The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR)’s Corporate Affairs Officer, Godwin Mahama has confirmed that TOR’s comprehensive Turnaround Maintenance Project (TAM) is now 98% complete, paving the way for the long-awaited restart of crude refining operations.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s energy sector and a critical step toward reducing the nation’s heavy reliance on imported petroleum products.
Mahama explained that for about six to eight years, the refinery has been redundant. “It has not been functioning, and the main function of refining crude was non-existent,” he added
“During that period, we were only rendering services because of the large tank farms TOR has for storing fuel.
“In the absence of its core mandate, we rented the tank farms to Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) to store finished products imported into the country. That is what has kept TOR afloat until now.”
Godwin Mahama, TOR’s Corporate Affairs Officer
He said the new management team, under Managing Director Edmund Combat, has made it a top priority to restore the refinery to its original purpose.
“The new management has made it a point that the company goes back to its main core mandate by the end of this month.
“TOR will start refining crude in this country. We have started what we call the turnaround maintenance to put all the equipment back into shape.”
Godwin Mahama, TOR’s Corporate Affairs Officer
He revealed that management had instituted a dedicated committee to oversee the turnaround maintenance and brought in temporary staff to assist in the process. “For the past two to three months, they have worked tirelessly, and we have achieved about 98% of the maintenance work,” he stated.
Mr. Mahama added that the refinery is currently in its final stages of inspection and handover.
“Last week, we held a staff durbar where it was confirmed that the turnaround maintenance committee will hand over the plant to the production unit by this Friday.
“Once the production team completes its final inspection, TOR will be ready to commence operations.”
Godwin Mahama, TOR’s Corporate Affairs Officer
First Crude Shipment Ready
The refinery is also expecting its first crude shipment soon. “Before the third week of this month, the first crude will arrive in the country, and refining will begin,” Mahama assured.
According to him, the revival of TOR is not only a technical milestone but also a reflection of strong government support and policy direction.
He commended President John Dramani Mahama for his unwavering commitment to restoring TOR’s operations.
“His administration has been instrumental in supporting the refinery’s revival efforts, recognizing its importance to Ghana’s industrial and economic growth.”
Godwin Mahama, TOR’s Corporate Affairs Officer
The restart of TOR’s operations is expected to deliver multiple benefits to the Ghanaian economy, including job creation, foreign exchange savings, and enhanced energy security.
Currently, Ghana imports nearly all its finished petroleum products, a dependency that puts pressure on the cedi and drains foreign reserves.
“If TOR can meet about 60% of the local market demand, we’ll save foreign currency, strengthen the cedi, and complement the government’s economic stabilization efforts, including those by the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD).”
Godwin Mahama, TOR’s Corporate Affairs Officer
TOR’s comeback is a symbol of renewed confidence in Ghana’s refining capacity, especially at a time when regional energy demand is rising and global supply chains remain volatile.
With the refinery’s infrastructure now upgraded and nearly ready, expectations are high that Ghana could reclaim its position as a major refining hub in West Africa.
For many within Ghana’s petroleum industry, TOR’s revival is long overdue. The refinery, established in 1963, was once the cornerstone of the country’s downstream oil sector.
However, years of operational inefficiencies, debt accumulation, and equipment breakdowns gradually rendered it inactive, forcing Ghana to rely entirely on imported petroleum products.
Now, with the refinery on the cusp of restarting operations, optimism is growing that TOR can once again play a vital role in stabilizing the domestic fuel market.
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