Private oil refinery Sentuo Oil Refinery is set to receive approximately one million barrels of crude oil from Ghana’s Jubilee Field today for local processing, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to expand domestic refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.
The shipment is expected to strengthen Ghana’s push towards local value addition in the petroleum sector at a time when ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to create uncertainty in global energy markets.
Industry analysts believe the move aligns with the government’s broader strategy of increasing local processing of Ghana’s crude oil to enhance energy security and minimise exposure to external market shocks.
The development could also influence fuel prices in the country. Market observers note that petroleum products imported into Ghana typically include freight and insurance costs in their final pricing structure. By refining crude locally, some of these additional costs could be reduced, potentially creating room for more competitive fuel prices for consumers.
Speaking to Joy Business, Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, described the initiative as timely and necessary given current developments in the global oil market.
He commended the government and the Ministry of Energy for facilitating the arrangement, describing it as one of the most significant interventions in the petroleum sector in recent years. Mr Amoah further revealed that the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is expected to receive another shipment of crude oil in July for local processing.
Drive Towards Local Refining
The latest development follows an announcement by President John Mahama in London that TOR would begin processing Ghanaian crude oil in June 2026 as part of efforts to increase local value addition and reduce the country’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
According to the President, crude oil from Ghana’s offshore fields would be supplied to TOR for refining, reviving a policy initiative first introduced during his previous administration.
Government officials have consistently maintained that refining more of Ghana’s crude domestically will help retain economic value within the country, strengthen energy security, create jobs and support industrial development.
About Sentuo Oil Refinery
According to company data, Sentuo Oil Refinery has processed more than five million tonnes of crude oil since commencing operations in Ghana.
Located within the Tema Industrial Zone, the refinery was developed under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The first phase of the project, completed in 2022, established an annual processing capacity of two million tonnes. A second expansion phase completed in 2024 increased total refining capacity to five million tonnes per year.
The company says its operations support Ghana’s One District, One Factory industrialisation agenda and incorporate modern refining technologies, energy-efficient systems, environmental protection measures and scalable production infrastructure.
The arrival of the latest crude shipment is expected to further enhance local refining activities and advance Ghana’s ambition of building a more resilient, self-sufficient and competitive petroleum sector.
