Tema Oil Refinery Limited (TOR) has resumed operation on the refining of crude oil operation marking a historic milestone after several year of being inactive.
This latest milestone comes after TOR wrapped up major turnaround maintenance works on its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), a process that took place over about three months, from August 1 to October 30, 2025. The exercise focused on fixing long-standing mechanical and operational issues that had kept the plant idle for years.
According to officials, the maintenance was carried out in line with recognized international engineering and safety standards, with strict attention paid to operational requirements. After the work was completed, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) carried out detailed inspections at the refinery and subsequently confirmed that TOR had met all the necessary safety and operational conditions.
With regulatory clearance secured, refining officially resumed on Friday, December 19, 2025. For the first time in several years, refined petroleum products began flowing through the lines and into storage, marking a significant step in TOR’s return to active service.
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Management says the refinery will not immediately run at full capacity. Instead, operations will continue gradually over the next few months as systems are stabilised, performance fine-tuned, and reliability tested ahead of a formal recommissioning ceremony.
In the meantime, TOR has also completed work on a new furnace, known as F-61, which is expected to be commissioned and integrated into the CDU shortly. Once fully operational, the furnace will allow the refinery to return to its original nameplate capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day, up from the current level of about 28,000 barrels per day. Plans are already in place to push capacity further to 60,000 barrels per day in the medium term, once a new air-cooler is installed.
Government sources say the formal commissioning and tie-in of the F-61 furnace will be done at a later date. Details regarding the event, including timing and arrangements, will be communicated when finalised.
TOR has publicly acknowledged the role of President John Dramani Mahama, crediting his support and leadership for keeping the refinery revival on course and restoring TOR’s place in Ghana’s energy infrastructure.
The refinery also recognised the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, noting that his close involvement, technical supervision, and policy direction were key to getting the refinery back on its feet and aligning the work with national energy goals.
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Management further praised TOR’s Board of Directors, leadership team, and staff, describing their commitment and resilience as critical throughout the difficult revival process. Workers, according to the company, remain focused on sustaining operations and improving performance across the board.
The Board and Management of TOR Ltd. also expressed appreciation to the Government of Ghana, industry stakeholders, and the general public for their patience, trust, and continued support as the refinery works to fully regain its operational strength.
