The Acting Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Ltd., Edmond Kombat, Esq., has reiterated the strategic importance of the state-owned refinery in Ghana’s energy ecosystem, highlighting a comprehensive roadmap for its full revival by 2025.
Speaking at a business forum themed “Synergizing Opportunities: Strengthening the Ghana-China Business Relationship and Fostering a 24-Hour Economy,” Mr. Kombat emphasized TOR’s unmatched production capacity and role in advancing national energy security and economic growth.
“TOR remains one of the most viable assets in Ghana’s energy sector.
“Our 45,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd) capacity and one million barrels of storage give us a clear competitive edge over many private refineries. This is an asset that Ghana must fully leverage.”
Edmund Kombat, Acting Managing Director of TOR
Mr. Kombat outlined TOR’s 2025 strategic roadmap aimed at restoring the refinery to optimal performance.
The plan includes the rehabilitation of the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), revival of the Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCC), comprehensive pipeline maintenance, and modernization of the loading gantry to improve fuel delivery turnaround.
“These infrastructure upgrades are not just technical fixes.
“They are the foundation for a renewed TOR—one that will serve as a pillar for the country’s downstream petroleum and petrochemical sector.”
Edmund Kombat, Acting Managing Director of TOR
The roadmap, he noted, will be rolled out in phases, beginning with essential repairs to restart refining operations and gradually scaling up to full production.
This, he added, would position TOR to not only meet local fuel demand but also export to regional markets.
A key message in Mr. Kombat’s address was a renewed call for strategic partnerships, both locally and internationally, to drive TOR’s revival.
“We are open to equity partnerships, joint ventures, and capital investments that align with our vision.
“TOR can be the cornerstone of Ghana’s industrial renaissance—but we cannot do it alone. We need partners who believe in long-term value and national development.”
Edmund Kombat, Acting Managing Director of TOR
He also emphasized that a fully functional TOR would help reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products, thereby stabilizing pump prices, easing foreign exchange pressures, and creating employment opportunities across the energy value chain.
Aligning with the 24-Hour Economy Agenda
The TOR boss highlighted the alignment between the refinery’s operational strategy and the Government’s 24-Hour Economy Policy, which seeks to maximize productivity and job creation through round-the-clock industrial activity.
“A revitalized TOR will be a critical node in Ghana’s 24-hour economic architecture.
“We are looking at introducing modern processing technology to double our refining capacity and meet Ghana’s growing energy demands, both day and night.”
Edmund Kombat, Acting Managing Director of TOR
He added that continuous refining and distribution will not only support other sectors like transportation, power generation, and manufacturing but will also serve as a catalyst for broader industrialization.
Mr. Kombat emphasized that restoring TOR is also about strengthening Ghana’s energy diplomacy and economic leadership within the West African sub-region.
“With the right investments, TOR can become a hub for petroleum and petrochemical exports to countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and beyond.
“This aligns with Ghana’s ambition to become a net energy exporter under the ECOWAS framework.”
Edmund Kombat, Acting Managing Director of TOR
He cited past operational benchmarks where TOR played a critical role in supplying refined fuel to neighboring countries and stressed the potential for regional integration once full operations resume.
Mr. Kombat reaffirmed TOR’s readiness to engage with all stakeholders—government, private sector players, and development partners—to bring the refinery back to life.
As the 2025 deadline for full operationalization approaches, attention now turns to the government and investors to rally behind this critical national project.
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