Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor has outlined an ambitious strategy to strengthen Ghana’s downstream petroleum industry, with expanded local refining, policy reforms and increased investment forming the cornerstone of government’s plan to position the country as a leading petroleum hub in West Africa.
Speaking at the 7th Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GhIPCon 2026) in Accra, the Minister said recent global energy shocks had exposed the need for countries to build more resilient petroleum industries capable of withstanding supply disruptions and price volatility.
He announced that the next one-million-barrel allocation of Jubilee crude oil will be supplied to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as part of government’s strategy to revitalise domestic refining and retain more value within the local economy.
Dr. Jinapor further disclosed that ongoing expansion projects at Tema Oil Refinery and Sentuo Oil Refinery are expected to enable both facilities to meet about 70 percent of Ghana’s domestic demand for refined petroleum products once completed.
According to him, increasing local refining capacity will reduce dependence on imported fuels, ease pressure on foreign exchange demand, improve supply security, strengthen Ghana’s balance of payments and create thousands of jobs across the petroleum value chain.
The Minister said government remains committed to creating a predictable regulatory environment that promotes investment, encourages fair competition and improves transparency across the downstream petroleum sector. He added that the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and the National Petroleum Authority are implementing reforms to improve efficiency and enhance the sector’s resilience.
Highlighting developments in the upstream petroleum sector, Dr. Jinapor said renewed investment and improved field management are reversing years of declining crude oil production. He revealed that the Jubilee Field recently reached production of about 95,000 barrels of oil per day, while gas output has increased by more than 50 million standard cubic feet per day.
He also noted that government absorbed part of fuel price increases for eight consecutive weeks, at one point subsidising diesel by GH¢2.00 per litre, but stressed that long-term energy security cannot depend on fuel subsidies alone.
Instead, he called for sustained investment in domestic refining, strategic petroleum reserves, storage infrastructure, efficient transportation networks and diversified supply chains to strengthen Ghana’s energy security.
Dr. Jinapor further urged greater adoption of digital technologies, automation and data-driven regulation to improve operational efficiency while calling for increased participation of indigenous Ghanaian companies, technology transfer and skills development.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to a just energy transition, saying petroleum products will continue to play a significant role in Ghana’s energy mix even as the country invests in cleaner fuels and emerging energy technologies.
The Minister expressed confidence that with the right mix of policies, innovation and investment, Ghana can emerge as the leading petroleum and energy hub in West Africa.