TOR recovery creates 1,657 permanent and temporary jobs, and over 6,500 indirect jobs – Kombat

The recovery of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has resulted in the creation of 1,657 permanent and temporary jobs, with over 6,500 indirect and temporary workers also employed during the turnaround maintenance, according to Managing Director Edmond Kombat. This employment growth represents a significant aspect of the broader economic benefits stemming from the restoration of operations at the state-owned facility following years of operational issues.

Kombat highlighted these job opportunities during a Government Accountability Series presentation at Jubilee House on Monday, October 26, 2026.

Kombat disclosed that the recovery program had opened up roles for young engineers, technical workers, and local contractors. Among these, 415 young engineers were given permanent positions, while 301 temporary workers were allocated to the CDU maintenance and another 287 for work on the RFCC unit. Apart from these direct roles, 654 workers were employed by 35 local contractors operating at the refinery. Kombat emphasized, "TOR’s recovery has created 1,657 permanent and temporary jobs."

Beyond these direct employment figures, the refinery's turnaround maintenance efforts have generated wider employment opportunities. Kombat stated, "In effect, direct employment for 1,657 Young Ghanaian Engineers, and more than 6,500 indirect and temporary workers were engaged during the turnaround works." This underscores the potential for the refinery's recovery to stimulate job creation and economic activity.

The refinery had experienced substantial operational challenges before current management took over in May 2025. The Crude Distillation Unit had been shut down since April 2021, and the RFCC unit had been inactive since 2019, limiting the refinery's core processing activities to storage services.

Kombat explained that management introduced Project Restore TOR to prioritize the rehabilitation and restart of the CDU, enhance financial controls, and rebuild confidence among workers and business partners. The management also addressed over 300 unresolved staff petitions and promotion-related cases that had persisted for over a decade. Improvements in staff welfare were made through reviewing conditions of service, job descriptions, and performance management systems.

The refinery's recovery program also includes further work on the RFCC unit, boiler systems, crude-heating equipment, and other infrastructure to boost operational capacity. Kombat added that the planned expansion of TOR would generate additional economic opportunities as Ghana aims to increase domestic refining capacity. The management plans to pursue further development projects, including a new refinery, petrochemical facilities, and additional storage capacity.

The objective is to build a more sustainable refinery that can contribute to employment, industrial development, and national energy security.