Ghana has taken a significant step towards industrial transformation and energy self-sufficiency with the arrival of locally produced Jubilee crude oil at the Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema for processing, marking the first time crude extracted from Ghanaian waters will be refined domestically instead of being exported overseas.
The landmark event, celebrated at the refinery’s maiden Jubilee Crude Oil Berth Ceremony, has been hailed by government officials and industry stakeholders as a major milestone in Ghana’s quest to maximise value from its natural resources, strengthen energy security and accelerate industrialisation.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, described the occasion as a defining moment in Ghana’s economic history and a practical demonstration of President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of transforming the country’s natural wealth into sustainable economic prosperity.
“For the first time in Ghana’s history as an oil-producing nation, a cargo of Jubilee crude, lifted from beneath our own waters, has arrived not in Rotterdam, Guangdong or the Gulf of Mexico, but here on Ghanaian soil, at a world-class refinery in Tema, to be transformed into fuel that will power Ghanaian homes, businesses and roads,” she stated.
According to the Minister, Ghana has for more than 15 years exported crude oil while importing refined petroleum products at international prices, exposing the economy and ordinary consumers to global market volatility.
She noted that transport operators, traders, farmers, fishermen and households have all endured fluctuating fuel prices under the previous model, stressing that the commencement of local refining signals the beginning of a new era.
“Today, that cycle begins to change as we build the Ghana envisioned under President Mahama’s reset agenda—a Ghana that not only extracts its wealth but transforms it,” she said.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare commended Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited and its parent company, the Sentuo Group, for demonstrating confidence in Ghana through an investment of nearly US$2 billion, describing the investment as evidence of the country’s growing industrial potential and Africa’s determination to move beyond the export of raw materials.
She explained that the refinery would generate multiple economic benefits extending beyond petroleum production.
According to her, locally refined diesel will support transportation and logistics operations across the country, while liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) produced at the facility will provide cleaner cooking fuel for households. She added that asphalt produced by the refinery would support 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 emphasised.
The Trade Minister further disclosed government’s intention to develop a wider industrial ecosystem around the refinery through investments in petrochemicals, fertiliser production, plastics manufacturing and other downstream industries aimed at reducing Ghana’s dependence on imports while creating employment opportunities.
She revealed that discussions held during a recent official visit to China generated considerable interest in establishing a fertiliser manufacturing plant in Ghana, adding that her ministry is prepared to collaborate with Sentuo and its partners to realise the project.
Describing local refining as a solution to the long-discussed “resource curse,” Hon. Ofosu-Adjare argued that the true value of natural resources lies not in their extraction but in their transformation into products that drive national development and industrial growth.
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, also described the arrival of Jubilee crude at the Sentuo facility as a landmark achievement for Ghana’s petroleum industry and a deliberate strategy to retain greater economic value from the country’s oil resources.
He stated that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to deepening local value addition, enhancing energy security and ensuring that Ghana derives greater economic benefits from its petroleum sector.
According to Dr Jinapor, recent geopolitical tensions and uncertainties surrounding global energy supplies reinforced the urgency of strengthening Ghana’s domestic refining capacity.
He disclosed that President Mahama had directed urgent measures to enhance national energy security through increased local processing of Ghanaian crude oil.
The Energy Minister announced that through collaboration involving Sentuo Oil Refinery, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Explorco, Tullow Ghana, Kosmos Energy, Vitol Ghana and other industry stakeholders, arrangements had been finalised for approximately one million barrels of Jubilee crude oil to be supplied to the refinery for processing.
He further revealed 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 locally produced crude expected to sustain production and reduce reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
Dr Jinapor disclosed that the completion of Sentuo’s planned Phase Two expansion will increase the refinery’s processing capacity from 40,000 barrels per stream day to 100,000 barrels per stream day, positioning Ghana as a major petroleum refining hub within the West African sub-region.
He stressed that expanding local refining capacity is critical to achieving national industrialisation objectives, strengthening energy resilience, creating jobs, promoting technology transfer and boosting economic competitiveness.
Founder and Executive Chairman of the Sentuo Group, Mr Xu Ningquan, described the arrival of Jubilee crude at the refinery as a pivotal moment for Ghana’s energy industry.
Speaking under the theme “Ghana’s Oil Fields to Ghana’s Industries,” he said the ceremony represented a strategically important milestone in the country’s industrial journey.
Mr Xu described Sentuo Oil Refinery as more than a processing facility, characterising it as an industrial ecosystem capable of stimulating broader economic transformation.
“Every barrel refined domestically creates opportunities for local businesses and strengthens Ghana’s competitiveness,” he noted.
He reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting the government’s vision of making Ghana a petroleum hub for West Africa and appealed for sustained policy support to encourage long-term investment in domestic crude oil refining and downstream industrial development.
The historic arrival of Jubilee crude at the Sentuo Oil Refinery is widely expected to strengthen Ghana’s energy security, reduce import dependence, create employment opportunities and advance the country’s broader industrial transformation agenda through increased local value addition.
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