Tema Oil Refinery Set to Resume Operations Within Three Months, Says Energy Minister
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Herbert Krapa, has revealed that the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is slated to resume operations within the next three months.
This development marks a significant milestone for Ghana’s energy sector, which has faced prolonged challenges due to the refinery’s inactivity.
In a Facebook post following his working visit to TOR and Sentuo Oil Refinery on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Mr. Krapa disclosed that TOR’s management has agreed on a three-month timeline for the refinery’s recommencement.
“Earlier today, I paid working visits to Tema Oil Refinery and Sentuo Oil Refinery. I am happy to announce that together with the Management of TOR, we agreed on a three-month timeline for the resumption of the plant,” he stated.
Mr. Krapa emphasized the government’s commitment to securing a strategic partner for TOR, a critical step towards revitalizing production. “We are in the final stages of securing a strategic partner for the refinery, and this will enable TOR to commence operations,” he noted.
The visit underscored the importance of reviving TOR’s Testing Laboratory to boost revenue generation, with Mr. Krapa urging collaboration between TOR and Sentuo for mutual growth.
“I charged both TOR and Sentuo to see each other as partners and collaborate for the growth of both refineries,” he added.
During his visit, Mr. Krapa called for unified stakeholder support to ensure TOR’s revival.
“There is no gain in saying TOR needs all our support and attention, and we all need to put our hands on deck,” he remarked. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, he mentioned, “It is for these reasons that I chose TOR to be my first official visit to the institutions that work under the ministry. I don’t think it’s late in the day.”
Currently led by Managing Director Kofi Tagoe Mocumbi, TOR has been dormant for several years due to a lack of crude oil, its primary raw material. Prior to its shutdown, the refinery had the capacity to process approximately 45,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Stakeholders within the oil value chain have expressed concerns that TOR’s prolonged inactivity has adversely impacted the price of imported fuel. The planned resumption of operations is expected to alleviate some of these pressures and contribute to stabilizing fuel prices in the domestic market.
