Ghana’s Only Refinery Set for Major Upgrade as Processing Capacity Targets 45,000 Barrels Per Day
Ghana is preparing to strengthen its domestic fuel production and energy security as the country’s sole refinery, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), moves ahead with plans to significantly upgrade its crude oil processing capacity.
The state-owned refinery, located in Tema, currently processes about 28,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd). Under the new expansion plan, the refinery aims to increase its throughput to 45,000 barrels per day, representing a 61% increase in refining capacity.
The upgrade will be achieved through the integration of a new fuel processing unit known as F-61, which will operate alongside TOR’s existing F1 unit. Both units will be connected to the refinery’s crude distillation system, enabling the facility to process significantly larger volumes of crude oil and produce more refined petroleum products for domestic and regional markets.
According to TOR’s Corporate Affairs Officer, Godwin Mahama Ayaba, the refinery’s current mainplate capacity stands at 28,000 barrels per stream day, but once the F-61 unit is fully integrated, total output will rise to 45,000 barrels per stream day. Importantly, refinery operations are expected to continue throughout the integration process, ensuring that fuel supply disruptions are minimized.
Strengthening Ghana’s fuel independence
Once completed, the expansion is expected to play an important role in reducing Ghana’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products, a challenge that has long affected many countries across West Africa.
The project will also strengthen Ghana’s strategic position within the region’s evolving energy landscape, where refining capacity remains limited and many countries depend heavily on imported fuel.
For decades, West Africa’s refining sector has struggled to meet regional demand, forcing countries to import large volumes of petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products from international markets.
However, the region’s supply dynamics have begun to shift following the commissioning of the massive Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, built by the Dangote Group. With a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the facility is currently the largest refinery in Africa and is expected to significantly influence fuel supply across the continent.
While Ghana’s refinery upgrade is far smaller in scale compared to the Dangote mega-project, analysts say the Tema expansion could still improve fuel availability in the sub-region, especially for neighboring countries that rely on imports through Ghana’s ports.
A broader push to strengthen Ghana’s energy sector
The expansion of TOR forms part of a broader national strategy to strengthen Ghana’s energy and natural resource sectors.
The refinery remains a critical piece of Ghana’s petroleum infrastructure and currently meets around 60% of the country’s fuel demand when operating at optimal capacity. The crude oil processed at TOR is sourced largely from regional producers, including Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon, and Angola.
Looking ahead, the government has outlined even more ambitious plans for the refinery. According to the Ghana Infrastructure Plan 2018–2047, TOR’s capacity could eventually be expanded further to 60,000 barrels per day.
In addition, authorities are planning the construction of a completely new refinery in Ghana’s Western Region, designed to process crude from the country’s growing offshore oil sector.
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Oil and mining sectors driving economic growth
Beyond refining, Ghana continues to strengthen its role as one of Africa’s key resource producers.The country remains Africa’s largest gold producer, with annual output exceeding four million ounces, according to data from the Ghana Chamber of Mines. The mining industry continues to attract major international investors and contributes significantly to government revenue and export earnings.
In the oil sector, production from the Jubilee Oil Field, TEN Oil Field, and Sankofa Oil Field has helped position Ghana as one of West Africa’s notable crude producers.
Energy analysts say that expanding refining capacity alongside increased resource production could allow Ghana to capture more value domestically, rather than exporting raw resources and importing finished products.
Although incremental upgrades such as the expansion at Tema may not immediately transform the regional market, they represent a growing trend across Africa, countries seeking to process more of their natural resources locally and build stronger industrial value chains.
If successfully implemented, the TOR upgrade could mark an important step in Ghana’s long-term strategy to improve energy security, strengthen its refining sector, and play a larger role in West Africa’s fuel supply network.
