COPEC Applauds TOR Turnaround After Years of Inactivity
The Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, has welcomed the ongoing revitalisation of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), describing it as a major milestone in the recovery of Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector after years of operational challenges and inactivity.
Speaking after President John Dramani Mahama commissioned the refurbished Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) of the refinery, Mr. Amoah said the successful rehabilitation of the facility marks an important step towards restoring TOR’s capacity to refine petroleum products locally, a move he believes will strengthen Ghana’s energy security and reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
Mr. Amoah, who attended the commissioning ceremony, expressed optimism about the refinery’s renewed direction, stating that TOR is showing clear signs of returning to productive operations after remaining largely dormant for several years.
He revealed that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including COPEC, had visited the refinery a few weeks earlier to inspect the ongoing rehabilitation works, where they observed the installation of the refurbished Crude Distillation Unit as well as the restoration of one of the refinery’s generating units.
According to him, the restored generating unit will enable TOR to generate electricity to power its own operations while producing excess power that can be supplied to the national grid.
Mr. Amoah noted that the progress made at the refinery demonstrates that meaningful investments are finally being undertaken to restore the facility to operational efficiency.
He further welcomed remarks by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, indicating that President Mahama had directed that crude oil supplied to the refinery should not require repayment in United States dollars.
He explained that such an arrangement would significantly reduce the financial burden on the refinery and improve its ability to sustain operations.
Mr. Amoah described the President’s directive as a positive intervention that could strengthen TOR’s financial position and support government’s broader efforts to revive Ghana’s petroleum industry.
He said the rehabilitation of the refinery and the policy measures announced by government signal a renewed commitment to restoring TOR as a strategic national asset capable of supporting industrial growth, improving fuel security and reducing the country’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
According to him, for the first time in many years, there are visible indications that “something good and useful” is happening at Ghana’s premier oil refinery, expressing confidence that the ongoing reforms and investments will reposition TOR to play its expected role in the country’s energy sector.
