn acknowledged that land ownership and compensation issues remain key challenges to be resolved.
“We still have the issue of land disputes. We are trying to finalise arrangements for the land and not use crude tactics to take the land for the hub,” he said.
He appealed to the youth of Jomoro to focus on opportunities the hub will bring, including training and compensation, rather than the scale of land acquisition.
Environmental sustainability, he stressed, remains central to the hub’s design. About one-third of the 20,000-acre site is made up of wetlands and lagoon areas that will be preserved to maintain the ecological balance.
“Lowering or reducing carbon footprint is very dear to the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, so most of the ancillary activities will be powered by solar energy,” Dr. Aubynn said.
He further disclosed that the Corporation was exploring the use of green hydrogen and gas-based power to operate the hub efficiently while maintaining Ghana’s commitments to low-carbon growth.
He said the Petroleum Hub Project reflects Ghana’s balanced approach to industrial growth and sustainability, aligning with the government’s vision for an inclusive energy and green transition agenda.
“Even if I don’t see it all in my time as CEO, I pray to see the start of this hub project and the direction becoming clear. If people can drive to Jomoro and say that they are building the petroleum hub, that will satisfy my soul,” he said.
