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By Edward Graham Sebbie
After years of stalled operations, the Tema Oil Refinery, TOR, has taken delivery of about one million barrels of premium Bonga crude oil aboard the MT Cap Felix on May 27, 2026. The shipment marks the clearest signal yet that Ghana’s flagship refinery is moving to restore steady refining and cut the country’s dependence on imported refined fuel.
The crude, sourced from Shell through TOR’s tolling partner Fujeirah/Triangle Commodities Trading (TCT), is known for its low sulphur content and high yield. That means faster processing into the fuels Ghanaians use daily: LPG for cooking, petrol and diesel for transport, kerosene, aviation turbine kerosene for flights, and fuel oil for industry. Some of the output is also earmarked for export to other West African markets.
TOR called the arrival a “landmark development” in its turnaround plan, tying it directly to national energy security. The goal is simple: keep refined products flowing consistently, stabilize supply, and reduce the foreign exchange drain from importing finished fuels.
“This is about rebuilding resilience and making TOR commercially viable again,” management said in the statement, thanking the Government of Ghana, regulators, financial institutions, and other partners for backing the refinery’s revival.
The refinery also pledged to run the operation with more transparency and tighter environmental standards as it scales up. Stakeholders can expect regular updates as processing ramps up in the coming weeks.
For Ghana’s energy sector, the message is clear. TOR isn’t just receiving crude. It’s aiming to reclaim its role as a regional refining hub.
