Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has described the rehabilitation of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as a major milestone in Ghana’s drive to strengthen energy security, expand domestic refining capacity and accelerate industrialisation.
Speaking at the commissioning of the refurbished Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and other facilities at the refinery in Tema on Saturday, Dr. Jinapor said the project represented the restoration of confidence in one of Ghana’s most strategic national assets.
He said the recommissioning of the CDU, the installation of the new F-61 Crude Heater and the resumption of refining operations marked a significant turnaround for the state-owned refinery after years of operational and financial challenges.
“Today is far more than the commissioning of a refurbished processing unit. It is the restoration of confidence in a strategic national asset. It is the revival of an institution that has served Ghana faithfully for more than six decades,” the Minister said.
Dr. Jinapor noted that Tema Oil Refinery had played a critical role in Ghana’s downstream petroleum industry by supporting economic growth, creating employment and developing skilled engineers and technicians while supplying petroleum products to power the country’s economy.
According to him, a strong and efficient refinery would reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products, conserve foreign exchange, promote local content and create greater value from the country’s petroleum resources.
The Minister attributed the refinery’s recovery to clear government policy, strategic leadership, prudent financial management and the dedication of the refinery’s board, management, engineers and technical staff.
He commended the Governing Board for its strategic oversight and praised the Managing Director and staff for successfully undertaking key rehabilitation works using internally generated funds.
Dr. Jinapor recalled that during the company’s Annual General Meeting earlier in the year, he had publicly commended management for exceeding expectations and for prudently financing critical refurbishment works without relying solely on external funding.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to transforming Tema Oil Refinery into a modern, efficient and commercially competitive refinery capable of serving both Ghana and the wider West African sub-region.
According to the Minister, government would continue implementing policies to attract investment, strengthen corporate governance, improve operational efficiency, promote local content and create an enabling environment for the refinery to operate sustainably.
He said restoring the refinery aligned with government’s broader economic agenda by expanding domestic refining capacity, creating employment, preserving technical expertise and strengthening Ghana’s energy security.
Dr. Jinapor noted that recent global conflicts and supply chain disruptions had highlighted the importance of domestic refining capacity, arguing that energy security depended not only on crude oil production but also on the ability to refine petroleum locally.
“We remain committed to ensuring that Ghana increasingly refines its own crude oil, conserves foreign exchange, creates skilled employment and derives maximum value from its natural resources,” he said.
The Minister, however, stressed that the rehabilitation programme was not yet complete, adding that government would continue working with the refinery’s board and management to restore all processing units, including the Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCC), to full operational capacity.
He also reaffirmed government’s commitment to the country’s green transition agenda, stating that investment in an efficient and environmentally responsible refinery complemented efforts to expand renewable energy rather than contradicting them.
Dr. Jinapor expressed confidence that with continued government support and effective management, Tema Oil Refinery would make an even greater contribution to Ghana’s energy security, industrial development and economic growth.
He thanked President John Dramani Mahama for his commitment to revitalising the refinery and invited him to formally commission the refurbished facilities.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
