An international investor in large-scale projects globally, Touchstone Capital Partners (TCP), has successfully pooled investors to develop Lot 1 of Ghana’s Petroleum Hub project in the Jomoro Municipality in the Western Region.
The Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) estimates Lot 1 of the project, which includes a refinery with capacity of 300,000 barrels per stream day (BPSD), one petrochemical plant, storage tanks of three million cubic metres capacity, a jetty and port infrastructure, to cost $12 billion.
Officials of the integrated investment and project management consortium TCP are expected in the country in the coming weeks to work with PHDC to complete preparatory works for the project development in line with partnership agreements for 2026.
The management of PHDC, facilitators of the project, said the corporation was poised for the commencement of project development for Lot 1 and TCP's renewed interest is a shot in the arm.
Transformative
In an interview with a section of the media, Vice-President of the TCP, Niccolò Ravano, was emphatic the consortium views Ghana’s Petroleum Hub project as a bold move to secure a strategic role in the continent’s energy industry.
He described the initiative as a transformative venture that would propel Ghana to become Africa’s new energy corridor.
Mr Ravano said the Petroleum Hub project was a complex venture that required investors from multiple sources which the consortium offered.
“Projects of this magnitude require much more than financing. They require an integrated development platform capable of bringing together governments, institutional investors, EPC contractors, technology providers, operators, export credit agencies, development finance institutions and strategic industrial partners.
“Touchstone Capital Partners coordinates these stakeholders within a structured consortium framework designed to enhance project bankability, improve execution and support long-term investment sustainability,” he told journalists ahead of his team’s arrival in the country.
Touchstone’s global partner network spans institutional investors, EPC contractors, technology providers, operators, export credit agencies and development finance institutions which it has mobilised to advance the programme through the stages of due diligence, structuring and financial close required for a project of this scale.
Approvals
As with any large infrastructure programme, final funding commitments remain subject to completion of technical, legal and financial due diligence and applicable regulatory approvals.
Mr Ravano stressed the consortium’s belief that the next stage of Africa’s economic advancement rests on complex and ambitious projects that fully exploit the continent’s resources.
According to him, TCP’s vision extended beyond a single project, saying “We believe Africa's next phase of economic development will be driven by integrated development ecosystems that combine infrastructure, finance, industry, technology and human capital.”
If successfully implemented, the Ghana Integrated Energy & Industrial Hub could serve as a reference model for sustainable industrial development across Africa and other emerging regions.
Niccolò Ravano also indicated that the consortium was committed to transparency, accountability and discipline in the development of Lot 1 of the project.
“Institutional investors require transparent governance, disciplined execution and effective risk allocation.
“The project is, therefore, being developed using internationally recognised project finance principles, including independent technical, legal and financial due diligence, ESG compliance, internationally experienced EPC contractors, long-term Operations & Maintenance partners, comprehensive insurance programmes, diversified funding sources and participation by Export Credit Agencies and institutional lenders where appropriate,” he said.
About TCP
Touchstone Capital Partners is jointly owned by over 100 international global partners — including top-tier fund managers and entrepreneurs — offering secure, blockchain-based funding solutions and expertly managed high-value projects across traditional and digital asset markets.
An international investment and asset platform it has more than 23 years of experience in originating, structuring, financing, and managing large-scale real-economy projects globally.
Over this period, the partners have developed a proprietary, multi-layered risk mitigation and capital protection framework that transforms complex projects into bankable, insurable, and market-ready assets.
Petroleum Hub Project
The Petroleum Hub Project will be located in Jomoro in the Western Region.
The Hub will comprise three refineries with a combined capacity of 900,000 BPSD and five petrochemical plants with a minimum capacity of 90,000 BPSD, storage tanks with a cumulative capacity of 10 million cubic metres, 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.
Structured as a multi-phase project, the integrated petroleum hub is designed to establish Ghana as the leading petroleum, petrochemical, logistics and industrial gateway for West Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to the draft Plan, the programme represents an estimated $60 billion long-term private investment opportunity.
