A delegation from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), led by Chief Executive Officer Edudzi Tameklo, visited the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) on Thursday, January 15, to assess progress following the Authority’s approval for the refinery to resume full operations.

During the visit, the team toured key operational facilities to verify compliance and evaluate efficiency.

TOR’s Managing Director, Edmond Kombat, expressed gratitude for NPA’s continued support, noting that effective management has ensured fully stocked tanks, a clear indicator of improved operations.

Commending the leadership and workforce at TOR, Mr Tameklo reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the refinery.

“I will be the number one champion for the need to support TOR, because if TOR is working, it makes my work easier,” he said.

Drawing on lessons from a recent visit to the Dangote Refinery, he stressed the importance of scale, efficiency, modernisation, and automation in operations.

“No one should be sent to go and turn a valve,” he added.

He also emphasised the shared responsibility between NPA and TOR to maintain plant integrity. “We must ensure that we do not say ‘proceed’ when what is required is ‘stop work’, because the integrity of the plant must not be compromised,” he said.

Mr Tameklo further noted that the revival of TOR has broader implications for Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector, including enhanced price stability and significant foreign exchange savings by reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.

The visit concluded with a tour of the facility, confirming that TOR is operational and fully compliant with regulatory standards.

TOR management expressed appreciation to Mr Tameklo and the NPA for their support, which they said has been critical to the refinery’s successful return to full operations.