Mahama orders strategic plan to double TOR capacity, end political interference

President John Dramani Mahama has directed key officials to create a plan to double the capacity of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day. This move aims to eliminate political interference in the refinery's operations, as part of the government's broader initiative to transform the state-owned refinery into a modern, commercially viable entity.

The President made this announcement during the commissioning of a refurbished Crude Distillation Unit at the refinery. He emphasized that the rehabilitation of TOR is just the beginning of a larger transformation program. The proposed expansion would significantly increase the refinery's current capacity, enhance Ghana's ability to refine crude oil locally, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, and position Ghana as a regional petroleum processing hub.

Additionally, the government plans to overhaul the governance structure of TOR, permanently removing political influence to ensure the refinery's long-term sustainability and operational efficiency. These reforms are in line with the administration's "Reset Agenda," which aims to promote value addition, job creation, domestic industry strengthening, and energy security.