President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday, August 1, officially reopened the upgraded Crude Distillation Unit at the Tema Oil Refinery, signaling the plant’s full return to business.
The event also celebrated the successful refining of one million barrels of crude from the Jubilee Field into finished fuels, a first step in what officials call a new chapter for the state-owned refinery.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Mahama said the restoration of the CDU, the repair of the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, the fitting of a new F-61 crude heater, and the revival of Boiler No. 8 were far more than technical upgrades.
“In our view, these works reflect growing belief in what Ghanaian industry can achieve,” he said. “They show we are building infrastructure today that will serve the next generation.
Each boost to our refining ability cuts the amount of fuel we must import. Each cedi spent here makes the country more self-reliant.”
The President linked the refinery’s rebirth to the original purpose set by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who opened TOR in 1963 to anchor industrial growth and secure energy supplies.
Though the refinery has seen highs and lows over 60 years, Mahama said its recovery proves that public institutions can succeed with the right leadership and discipline. He pushed back against claims that state companies only survive when sold off.
He also revealed that the last government had considered leasing TOR for 15 years at $22 million, but staff resistance blocked the plan.
“By God’s grace, a focused board, management team, workers and partners have reversed TOR’s fortunes,” Mahama said.Crucially, he noted the turnaround came without state funding.
“TOR did this by itself. Government has not invested one cedi in this comeback,” the President added.
