The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Toni Aubynn, has announced that the government will complete the land acquisition process for the $12 billion Petroleum Hub Project in Jomoro by July 2026.
The move is expected to pave the way for the construction of what authorities describe as Africa’s largest integrated petroleum and petrochemical complex.
Speaking during a media engagement, Dr Aubynn identified land acquisition as the most significant hurdle delaying the project’s take-off. He disclosed that the government has scaled down the project’s land requirement from an initial 20,000 acres to 5,000 acres, with compensation payments to affected farmers and landowners currently in their final stages.
According to him, completing the acquisition process will unlock the next phase of development, as investor interest in the project remains strong.
The ambitious Petroleum Hub Project, to be located in the Western Region, is designed to include three refineries with a combined processing capacity of 900,000 barrels per day, alongside five petrochemical plants, extensive storage facilities, and port infrastructure.
Phase One of the project alone is estimated at $12 billion. It is expected to contribute to Ghana’s economic growth significantly, positioning the country as a key energy hub on the continent. Officials have also projected that the development will transform Jomoro into the “Rotterdam of Africa,” in reference to Rotterdam, one of Europe’s largest oil and logistics centres.
Dr Aubynn emphasised that beyond its industrial scope, the project will generate thousands of jobs, enhance Ghana’s energy security, and reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
However, the initiative has not been without criticism. Some stakeholders have raised concerns over the project’s financing structure, potential environmental implications, and its alignment with Ghana’s climate commitments.
Despite these concerns, the PHDC remains optimistic that the successful completion of the land acquisition process will mark a major milestone toward delivering one of Africa’s most transformative energy infrastructure projects.
