The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has commenced the processing of Ghana’s locally produced crude oil after receiving 950,000 barrels of crude oil from the Sankofa-Gye Nyame field on Friday.
The delivery under a strategic partnership with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC),will see TOR accessing crude oil from the country’s oil fields.
The crude consignment, supplied through GNPC and transported via Sonangol Cazenga, is earmarked for processing into finished petroleum products for the Ghanaian market.
The development represents a monumental leap in Ghana’s quest to bolster domestic refining capacity and maximize the utilization of indigenously produced crude for local fuel consumption.
Sankofa crude is typically shipped in cargoes of about 950,000 barrels.
According to TOR, the landmark shipment underscores the immense potential for enhanced synergy between Ghana’s upstream and downstream petroleum sectors, with locally produced crude being channelled into domestic refining to retain value.
The Managing Director of TOR said the partnership with GNPC presents an opportunity to strengthen refinery operations while ensuring that more value from Ghana’s petroleum resources is retained within the country.
He described the receipt of the Sankofa crude as a milestone for the refinery and said it would support efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable petroleum industry.
The shipment comes at a time when TOR is on a steady path of resurgence following extensive turnaround maintenance. President John Dramani Mahama reported in his 2026 State of the Nation Address that the refinery had resumed crude processing for the first time since 2018.
The refinery noted that the collaboration also aligns seamlessly with government’s overarching objective of strengthening linkages between the upstream, midstream and downstream segments of the petroleum industry.
TOR and GNPC are expected to explore further areas of cooperation, according to the refinery.
The TOR Managing Director expressed appreciation to President Mahama and Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor for their support, as well as to GNPC’s management and the refinery’s tolling partners, Fujairah and Triangle Commodities Trading, for their continued cooperation.