President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, to work with the Board and management of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to develop a strategic plan to expand the refinery’s production capacity to 100,000 barrels per day.
The President announced the directive while commissioning the refurbished refinery at the Tema Industrial Enclave on Saturday, August 1.
Speaking at the event, President Mahama reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the production capacity of the state-owned refinery and revealed plans to restructure TOR to permanently eliminate political interference.
He said the vision forms part of the government’s broader economic transformation agenda.
The commissioning also marked the processing of one million barrels of locally produced Jubilee Field Medium Sweet Crude oil into finished petroleum products by the refinery.
President Mahama said the rehabilitation of the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), the restoration of the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, the installation of the new F-61 crude heater and the return of Boiler No. 8 to service represent far more than engineering achievements.
According to him, the works symbolise renewed confidence in Ghana’s industrial capability and the country’s determination to invest in infrastructure that will benefit future generations.
“Our vision for Tema Oil Refinery extends far beyond the successful refurbishment of these facilities. 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.”
“Indeed, we intend to position it as a strategic driver of Ghana’s industrial future. That is why today’s ceremony should not be viewed as the end of the restoration programme,” he said, adding that it marks the beginning of a broader national ambition to build an integrated petroleum industry that serves the domestic economy, supports regional trade and contributes meaningfully to Africa’s industrial development.
President Mahama said TOR would play a critical role in implementing the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative and the Accelerated Export Development Programme by supporting industrial production, manufacturing, job creation and Ghana’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He also welcomed confirmation by TOR Managing Director Edmond Kombat that the refinery is already operating on a 24-hour basis.
“Government is working on the incentives for enterprises that are running 24-hour shifts. We are going to give you incentives in terms of tax breaks, in terms of energy tariffs, but more importantly, when you import capital goods for plant expansion or installation of new plants, we will allow you to bring them in tax and duty-free,” he said.
The President said the government’s vision goes beyond restoring TOR, with plans to transform Ghana into West Africa’s leading petroleum refining, storage and logistics hub.
“Our work does not end with restoring TOR. Our vision is to transform Ghana into West Africa’s leading petroleum refinery, storage and logistics hub, adding value to our natural resources, creating jobs, strengthening energy security and driving industrial growth.”
He further disclosed plans to expand TOR’s Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) system to enable the refinery to receive and offload petroleum products more efficiently than is currently possible.
