Tema Oil Refinery revival boosts Burkina Faso fuel supply to 40%

The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has significantly expanded its regional influence, with petroleum product movements through Ghana to Burkina Faso surging to 40% of the landlocked neighbor's total supply. This marks a substantial increase from 15% in 2024, a development Managing Director Edmond Kombat attributes to the refinery’s successful revival and strengthened collaborations with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST). The facility's restoration as a regional energy hub has allowed Ghana to capture a larger share of the transit petroleum market while ensuring regional cooperation. Since resuming crude processing on December 19, 2025, following an extensive maintenance program, the refinery has seen a dramatic rise in its operational capacity. Management reported a 216.19% increase in product storage volumes over a two-year period. Storage figures rose from 426,954 metric tonnes in 2024 to 1,107,389 metric tonnes in 2025, reaching 1,350,000 metric tonnes by 2026. This expansion has bolstered the confidence of petroleum service providers and reinforced TOR's position as a sustainable entity within the national petroleum supply chain. Beyond regional trade, the restoration of domestic refining has provided a critical buffer for Ghana’s economy against international volatility. Mr. Kombat noted that the facility helped shield the country from petroleum supply shocks triggered by geopolitical tensions, specifically citing disruptions caused by the Iran conflict. During the commissioning of the refinery’s refurbished processing unit, President John Mahama emphasized that domestic capacity is vital for reducing dependency on imports. By leveraging local crude supplies and enhancing storage, TOR aims to ensure long-term energy security for both Ghana and the wider West African sub-region.