Edmond Kombat, Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), has declared that Ghana’s only state-owned refinery is being strategically positioned to become one of the most competitive and influential refineries in West Africa following the successful rehabilitation of its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU).
Speaking at the commissioning of the refurbished CDU and other key facilities in Tema on Saturday, Mr. Kombat said the refinery’s revival marks a new chapter in Ghana’s industrial and energy transformation, driven by President John Dramani Mahama’s vision to restore the country’s strategic national assets.
He said TOR’s ambition now extends beyond meeting Ghana’s domestic fuel needs to serving the wider ECOWAS market by supplying quality refined petroleum products across the sub-region.
“Our ambition extends beyond meeting Ghana’s domestic demand. We are positioning Tema Oil Refinery to become one of the most competitive and strategically important refineries in West Africa. Our objective is clear: to serve Ghana, supply the sub-region, and establish TOR as the refinery of choice within ECOWAS,” he stated. Read Also: Mfantsiman NDC Must Unite After Elections-Obo Quansah
Mr. Kombat described the commissioning as more than the reopening of processing facilities, saying it symbolises the restoration of confidence in Ghana’s refining industry after years of operational inactivity, financial difficulties and ageing infrastructure.
He credited President Mahama for fulfilling his campaign promise to restore refining operations at TOR, noting that the refinery resumed production after extensive turnaround maintenance and has since successfully processed three separate one-million-barrel cargoes of crude oil, including Ghana’s Jubilee Medium Sweet Crude.
According to him, TOR has also returned to profitability, recording a profit before tax exceeding GH¢1 billion in the 2025 financial year after nearly a decade of continuous losses. The refinery has strengthened financial discipline, completed long-overdue audits, improved operational efficiency and begun rebuilding its financial position.
Mr. Kombat said the refinery’s recovery has also created significant employment opportunities. He disclosed that more than 1,500 Ghanaians have benefited from permanent and temporary jobs through rehabilitation projects, while a record 300 young engineers have been recruited to secure the future of Ghana’s refining industry. https://theexclusiveonline.com/
He reaffirmed TOR’s commitment to supporting the government’s 24-Hour Economy agenda, stressing that increased local refining would reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, strengthen energy security and accelerate industrialisation.
Looking ahead, the Managing Director said TOR would continue investing in modernising its facilities, expanding refining capacity, improving operational excellence and developing local technical expertise to ensure the refinery remains commercially sustainable and globally competitive.
He thanked President Mahama, Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, the Board of Directors, strategic partners, regulators and the refinery’s workforce for their collective efforts in restoring confidence in Ghana’s premier refinery.
Mr. Kombat expressed confidence that with sustained government support and disciplined management, Tema Oil Refinery is well on course to becoming a regional refining powerhouse and a major driver of Ghana’s economic transformation.
