Tullow Oil has begun selling crude produced from Ghana’s Jubilee and Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) fields to local refineries, in a development expected to strengthen the link between domestic oil production and refining.
The company says its first local crude sale was completed earlier this year, with Sentuo Oil Refinery purchasing the cargo.
Tullow Chief Financial Officer Richard Miller disclosed the development during a virtual meeting with investors following the release of the company’s half-year results.
He was responding to questions about efforts to increase the volume of Jubilee crude refined locally.
Mr Miller described the development as a significant milestone for Ghana’s petroleum sector, particularly given the challenges that have historically limited the supply of locally produced crude to domestic refineries.
“This is a fantastic achievement looking at what has happened in Ghana’s oil sector over the years,” he said.
According to him, the transaction was concluded purely on commercial terms.
Mr Miller also said mechanisms had been put in place to support a favourable refinancing package for the initiative.
Sentuo emerges as key crude buyer
Mr Miller commended government for initiatives aimed at improving refinery operations in Ghana, describing the increased availability of locally produced crude for domestic refining as a positive development.
He also highlighted the growing role of Sentuo Oil Refinery in Ghana’s crude market.
“Sentuo Oil has become one of the prolific buyers of crude not only from Tullow Oil alone but also from other partners on Ghana’s oil fields,” he said.
The development provides local refineries with another potential source of crude while creating an additional commercial outlet for Ghana’s upstream producers.
Tullow targets 14 cargoes in 2026
The local sale comes as Tullow expects to increase its crude liftings for the year.
In its half-year results, the company said it expects to lift 14 cargoes in 2026, comprising 11 cargoes from the Jubilee field and three from the TEN fields.
The revised forecast represents an increase of two Jubilee cargoes compared with the company’s initial guidance issued in November 2025.
Tullow delivered six cargoes during the first half of the year and plans to lift another eight during the second half.
The company said the measures being implemented under its turnaround strategy are expected to improve operational performance and support a stronger finish to the year.
The sale of Jubilee crude to a Ghanaian refinery marks an important development in the country’s petroleum value chain, potentially creating a stronger connection between upstream crude production and domestic refining.
If sustained, increased local purchases of Ghanaian crude could also provide domestic refineries with more reliable access to feedstock while reducing the disconnect between the country’s crude production and its refining ambitions.
