The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has officially resumed crude oil refining operations after maintenance works on the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) carried out between August 1 and October 30, 2025.
This follows several years of the plant’s inactivity spanning through various administrations.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, December 27, 2025, the Managing Director of TOR, Edmund Kombat, indicated that the three months major Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) was carried out in line with international engineering, safety, and operational standards.
He added that the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) conducted a comprehensive regulatory inspections after the maintenance works and confirmed that TOR met all the mandatory safety and operational requirements, and has since been granted clearance by the NPA to commence refinery activities.
The statement clarified that TOR, will, in the meantime, proceed under a phased approach, ahead of the refinery’s formal recommissioning. This period, the company said, will allow for system stabilisation, performance optimisation and the assurance of sustained operational reliability.
TOR, as part of its upgrade programme, has also completed the installation of a new furnace, F-61, which is expected to be commissioned and integrated into the CDU in the coming months.
It is projected that the installation will restore the refinery’s original nameplate capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day, up from the current operating level of 28,000 barrels per stream day. Management further outlined a strategic plan to expand capacity to 60,000 barrels per stream day in the medium term, following the installation of a new air cooler.
Details for the official commissioning of the F-61 furnace will be announced in due course, as well as details of the event.
TOR expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for what it described as his continued support and leadership in restoring the refinery as a key component of Ghana’s energy infrastructure. The refinery also acknowledged the role of the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, citing his technical oversight and policy leadership as instrumental to the revival process.
TOR also commended its Board of Directors, management and staff, praising the workforce’s resilience and professionalism throughout the journey. The company reaffirmed its commitment to safe, efficient, and sustainable operations as it seeks to reclaim its position as a cornerstone of Ghana’s energy sector.
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