President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cut-sod for the first phase of the Petroleum Hub Development project at Nawule in the Jomoro District of the Western Region expected to create and build a 3,000-per-day barrel capacity refinery and among others create 780,000 employment. This comes after the signing of a $12 billion agreement between Petroleum Hub Development Corporation and the TCP-UIC consortium, despite concerns raised by local communities over lack of consultation and the need to reduce the 20,000-acre plot acquired for the project. President Akufo-Addo speaking at the sod-cutting event said it marks a bold step to ensuring the citizenry and the industry have access to sustainable energy. "This is the first phase of our three-phase hub, estimated to cost some $12 billion. It is expected to result in the construction of (1)a 3000 barrel per day refinery, (2) 300,000 barrel of storage tanks, (3) petrochemical plant, (4) jetty and port infrastructure, (5) offer base and auxiliary infrastructure and (6) social amenities. "In our strategic approach, we have divided this project into three independent phases. Each phase, upon completion, will serve as a standalone hub, forming collectively a petrochemical industrial park sprawling across some 20,000 acres. "This method ensures that no single consortium or investor can halt the project's progress.