Petroleum Hub project will create job opportunities — Charles Owusu

­-­The country’s Petroleum Hub Project has begun a workforce development programme to prepare local professionals to meet the opportunities that will emerge from the hub.

The hub is a petrochemical sector that is expected to ensure that all homes and industries in the country have access to reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy supply, while creating 780,000 direct and indirect jobs for the people.

The Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) is a $60 billion project occupying 20,000 acres of land along the coastline, and represents one of the largest infrastructure projects in Africa.

As part of the workforce development initiative, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Petroleum Hub, Charles Owusu, met with some strategic international partners in Las Palmas, Canary Islands in Spain, to agree on how to enhance the capacity of Ghana's workforce and strengthen technical collaboration for the hub.

Engagements

Mr Owusu engaged officials of Canary Consulting & Trading (CCT), Aurum Global Partners (AGP) and the University of Las Palmas during the three-day working tour.

“Having realised the importance of such engagements, these three key institutions were instrumental in facilitating the signing of the cooperation agreement and funding framework between the FINNOVA Foundation, a regional-based sustainable development organisation that supports EU Funding for Africa, and PHDC,” a statement issued by the hub said.

An agreement was signed to this effect on November 4, this year, at the Foreign Affairs Office of Casa África in Spain.

It focuses on key areas such as sustainable energy and innovation, sustainable housing, and sustainable tourism and agriculture.

During the signing ceremony, the President of Casa África, José Segura Clavell, emphasised the importance of maritime logistics and sustainable industry in fostering Africa-Europe-Latin America connections. 

Commendation

Mr Owusu commended the Canary Islands for its substantial investments in maritime and port infrastructure, particularly the Port de Las Palmas, which served as a vital trade and innovation hub.

“We are looking to replicate the success of the Canary Islands by positioning Ghana’s Jomoro Port as the key maritime hub for West Africa and the entire African continent," he said.

Mr Owusu expressed gratitude to Dr Steven Blessing Ackah and Isidoro Lopez for making the collaboration with the Port de Las Palmas possible, saying it would help to enhance the capacity of the Jomoro Port, reduce transportation costs and ensure that Ghana becomes the premier investment destination for the petroleum industry in Africa.

The team later toured the Port de Las Palmas, where they explored a world-class shipyard and maritime facilities, and discussed opportunities for technical assistance to develop the Jomoro Port to meet global standards.

Mr Owusu also held a series of meetings with leading institutions in Las Palmas, including the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), a recognised centre for sustainable development and maritime innovation.

He also met with the ICT Cluster of Companies, a consortium of leading tech firms specialising in digital transformation and maritime logistics, to explore how innovative ICT solutions could help to streamline operations at Jomoro Port and improve efficiency in goods handling and logistics.

Mr Owusu further engaged with TIDES, a research institution focused on sustainable tourism and environmental protection, on ways in which the development of Jomoro Port could align with global sustainability standards and PORMAR, a prominent port and maritime organisation.

Background

The Petroleum Hub Project is President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s initiative of transforming the nation’s petroleum downstream sector into a modern, diversified and financially sustainable "energy economy."

The government, this year, signed the landmark $12 billion agreement with the TCP-UIC Consortium, comprising Touchstone Capital Group Holdings Ltd, UIC Energy Ghana Ltd, and China Wuhan Engineering Co.

The agreement is expected to accelerate the development of Phase One of the Petroleum Hub to create long-term economic growth and employment opportunities for the people.