Ghana’s Tema Oil Refinery has resumed crude oil refining operations after several years of inactivity, marking a significant milestone in efforts to revitalise the country’s downstream petroleum sector, the company said in a statement issued on Friday.
The resumption follows the successful completion of major turnaround maintenance works on the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit, carried out between 1 August and 30 October 2025. Tema Oil Refinery said the maintenance was executed within three months and in strict compliance with international engineering, safety and operational standards.
Following the works, the National Petroleum Authority conducted comprehensive regulatory inspections and confirmed that the refinery met all mandatory safety and operational requirements, clearing it to restart refining activities.
As part of a phased return to full capacity, the refinery will continue operating in the coming months to stabilise systems, optimise performance and ensure sustained operational reliability ahead of its official recommissioning.
The company also announced the installation of a new furnace, known as F-61, which is expected to be commissioned and integrated into the Crude Distillation Unit in due course. The upgrade is expected to restore the refinery’s original nameplate capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day from the current operating level of about 28,000 barrels, with plans to expand to 60,000 barrels in the medium term after the installation of a new air-cooler.
The government is expected to formally commission the new furnace at a later date, with details to be communicated.
Tema Oil Refinery expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama and Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor for their support, while reaffirming its commitment to safe, efficient and sustainable operations.