President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to restructure Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and permanently protect it from political interference, as Ghana seeks to strengthen its petroleum industry and expand its ability to refine crude oil domestically.
The President made the announcement at a ceremony held at TOR in Tema on Saturday, 1 August 2026. The event marked the arrival and processing of the first shipment of Ghana’s Jubilee crude oil at the state-owned refinery.
Mr Mahama said the restructuring would form part of a broader effort to place TOR on a more stable and sustainable footing. He described the refinery’s revival as an important step in supporting Ghana’s industrialisation plans and securing the country’s long-term economic growth.
He instructed the Minister of Energy and Green Transition to work with the TOR Board and management on a strategic roadmap for expanding the refinery’s capacity.
The plan is to increase processing capability from the current 45,000 barrels per day to 100,000 barrels per day. The proposed expansion is intended to support the government’s ambition of making Ghana a leading petroleum refining and logistics hub in West Africa.
The President said recent geopolitical tensions around the world had demonstrated the importance of resilient domestic energy systems. He argued that the developments had reinforced the need for Ghana to increase its refining capacity and lessen its reliance on imported petroleum products.
Greater domestic processing, he added, would allow Ghana to obtain more value from its own crude oil resources. Refining more crude locally would also help strengthen the country’s energy security, according to the President.
Mr Mahama said the restoration of TOR should not be viewed simply as an attempt to restart refinery operations. Instead, he described it as a strategic investment in the country’s industrial base and its wider economic development.
The ceremony at Tema marked an important stage in the refinery’s recovery. TOR received and processed its first shipment of Jubilee crude oil, an event presented as part of efforts to return the facility to sustained refining operations following years of limited activity.
The government’s proposed restructuring is intended to ensure that political interference does not continue to affect the refinery’s operations. By insulating TOR from such influence, the President said Ghana could strengthen the performance of a key state-owned asset while advancing plans to expand domestic refining.
The planned increase to 100,000 barrels per day would represent a substantial rise from TOR’s existing capacity of 45,000 barrels per day. It is also central to the government’s stated objective of developing Ghana into a significant refining and petroleum logistics centre in West Africa.
For the President, the first processing of Jubilee crude oil at TOR provides a foundation for the refinery’s recovery. The move comes as Ghana seeks to process more of its crude domestically, reduce imports of petroleum products and build a more secure and resilient energy system.
