Government Commitment to Revamp Tema Oil Refinery: 90-Day Strategic Partner Deadline
In a recent development, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Herbert Krapa, announced the government’s commitment to support and guide the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) in securing a strategic partner within the next 90 days. This initiative is part of a broader plan to revitalize the refinery’s operations and expand its capacity.
During his inaugural visit to TOR as Minister, Mr. Krapa emphasized the government’s priority to equip the refinery with necessary capital, technology, and operational efficiency. He highlighted the immediate need for interventions, including operationalizing key departments such as the laboratory, to prepare the facility for future partnerships.
Kofi Tagoe Mocumbi, Managing Director of TOR, assured the minister that the process of selecting a strategic partner had already commenced, with a 90-day timeline set for completion. The minister’s entourage included key figures such as Wilhelmina Asamoah, Chief Director of the Ministry, and Deputy Chief Executive Officers of the National Petroleum Authority, Perry Curtis Kwabla Okudzeto and Linda Asante, alongside other ministry officials.
Mr. Krapa stressed the government’s dedication to ensuring TOR’s viability and underscored the importance of a unified approach among stakeholders, including the board, management, and the union, to expedite the refinery’s revival.
With a current refining capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd), TOR plays a significant role in Ghana’s oil sector. However, it has recently been relegated to functioning as a depot and storage facility for oil marketing companies importing finished petroleum products. The government’s focus is now on transforming TOR into a fully operational refinery, starting with the reactivation of its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) within the next three months.
Mr. Krapa noted that while securing a strategic investor is the ultimate goal, preparatory work must be undertaken to ensure the refinery’s infrastructure—such as terminals, pipelines, laboratories, and storage facilities—operates efficiently. These improvements are expected to generate immediate revenue and lay the groundwork for a successful partnership.
Perry Okudzeto, Deputy CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, reaffirmed the regulator’s commitment to providing the necessary support, guidance, and regulatory framework to facilitate TOR’s resurgence. The joint effort aims to restore TOR as a key player in Ghana’s energy sector, contributing to the nation’s economic growth and energy security.
