Omanghana
The revival of the Tema Oil Refinery is central to Ghana’s economic transformation and industrialization agenda, according to the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor.
He made the statement during the official commissioning of TOR’s refurbished Crude Distillation Unit on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
The ceremony marked a major milestone in the refinery’s recovery, following the delivery and processing of its first one-million-barrel consignment of locally produced crude oil from Ghana’s Jubilee Field.
Dr. Jinapor described TOR’s return to operation as an important pillar of the government’s economic reset program. He said restoring the refinery would create jobs, promote local value addition and reduce Ghana’s dependence on expensive imported petroleum products.
Following the successful commissioning, President John Dramani Mahama directed the energy minister to work with TOR’s board and management to prepare a strategic plan for expanding the refinery’s production capacity to 100,000 barrels per day.
The proposed expansion is expected to strengthen Ghana’s domestic petroleum-processing capacity and position the refinery to meet a larger share of national fuel demand.
The government has also announced structural reforms intended to protect TOR from political interference and ensure that its operations are guided by commercial and professional considerations.
According to the energy minister, insulating the refinery from political pressure will be crucial to securing its long-term financial stability and preventing a return to the operational challenges that affected it for decades.
TOR’s recovery comes after years of ageing infrastructure, heavy indebtedness and intermittent shutdowns. Under the leadership of Acting Managing Director Edmond Kombat, the refinery has reportedly begun recording a significant financial turnaround.
The company posted a profit after tax of GH¢1.24 billion for the 2025 financial year. The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has also initiated measures to ring-fence TOR’s legacy debts and improve its balance sheet.
The refurbished Crude Distillation Unit forms a key part of efforts to restore the refinery’s operational capabilities. Processing crude oil from the Jubilee Field domestically is expected to retain more value within Ghana’s economy while reducing the country’s exposure to disruptions in the international petroleum market.
The government believes a fully operational TOR could serve as an important buffer for Ghana’s energy security, support industrial growth and create opportunities for refined petroleum exports to neighboring countries.
The latest milestone positions Tema Oil Refinery not only as a domestic processing facility but also as a strategic national asset capable of contributing to employment creation, foreign-exchange conservation and regional energy trade.
Source: Omanghana
