The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) says it expects Sentuo Oil Refinery to maintain consistent fuel production through December 2026.

NPA Chief Executive Officer Godwin Kudzo Tameklo said the refinery’s continued production would contribute to Ghana’s domestic fuel supply in the coming months.

“We are confident that, from now until December, we will have consistent production from Sentuo,” he said in an interview with JoyNews on September 18, 2026.

His comments come as industry stakeholders continue to highlight the importance of domestic refining to Ghana’s fuel supply.

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However, the Chief Executive of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), Dr Patrick Kwaku Ofori, said having Sentuo and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) operating locally could help reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

“Having the two in-country at least reduces the burden of product supply insecurity,” he earlier told Citi News.

According to Dr Ofori, the two refineries could potentially meet between 25% and 30% of Ghana’s national fuel consumption, with imports making up the difference.

He, however, called for increased refining capacity and improved efficiency to enable the country to meet a larger share of its fuel needs locally.

Dr Ofori cautioned that increased domestic refining would not automatically translate into lower fuel prices at the pump.

He explained that local refineries still buy crude oil at prices linked to international market benchmarks, meaning the cost of producing fuel locally can still be affected by global oil prices.

In a separate interview on September 17, he said motorists should not necessarily expect immediate reductions in pump prices simply because the local refineries are operating.

He also questioned the effectiveness of the GH¢2-per-litre fuel subsidy and argued that resources could instead be directed towards measures such as public transport and a long-term energy strategy.

He further warned that prolonged constraints in global fuel supplies could affect Ghana.

While steady production at Sentuo is expected to support domestic supply, the NPA's assurance does not rule out other factors that could affect fuel availability or prices.

For consumers, domestic refining provides an additional source of supply alongside imports, while the efficiency and cost of refinery operations will remain important factors in determining the eventual price of fuel at the pump.

FKA/MA