The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed strong interest in Ghana’s ambitious Petroleum Hub project, a transformative initiative poised to reshape West Africa’s energy landscape by positioning Ghana as a leading regional hub for refining, storage, and petrochemical development.
The renewed interest was conveyed by the UAE Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Dr Abdulla Al Mandoos, during a courtesy call by a delegation from the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Toni Aubynn, on Monday.
During the meeting, Ambassador Al Mandoos noted that the Petroleum Hub project aligns with the UAE’s broader interest in supporting strategic initiatives that promote energy security, industrial development, and sustainable economic growth across emerging markets.
He observed that the scale and long-term impact of the project, coupled with its projected creation of more than 780,000 direct and indirect jobs, position it as a significant undertaking with the potential to strengthen regional energy infrastructure and drive economic transformation.
The Ambassador further reaffirmed the UAE’s support for Ghana’s aspiration to become a leading energy and industrial hub in West Africa, emphasizing the importance of sustained dialogue and cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual economic interest.
Petroleum Hub Offers Significant Investment Potential
Presenting the strategic vision behind the project, PHDC Chief Executive Officer Dr Toni Aubynn described the Petroleum Hub as a transformational initiative designed to strengthen Ghana’s role within the global petroleum value chain while accelerating industrialisation and economic growth.
He encouraged the UAE to regard the project as a natural extension of the longstanding friendship and growing economic partnership between Ghana and the United Arab Emirates.
Dr Aubynn highlighted the extensive investment opportunities embedded within the project, including the planned development of three refineries, five petroleum storage terminals, petrochemical industries, port infrastructure, and a dedicated jetty, creating an integrated energy ecosystem capable of serving both regional and international markets.
According to him, Ghana’s strategic location on the Gulf of Guinea, stable democratic governance, investor-friendly policies, and attractive incentive framework continue to position the country as one of Africa’s most attractive destinations for long-term investment.
Rising International Attention
Dr Aubynn further noted that evolving geopolitical and energy market dynamics have intensified international interest in the Petroleum Hub project, attracting growing attention from governments, institutions, and private-sector investors around the world.
He expressed confidence that the project would catalyze industrialisation, value addition, employment generation, and economic transformation while enhancing Ghana’s position as a gateway for energy trade and investment in West Africa.
Commitment to Continued Engagement
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to continued dialogue and closer engagement in support of Ghana’s long-term development objectives and regional energy ambitions.
The PHDC delegation included Onasis Rosely, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Operations and Technical; Enoch Aboagye Larbi, Director of Legal; Favour E. Nunoo, Senior Manager for Communications and Public Relations; Abigail Abrokwa, Senior Manager for Business Development; and George Asante and Augustine Amporful, Business Development Managers.
About the Petroleum Hub Project
The Petroleum Hub Project will be located in Jomoro, in Ghana’s Western Region. The hub will comprise three refineries with a total capacity of 900,000 barrels per stream day (BPSD) and 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.
