Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is back in operation, marking a significant development for Ghana's energy sector. During the 2026 State of the Nation Address in Parliament, President Mahama shared that the refinery has once again started processing crude oil into petroleum products after years of dormancy.
According to Ghana Web, the refinery's return is seen as a symbol of hope for enhancing the country's energy independence. The facility had been non-operational for several years due to financial issues and maintenance challenges, which had forced Ghana to rely on imported refined petroleum products.
After undergoing extensive turnaround maintenance on its Crude Distillation Unit between August and October 2025, TOR resumed refining activities in December 2025. The National Petroleum Authority approved the restart on December 19, 2025, following a series of regulatory inspections. The Institute for Energy Security and the Legal Green Association have both acknowledged TOR's revival as a critical step towards boosting Ghana's energy security and economic resilience.
Management at TOR has stated that operations will resume gradually in a phased approach to ensure system stability and performance optimization. Planned upgrades, including a new furnace, are expected to enhance the refinery's capacity over time. This reopening is seen as a strategic initiative to reduce Ghana's reliance on imported fuel and to strengthen the downstream petroleum sector.