As part of ongoing preparations towards the start of the Petroleum Hub project, the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) is steadily building the necessary competencies to ensure successful project execution.
The chief executive officer of PHDC, Dr. Tony Aubyn, says the corporation is prioritizing capacity building, particularly in the Jomoro area of the Western region, where the hub is established.
Dr. Aubynn explained that the hub once operational will offer a wide range of job opportunities adding that it is crucial for people in communities around the hub to benefit fully from the project.
“The people there must be ready for it. Already, the hub has built a repository of people who are likely to participate. We need to develop competencies that will be available to people who come to do this. The construction of the hub will entail a lot of fabrication. Obviously, you need fabrication engineers.
” You need fabrication technicians. And so we need to prepare people to be available. We shouldn’t pay and say that, oh, we don’t have competent fabrication and technicians here. So we need to go to Nigeria and bring people or go to Accra to bring people, and then people are going to complain. Now, everything is from Accra.”
“So we as indigenous people, we as people in Jomo, this is where they should be pushing that. Look, then come and prepare us for the job. And I say that some of the skills that will be acquired will not be needed only at the hub. You can do that anywhere.”
