After nearly eight years of dormancy, Ghana’s Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is gearing up to resume crude oil refining operations by the end of October 2025. The announcement was made by the refinery’s Corporate Affairs Officer, Mr. Godwin Mahama, during an interview on Onua FM’s Yɛn Nsempa Morning Show, marking a major milestone in Ghana’s energy sector revival.
Mr. Mahama revealed that TOR, which had been largely inactive for close to a decade, survived by leasing its tank farms to Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) for fuel storage. He explained that the refinery’s new management made the restoration of refining operations a top priority through a comprehensive Turnaround Maintenance Project, now 98% complete.
According to Mahama, the refinery is expected to return to full refining capacity by the end of this month once the final handover from the maintenance committee to the production team is completed. The revival efforts have involved both permanent and temporary technical staff working tirelessly over the past three months to restore TOR’s operational efficiency.
A recent staff durbar confirmed that the maintenance team will hand over the plant to the production unit by Friday, signaling the start of crude refining for the first time since the long shutdown. The initiative, led by TOR Managing Director Mr. Edmund Combat, has been widely praised for reviving the refinery’s core function and restoring confidence in Ghana’s refining capacity.
Mr. Mahama also credited President John Mahama for his role in supporting the refinery’s rehabilitation, emphasizing that the project’s success will help reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
He added that once TOR resumes operations, it is expected to meet up to 60% of the country’s local fuel demand. This, he noted, will help save foreign exchange, stabilize the Ghanaian cedi, and contribute to national economic recovery.
The refinery’s return to operation represents a significant achievement in Ghana’s quest for energy independence, job creation, and industrial growth. It underscores the government’s commitment to revitalizing key state-owned enterprises to strengthen the national economy.
With the Turnaround Maintenance nearly complete and the workforce mobilized, TOR’s revival signals a new chapter for Ghana’s petroleum industry — one focused on sustainability, efficiency, and self-reliance.