Ghana is ramping up efforts to boost domestic fuel production by expanding its refining capacity, with the government targeting the local production of 70 per cent of the country’s fuel needs.
The plan hinges on the expansion of the privately owned Sentuo Oil Refinery and improvements to the state-owned Tema Oil Refinery as part of a broader strategy to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
Speaking at the 7th Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GhIPCon 2026) in Accra, Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, said the government sees refining as a key driver of industrial growth, job creation and economic development.
He noted that beyond producing fuels, refineries stimulate activity across transportation, engineering, manufacturing and other supporting industries, while positioning Ghana to become a major petroleum hub in West Africa.
The Sentuo Oil Refinery, Ghana’s first privately owned refinery, began operations in January 2024 with an initial capacity of 40,000 barrels per day after a $1.98 billion investment by Chinese-backed developers. The facility is currently undergoing expansion that will increase its capacity to 100,000 barrels per day, supported by a $200 million financing package coordinated by Ecobank Ghana.
At the same time, the government is working to expand the Tema Oil Refinery, which resumed operations in December 2025 after years of inactivity. The refinery is currently processing about 28,000 barrels of crude per day, below its installed capacity of 45,000 barrels per day. Authorities have confirmed plans to further increase its capacity, although details on the investment cost and timeline have not yet been disclosed.
To support domestic refining, Ghana has allocated one million barrels of crude from the Jubilee oil field for local processing, with future supplies expected to prioritise the Tema refinery.
Once the expansion projects are completed, the combined output from the two refineries is expected to significantly reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported fuels while improving the country’s energy security.
The move comes as West African oil-producing nations increasingly invest in refining infrastructure to maximise value from their crude resources. Nigeria has taken the lead in the region through the Dangote Refinery, while also pursuing the rehabilitation and expansion of its state-owned refineries.
Unlike Nigeria’s export-focused refining ambitions, Ghana is concentrating on producing enough refined products to satisfy most of its domestic demand, while creating opportunities to serve regional markets.
Officials believe the expanded refining capacity could strengthen competition in West Africa’s downstream petroleum sector, improve fuel supply reliability, lower transport costs and support greater trade within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
If achieved, the government’s goal of meeting 70 per cent of domestic fuel demand through local refining would mark one of Ghana’s most significant milestones in its downstream petroleum industry in recent decades.
