The Government of Ghana has marked a historic milestone in the country’s industrialisation agenda with the arrival of locally produced Jubilee crude oil at the Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema for domestic processing, signalling a decisive shift from the export of raw resources to value addition on Ghanaian soil.
The announcement was made at the refinery’s first-ever Jubilee Crude Oil Berth Ceremony in Tema.
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, stated that the occasion represents a defining moment in Ghana’s history and a significant step towards the vision of building an economy that transforms its natural wealth into tangible benefits for its people.
She noted that for over 15 years, the country exported crude oil while importing refined petroleum products at prices beyond its control. She added that this pattern has placed an undue burden on transport operators, traders, farmers, and fishermen across Ghana.
The Minister praised Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited and its parent company, the Sentuo Group, for their confidence in Ghana and their nearly US$2 billion investment in the country’s industrial development.
She described the investment as a demonstration of strong belief in Ghana’s potential and a tangible expression of Africa’s broader ambition to move beyond the export of raw materials.
She outlined the economic linkages expected from the refinery’s operations. She said diesel produced at the facility would support transportation and logistics, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) would provide cleaner cooking fuel for households, and asphalt output would contribute to road construction and infrastructure development nationwide.
“The benefits of this refinery extend far beyond petroleum products. Behind every barrel refined are jobs, opportunities, technical skills and improved livelihoods for Ghanaian workers, engineers and families,” she noted.
The Minister disclosed that the government is committed to supporting the development of a local industrial ecosystem around the refinery, covering petrochemicals, fertiliser production, plastics, and other industrial inputs designed to deepen Ghana’s manufacturing base and reduce import dependence.
She revealed that discussions during a recent visit to China had generated strong interest in plans to establish a fertiliser plant in Ghana, and the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry stands ready to work with Sentuo and its partners to bring the project to fruition.
She argued that the refinery represents a practical response to the so-called “resource curse,” stating that the true value of natural resources lies not in their extraction but in their transformation into products that drive industrial growth and national development.
Madam Ofosu-Adjare called on all stakeholders in industry, the private sector, and civil society to align their efforts with the national agenda of transforming Ghana’s natural resources into value-added products that generate lasting prosperity for all Ghanaians.
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Mr Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, also addressed the ceremony, describing the arrival of Jubilee crude at Sentuo as a landmark achievement in Ghana’s petroleum industry and a deliberate national effort to maximise value from the country’s natural resources.
He noted that the initiative had gained added urgency in the context of recent geopolitical tensions and global energy supply disruptions. He said the President had directed urgent measures to strengthen Ghana’s energy security, including a significant increase in the domestic refining of locally produced crude oil.
He further disclosed that the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) had successfully received one million barrels of crude oil in May and resumed refining operations in June, with additional supplies of Ghanaian crude planned to sustain production and reduce dependence on imported refined products.
He added that the completion of Sentuo’s planned Phase Two expansion would increase the refinery’s processing capacity from the current 40,000 barrels per stream day to 100,000 barrels per stream day, positioning Ghana as a major refining hub in West Africa.
Both Ministers emphasised that domestic refining is central to Ghana’s industrialisation agenda and essential for building economic resilience, creating employment, promoting technology transfer, and strengthening national energy security.
Adwoa Koramah Anokye-Gyimah, ISD
