The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has charged the newly inaugurated Board of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to urgently reverse the state-owned refinery’s long-standing operational and financial crisis, and reposition it as a commercially viable national asset.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the board on Monday, July 22, 2025, Hon. Jinapor said the time for pilot initiatives and trial strategies at TOR was over. “Your foremost duty is to get TOR back on stream,” the Minister emphasized. “You must implement bold and strategic actions to return the refinery to profitability. TOR is not just another company; it is a vital national asset.”
He challenged the board to revive operations in the shortest possible time and lead reforms that will restore the refinery’s lost credibility and competitiveness in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
The Tema Oil Refinery, once a symbol of Ghana’s energy self-reliance, has been plagued by years of mismanagement, financial misgovernance, and political interference, leading to a near-total collapse of its operations. Commissioned in 1963, TOR operated as a reliable crude refinery for decades until the early 2000s, when mounting debts, poor leadership, and maintenance neglect began to cripple its performance.
By 2009, the refinery had shut down due to severe financial constraints. Attempts at revival, through various turnaround plans and strategic partner engagements, have largely failed. A 2021 deal with Torentco Asset Management, for instance, was terminated amid concerns over transparency and value-for-money.
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Key infrastructure has also suffered from years of underinvestment. For much of the last five years, TOR has operated below 10% of its full capacity of 45,000 barrels per day.
As of 2024, TOR’s debt stock reportedly exceeded GH¢5 billion. The refinery’s accounts have not been audited since 2019, and operational losses have continued to mount. The lack of a reliable crude supply schedule and exclusion from Ghana’s national oil scheduling committee have further worsened its ability to plan and secure feedstock.
At a June 22, 2025, oversight meeting with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, Acting Managing Director Edmond Kombat disclosed that TOR is targeting October 2025 for a restart, contingent on government addressing key financial and policy bottlenecks. He noted that while upgrade works on the gantry, terminal, and laboratory facilities are progressing steadily, the refinery’s biggest constraint remains financial.
Kombat emphasized the need for urgent government intervention, particularly in three areas: a clear debt restructuring plan, the conversion of government liabilities into equity, and the restoration of TOR’s full access to ESLA funds.
With these interventions, he stated, TOR could refine up to 60 percent of Ghana’s domestic crude requirements, potentially saving the country more than US$400 million each month in petroleum imports. He also urged the reinstatement of TOR on the national oil scheduling committee to ensure predictable access to crude oil for refining.
An external audit of TOR’s accounts is currently underway and is expected to be submitted to Parliament by the end of July 2025. This move is part of broader efforts to enhance transparency and rebuild investor and public confidence in the refinery.
With new leadership in place and political will seemingly aligned, the coming months could determine whether TOR finally turns a corner, or slips further into decline.
Members of the newly inaugurated board include:
- Hon. Nayon Bilijo – Chairperson
- Edmond Kombat, Esq. – Acting Managing Director
- Mr. Thomas Martey Laari – Member
- Mr. Robert Kempes Ofosuhene – Member
- Hon. Dr. Sebastian N. Sandaare – Member
- Mr. Mugabe Saifu Maase – Member
- Hon. Mohammed Issah Bataglia – Member
- Osabarima Kyei Osafo Kantanka – Member
- Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah – Member
