The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has received one million barrels of Ghana’s indigenous Jubilee Medium Sweet Crude as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to revive the country’s only state-owned refinery and strengthen national energy security through increased local refining.
The shipment, delivered aboard the MT Apache on July 15, 2026, marks another milestone in the government’s strategy to ensure that crude oil produced in Ghana is refined locally rather than exported in its raw form. The initiative is aimed at creating more value from the country’s petroleum resources, reducing reliance on imported refined products and supporting industrial growth.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 16, 2026, TOR said the latest delivery fulfilled President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to promoting domestic refining and building an integrated petroleum value chain that maximises the benefits of Ghana’s natural resources.
According to the refinery, the cargo is the second consignment of one million barrels of Ghanaian indigenous crude supplied to TOR under President Mahama’s administration. The refinery described the development as a significant step towards restoring its operations and ensuring that Ghana’s oil resources contribute directly to the country’s economic development.
TOR explained that the latest shipment is also the third one-million-barrel crude cargo received since May 2026. The two previous consignments consisted of Bonga crude from Nigeria and Baleine crude from Côte d’Ivoire, both of which have played a key role in supporting the refinery’s return to active operations after years of limited production.
The refinery said the consistent supply of crude oil has enabled it to sustain refining activities and produce petroleum products for both the domestic market and neighbouring countries. It added that increased refining capacity would not only improve the availability of fuel in Ghana but also strengthen the country’s energy security by reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.
TOR noted that refining locally produced crude creates additional value within the economy by supporting industries, generating employment and retaining more foreign exchange that would otherwise be spent on fuel imports. The refinery believes the government’s local refining policy will contribute significantly to Ghana’s long-term industrialisation agenda.
Describing the arrival of the Jubilee Medium Sweet Crude as another important milestone in its revitalisation programme, TOR reaffirmed its commitment to improving operational efficiency, increasing production and ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality refined petroleum products for consumers.
The refinery also expressed appreciation to President Mahama for his continued support and leadership in the effort to restore TOR to full operational capacity. According to the statement, the President’s confidence in the refinery has motivated management and staff to remain focused on delivering excellence and rebuilding TOR into a strong national asset.
The statement further commended the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, for providing strategic direction and sustained support throughout the refinery’s recovery process. TOR said the minister’s efforts have been instrumental in restoring refining operations and ensuring the regular supply of crude oil needed to maintain production.
In addition, the refinery acknowledged the contributions of its partners across the petroleum value chain. These include crude suppliers Fujeirah and Triangle Trading Commodities, regulators, financiers, logistics providers and technical partners whose collaboration has helped support the refinery’s resurgence.
TOR emphasised that the cooperation of these stakeholders has been crucial in ensuring the successful delivery of crude supplies and maintaining the refinery’s operational momentum as it works towards achieving long-term sustainability.
Looking ahead, the refinery reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government’s vision of strengthening the link between Ghana’s upstream oil production and downstream refining sector through increased local processing of crude oil.
It said expanding domestic refining capacity would help create more jobs, enhance energy security, reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported petroleum products and stimulate industrial growth. The refinery also believes the strategy will position Ghana as a competitive petroleum refining and distribution hub within the West African sub-region.
As TOR continues its recovery, the refinery expressed confidence that sustained government support, regular crude supply and strong partnerships across the industry will help transform it into a key driver of Ghana’s energy sector and broader economic development.
