The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has clarified that it is fully capable of refining Ghana’s locally produced crude oil, following renewed public debate sparked by the refinery’s return to crude processing after years of inactivity.

Speaking on JoyNews, the Corporate Affairs Officer of TOR, Godwin Mahama, said the refinery’s capacity to process local crude is not in doubt, stressing that Ghana’s crude oil is a sweet crude, which TOR is technically designed to refine.

“There have been a lot of issues as to whether TOR can refine the local crude or not. It is a fact that we can refine the local crude because what we are currently refining is a sweet crude, and our local crude is also sweet,” he explained.

Mr Mahama recalled that during 2015–2016, under the leadership of former Managing Director Awuah Darko, TOR successfully refined Jubilee crude, demonstrating the refinery’s compatibility with Ghana’s oil.

According to him, the key factor going forward will be the type of contract the Government of Ghana enters into for crude supply, rather than technical limitations at the refinery.

“All will depend on the contract the government signs and the type of arrangement involved,” he said.

He explained that if Ghana adopts a model where the state buys and owns the crude, then all refined petroleum products would remain in the country, allowing Ghanaians to derive maximum benefit.

“If we buy the crude ourselves and own it, then every finished product that comes out of the refinery remains in Ghana, and Ghanaians get the full benefit,” Mr Mahama noted.

However, he said an alternative tolling system—where private companies supply crude for TOR to refine at a fee—would mean the refined products are returned to the owners of the crude.

“If companies bring their crude and we refine for them under the tolling system, we only take charges, and the finished product goes back to them,” he added.

The clarification comes on the back of TOR’s resumption of crude oil refining operations, marking a major milestone in efforts to revive Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.

The refinery restarted operations after successfully completing extensive Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) works on its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) between August 1 and October 30, 2025. TOR says the maintenance was carried out within schedule and met international engineering, safety and operational standards.

Following the works, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) conducted regulatory inspections and cleared TOR to resume operations after confirming compliance with all mandatory requirements.

As part of a phased return to full capacity, TOR is currently stabilising its systems and optimising performance ahead of full recommissioning, a move management says will ensure long-term reliability and sustainability.

The refinery has also completed installation of a new furnace, F-61, which is expected to be commissioned soon and integrated into the CDU. Once operational, the upgrade will increase refining capacity from 28,000 barrels per stream day to the original 45,000 barrels per stream day, with plans to scale up to 60,000 barrels per stream day in the medium term.

Government is expected to formally commission the new furnace at a later date, with TOR indicating that details will be announced in due course.