President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is fully operational once again, after a halt in crude oil processing resuming in 2018.
The President credited TOR’s management for successfully completing comprehensive turnaround maintenance to restore production capacity.
Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address, President Mahama said refinery’s reopening forms part of broader reforms aimed at stabilizing and strengthening Ghana’s energy sector. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a resilient system capable of delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to Ghanaians.
“I remain fully committed to turning around the sector, strengthening its foundations, and ensuring reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy security for our nation,” he said.
President Mahama also disclosed that the government has cleared approximately $500 million in outstanding gas supply payments owed to ENI and Vitol.
According to him, settling the arrears brings Ghana fully up to date on its obligations to the Sankofa partners and is expected to strengthen confidence among international energy investors.
The refinery’s return is widely viewed as a major step toward reducing dependence on imported petroleum products while enhancing local refining capacity.
Together with the settlement of gas arrears, the developments signal renewed momentum in Ghana’s push for energy stability and expanded local fuel production.
