Ghana could significantly reduce its dependence on imported petroleum products if its two major refineries operate at full capacity, this is according to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
This, officials say, would bring major economic relief at a time when the country is struggling with import pressures and infrastructure constraints.
Speaking in an interview with The High Street Journal, the NPA’s Director of Economic Regulation and Planning, Abass Ibrahim Tasunti, revealed that Sentuo Oil Refinery has increased production, prompting regulators to visit the facility to assess operations firsthand.
The visit, he explained, was part of the NPA’s responsibility to ensure that domestic refining is functioning efficiently and contributing to national energy security.
“If domestic production in the country is going well, it helps to ensure security of supply. So we were there as a regulator to monitor the major refinery business right now. So we also visited TOR (Tema Oil Refinery) as well. They are also planning to come back to start production. So we are monitoring as well,” Tasunti noted, adding that Sentuo is currently the largest active refinery in the country.
The NPA has also visited the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which is preparing to resume production. According to Tasunti, once both Sentuo and TOR are fully operational, they could together meet about half of Ghana’s fuel demand.
This development could be a game-changer for the economy. With imports currently making up a large share of fuel supply, Ghana’s import infrastructure is under strain. Storage, handling, and port facilities are increasingly stretched, raising costs and operational risks. Increasing local refining would ease this pressure and make fuel supply more predictable.
Beyond logistics, cutting imports by up to 50 percent would also help conserve foreign exchange, reduce exposure to global price shocks, and support greater price stability at home. It would mean fewer dollars spent abroad and more value retained within the local economy.
Abass Tasunti stressed that the NPA will continue to closely monitor both refineries to ensure they operate safely and efficiently. The hope, he said, is for sustained production that steadily reduces the country’s reliance on imports.
“When these two refineries together are producing at full capacity, they can meet about 50% of the country’s demand, so we can minimise imports because already we have a challenge with our import infrastructure. So, having more domestic production helps us to reduce the pressure on our facilities for imports. So we are hoping that the two refineries can be actively producing and reduce the level of imports that we currently have,” he noted.
If Sentuo maintains its momentum and TOR successfully returns to production, Ghana’s energy landscape could shift in a meaningful way, from heavy import dependence toward stronger domestic supply and greater economic resilience.
