President John Dramani Mahama has set his sights on transforming the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) into a key driver of Ghana's industrialisation agenda. The President has directed the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, to develop a strategic roadmap to expand the refinery's production capacity to 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Refinery Expansion: A Key Driver of Industrialisation
The directive was announced during the commissioning of the refurbished refinery at the Tema Industrial Enclave. President Mahama outlined an ambitious vision to transform the state-owned refinery into a key driver of Ghana's industrialisation agenda. The event marked a significant operational milestone, with TOR successfully processing one million barrels of locally produced Jubilee Field Medium Sweet Crude into finished petroleum products.
President Mahama said the government's objective goes beyond restoring operations at the refinery, stressing that TOR must become more efficient, commercially competitive, and financially sustainable. "Our vision for Tema Oil Refinery extends far beyond the successful refurbishment of these facilities," he said. "We do not intend merely to keep TOR operating. We intend to make it more competitive. We intend to make it more efficient, and we intend to make it more commercially viable."
Upgrading TOR's Infrastructure
The President noted that the rehabilitation of the Crude Distillation Unit, the restoration of the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, and the installation of the new F-61 crude heater represent renewed confidence in Ghana's industrial capacity. He further disclosed plans to insulate the refinery from political interference through institutional reforms aimed at ensuring long-term operational stability. The government also intends to upgrade TOR's Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) infrastructure to improve the offloading of crude oil and petroleum products.
Positioning Ghana as a Petroleum Hub
President Mahama said the refinery will play a pivotal role in delivering the government's 24-Hour Economy policy and the Accelerated Export Development Programme. He welcomed confirmation by TOR Managing Director Edmond Kombat that the refinery is already operating on a 24-hour basis. The President announced that government would soon roll out incentives for businesses operating round the clock, including tax relief, favourable energy tariffs, and duty-free importation of capital equipment for plant expansion.
A Broader National Strategy
The planned expansion of TOR's refining capacity forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen Ghana's energy security, reduce reliance on imported petroleum products, and establish the country as a competitive petroleum processing and logistics hub in the sub-region. The President said the government's vision is to transform Ghana into West Africa's leading petroleum refining, storage, and logistics hub. This vision, he said, will add value to the country's natural resources, create jobs, strengthen energy security, and drive industrial growth.
The government's commitment to transforming the Tema Oil Refinery into a key driver of Ghana's industrialisation agenda is a significant step towards achieving the country's economic goals. As the government rolls out its plans to upgrade TOR's infrastructure and make it more efficient and commercially viable, it is clear that the refinery will play a pivotal role in delivering the government's 24-Hour Economy policy and the Accelerated Export Development Programme.
Source: Joy Online
