The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has officially resumed crude oil refining operations after several years of inactivity, marking a major milestone in Ghana’s efforts to revitalise the downstream petroleum sector and strengthen national energy security.

The breakthrough follows the successful completion of major Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) works on the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), which were carried out over a three-month period from August 1 to October 30, 2025.

According to a press statement issued by TOR on Saturday, December 27, 2025, the maintenance exercise involved extensive repairs, inspections, and upgrades to critical systems, all executed in strict compliance with international engineering, safety, and operational standards.

Following the TAM works, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) conducted comprehensive regulatory inspections and confirmed TOR’s full compliance with all mandatory safety and operational requirements.

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This regulatory clearance paved the way for the resumption of refining activities, which officially began on Friday, December 19, 2025. For the first time in several years, all refined petroleum product lines are now flowing into storage.

TOR indicated that the refinery will continue operating in the coming months as part of a phased transition toward full operational capacity, with a focus on system stabilisation, performance optimisation, and long-term operational reliability ahead of full recommissioning.

The refinery has also completed the installation of a new furnace, F-61, which is expected to be commissioned soon and integrated into the CDU. This upgrade will enable TOR to restore its original nameplate capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day, up from the current operating level of 28,000 barrels per stream day, with plans to further expand capacity to 60,000 barrels per stream day in the medium term.

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TOR expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, its Board, management, and staff, as well as the Ghanaian public, for their support throughout the refinery’s revival journey.

See the statement and video below:

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Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) resumes operations after years of inactivity — a major step toward energy security and national revival. pic.twitter.com/hIqBIZMia9

— TEMA OIL REFINERY (TOR) (@TemaOilrefinery) December 27, 2025