The burgeoning relationship between the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) and the Abdel Hadi Abdullah AlQahtani & Sons Group of Companies (AHQ Group) is set to attain new heights following a reciprocal visit by senior executives from the AHQ Group to the PHDC.
On Friday, September 12, 2025, senior executives from the AHQ Group, accompanied by their local partners, the Special Group of Companies, met with the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the PHDC, Dr. Toni Aubynn, to ramp up discussions initiated during his visit to Saudi Arabia at their behest over a month ago.
Welcoming the delegation to the PHDC headquarters, Dr. Toni Aubynn provided an overview of the meetingโs context, noting that preliminary discussions held during his visit to the companyโs headquarters in Saudi Arabia had laid a strong foundation for advancing the dialogue between the parties.
Dr. Aubynn delivered a compelling presentation, positioning the Petroleum Hub project as a transformative cornerstone of Ghanaโs energy future and a multifaceted initiative with the potential to generate thousands of employment opportunities.
He emphasised that, with Africa lacking a single integrated Petroleum and Petrochemical hub and the West African sub-region relying on external sources for petroleum products, the establishment of a Petroleum Hub in Ghana is an urgent imperative.
In response to Dr. Aubynnโs presentation, Mr. Ernest Ofori Sarpong, Chief Executive Officer of the Special Group of Companies, lauded Dr. Aubynn for delivering an insightful and engaging exposition that clearly highlighted the lucrative investment prospects within the Petroleum Hub project.
Mr. Sarpong expressed confidence that the insights provided by Dr. Aubynn would significantly inform the strategic decisions of both his organisation and the AHQ Group.
In turn, Mr. Abdulmalik Tariq Al-Qahtani, Chief Executive Officer of the AHQ Group, conveyed profound gratitude to Dr. Aubynn for his warm hospitality and invaluable support during their visit to Ghana.
He noted that Dr. Aubynnโs expertise had greatly enriched the AHQ Groupโs understanding of Ghanaโs energy sector, reinforcing their commitment to collaborate with the PHDC in developing the hub project.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Aubynn expressed heartfelt appreciation to the delegation, reaffirming the PHDCโs steadfast commitment to facilitating their investment in the transformative Petroleum Hub initiative.
Present at the meeting were Onasis Kobby, Deputy CEO of Operations and Technical; Enoch Larbi, Director of Legal; Abigail Abrokwa, Senior Manager of Business and Development; and George Asante, Manager of Business Development.
About the PHDC
The Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) was established under the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation Act, 2020 (Act 1053) to lead the development of a world-class petroleum and petrochemical hub in Ghana. The hub is intended to serve the energy needs of the West African sub-region and the broader continent.
PHDC aims to promote innovation, research, and strategic infrastructure development to meet Africaโs growing demand for petroleum products and services. By creating an integrated petroleum value chain, the Corporation seeks to unlock economic opportunities, foster industrial growth, and create sustainable employment for Ghanaians and citizens across Africa.
About the Petroleum Hub Project
The Petroleum Hub Project, estimated at $60 billion, will be located in Jomoro, in Ghanaโs Western Region. The hub will comprise: Three refineries with a total capacity of 900,000 barrels per stream day (BPSD),
Five petrochemical plants with a minimum capacity of 90,000 BPSD. Storage tanks with a cumulative capacity of 10 million cubic meters and at least two jetties to support import and export activities.
The project is poised to position Ghana as a leading petroleum and petrochemical hub in Africa, enhancing regional energy security and economic integration.
