PHDC partners Spanish institutions to train Ghanaians for US$60 billion Petroleum Hub Project

In alignment with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision to establish a diversified, efficient, and financially sustainable energy economy in Ghana, the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) is advancing a major training initiative aimed at equipping Ghanaians for the country’s ambitious Petroleum Hub Project.

This project, valued at over US$60 billion, seeks to ensure affordable and reliable energy access for homes and industries across Ghana.

To achieve this vision, PHDC has partnered with Canary Consulting & Trading (CCT) and Aurum Global Partners (AGP), as well as three Spanish institutions: the University of Las Palmas, Finnova Foundation, and Casa Africa of the Canary Islands government.

These partnerships aim to provide world-class training in the petroleum downstream sector, particularly in the areas of environmental sustainability and industry best practices.

PHDC’s training modules will address key aspects of the petroleum industry, including handling hazardous materials, oil and gas maintenance practices, air pollution prevention, water treatment management, fire safety, pipeline safety, and smart city development.

The University of Las Palmas, known for its expertise in environmental technologies and sustainable development, will play a leading role, bringing technical expertise that aligns with Ghana’s goal of building a skilled workforce for the petroleum hub.

This initiative not only strengthens the "Sister-Sister" regional relationship between Ghana’s Western Region and Spain’s Canary Islands but also aligns with the private sector-led development model for the hub.

The first phase of construction is underway, involving a consortium of Chinese and Ghanaian investors, and the development requires skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers.

Through this collaboration, PHDC aims to foster a skilled labor pool capable of driving the transformative goals of Ghana’s energy economy.

This workforce training effort underscores Ghana’s commitment to becoming a key player in the global petroleum downstream sector, reflecting both Ghanaian values and the nation’s strategic natural resources.

Meanwhile, the Vice President and Presidential Candidate for the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed his desire to support the government's Petroleum Hub Project should he become president.

Dr. Bawumia touted the massive job creation potential of Ghana's Petroleum Hub, describing it as a major transformative policy that will create 780,000 direct and indirect jobs for Ghanaians.

He declared his support for the Petroleum Hub Project located in the Western Nzema Traditional Area when he spoke about his plans to provide jobs for the youth on Sunday, November 3, 2024.

The Vice President also announced the launch of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation's Job Creation Data Repository before the end of the year to facilitate job seekers in acquiring jobs within the hub.

In June, the government signed a $12 billion agreement with the TCP-UIC consortium to implement the initial phase of the Petroleum Hub Project, the first of its kind in Africa.

A groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 1 of the multi-phase megaproject was held in Jomoro in August 2024.