TOR back in full operation
President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday commissioned refurbished facilities at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), marking the refinery’s return to full operation after years of dormancy and rehabilitation works.
The President toured the plant and commissioned key units including the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, a new steam boiler, a crude heater, and other upgraded infrastructure. He described the event as a major milestone for Ghana’s energy sector and for efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
A highlight of the ceremony was the official receipt of 1 million barrels of Jubilee crude oil, which will be processed at TOR. Government officials said the crude supply will help the refinery run at capacity and produce petrol, diesel, LPG and other products for the local market.
President Mahama said the revival of TOR is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector, create jobs and stabilize fuel prices. He noted that for too long the country has exported crude only to import finished products at higher cost, a cycle that drains foreign exchange.
The Board and Management of TOR said the rehabilitation was made possible through government support, technical partnerships and new management systems aimed at improving efficiency and safety. They assured Ghanaians that the refinery will now operate on a sustainable commercial basis.
Industry players welcomed the development, saying a functional TOR will introduce competition into the market and help moderate prices at the pumps. However, they cautioned that consistent crude supply, good governance and debt management will be critical to keeping the refinery running.
The return of TOR to full operation is expected to have a ripple effect on transport, manufacturing and power costs nationwide.
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