Government has officially commissioned the refurbished Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) at the Tema Oil Refinery, marking what Energy and Green Transition Minister John Jinapor has described as “a significant milestone in our energy sector reset agenda.”
The commissioning was done by President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, with other stakeholders in attendance.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Jinapor said the successful revival of TOR comes after years of dormancy under a previous private operating arrangement that “did not deliver the intended outcomes.”
“*Today, we have restored TOR to its rightful place as a key pillar of Ghana’s energy security and industrial transformation*,” he stated.
According to the Minister, the transformation of TOR is critical to restoring investor confidence, refining Ghana’s own crude oil locally, and reducing dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
He added that the move also advances the President’s 24-Hour Economy and Reset Agenda through the revitalisation of strategic national assets.
Roadmap to 100,000 bpd
Mr. Jinapor announced that, in line with a directive from President Mahama, he has prepared a comprehensive roadmap to expand TOR’s refining capacity to 100,000 barrels per day.
“This will enable us to refine more of Ghana’s crude oil locally, meet a greater share of domestic demand, create jobs, add value to our natural resources, and strengthen Ghana’s position as a petroleum hub for the sub-region,” he said.
The Minister commended the Managing Director, Edmond Kombat, Esq., the Board, management, and staff of TOR for their “commitment, resilience, and hard work” in bringing the refinery back into operation.
He urged the workforce to “sustain the momentum, uphold the highest standards of operational excellence and safety,” and reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting management to build “a stronger, more resilient, and self-reliant energy sector for Ghana.”
The revival of TOR’s CDU is expected to reduce the country’s fuel import bill and improve supply chain stability ahead of peak demand periods.
