John Jinapor to lead Inter-Ministerial talks to resolve petroleum hub delays

Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr John Abdulai Jinapor is to lead inter-ministerial engagements to resolve outstanding land acquisition, compensation and financing issues delaying the development of Ghana’s Petroleum Hub.

Dr Jinapor said he would engage the Ministries of Finance and Lands and Natural Resources, alongside the Attorney-General’s Office, to address the challenges and facilitate the implementation of the project.

His commitment follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) and an investment consortium led by Global Sphere of the United Arab Emirates for the development of Lot 2 of the project.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Jinapor stressed the need for government institutions to take decisive action to address the outstanding issues, despite the interest shown by investors.

“You have my full support. I will engage the Minister of Finance and the Attorney-General.

I will also bring on board the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources so that, together, we can guide this project and provide the necessary backing,” he said.

He pledged to work closely with the PHDC to fulfil the government’s obligations and ensure the project progresses from agreements to actual construction.

Dr Jinapor also commended the Corporation, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Toni Aubynn, for its efforts to advance the initiative. He emphasised the need for institutional support to realise the government’s ambitions for Ghana’s oil and gas sector.

Dr Aubynn described the minister as a consistent supporter of the project and said the Corporation had prioritised implementation in 2026.

He said the Petroleum Hub was expected to become a strategic national asset that would strengthen energy security, create jobs and reduce Ghana’s vulnerability to external economic shocks, including geopolitical tensions affecting global energy markets.

“We believed that the groundwork had been laid, that the partnerships were within our reach, and that the time had come to move from boardroom plans on paper to progress on the ground,” he said.

Under the proposed Lot 2 development, the consortium is expected to construct a refinery with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per stream day, two petrochemical plants, storage facilities with a combined capacity of four million cubic metres, and a multi-berth jetty.

The development is expected to be completed within five years, with on-site activities in Jomoro scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.