After years of operational challenges, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has taken significant steps to secure a consistent supply of crude oil.
A move aimed at ensuring the refinery maintains uninterrupted operations and supports Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
Corporate Affairs Officer, Godwin Mahama, told JoyNews that the refinery has signed structured Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with crude suppliers to guarantee that the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) will always have access to crude oil whenever required.
“I want to assure everybody and all experts that structured MOUs have been signed to make sure that we don’t lack crude. So that at any time the CDU needs to be fed with crude, crude will be available,” Mr Mahama stated.
He acknowledged that inconsistent crude supply has historically been one of the key reasons TOR struggled to operate efficiently. “Crude has always been one of the problems why TOR has not been functioning,” he said.
Upon assuming office, the current management team, including the Deputy Managing Director, conducted a comprehensive review using a fishbone analysis, a structured problem-solving tool, to identify the root causes of the refinery’s recurring operational issues. The study revealed that crude shortages, outdated equipment, and operational inefficiencies had been central to TOR’s extended periods of inactivity.
Based on these findings, management has put in place robust operational systems to prevent a recurrence of past failures. According to Mr Mahama, the measures are designed not only to restart the refinery but also to ensure that its revival is sustainable over the long term.
TOR recently resumed crude oil refining after completing extensive Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) work on its CDU between August 1 and October 30, 2025. The maintenance was carried out in line with international engineering, safety, and operational standards. Following this, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) conducted regulatory inspections and confirmed that TOR met all required safety and operational standards before clearing it to resume operations.
As part of a phased return to full capacity, TOR will initially operate to stabilise its systems and optimise performance ahead of full recommissioning. Additionally, the refinery has completed the installation of a new furnace, F-61, which is expected to be commissioned soon. Once operational, the furnace will increase refining capacity from 28,000 barrels per stream day to 45,000 barrels, with medium-term plans to expand to 60,000 barrels. Government is expected to formally commission the new furnace at a later date, with details to be announced in due course.
With these measures in place, TOR management says the refinery is better positioned to overcome past operational challenges, providing a stronger foundation for sustainable refining operations in the coming years.
