The Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Edmond Kombat, has announced that the refinery's recovery programme has created 1,657 jobs. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at Jubilee House on October 26, 2026, Mr Kombat disclosed that the recovery programme had provided employment opportunities for young engineers, technical workers, and local contractors. The programme has recruited 415 young engineers into permanent positions.
In addition to the permanent positions, 301 temporary workers were engaged in maintenance work on the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and 287 on the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit. Furthermore, 654 workers were employed by 35 local contractors working at the refinery. Mr Kombat stated that the employment impact extended beyond the refinery's direct workforce, with over 6,500 indirect and temporary workers engaged during the turnaround works.
The recovery programme was introduced after years of operational difficulties that left the refinery's major processing units out of service. The CDU had been shut down since April 2021, while the RFCC unit had remained inactive since 2019. The prolonged shutdowns restricted TOR's operations largely to storage services, limiting its ability to process crude oil. To reverse the situation, management introduced Project Restore TOR following its assumption of office in May 2025.
The programme focuses on rehabilitating and restarting the CDU, improving financial controls, and restoring confidence among workers and business partners. Mr Kombat also disclosed that management had addressed over 300 outstanding staff petitions and promotion-related cases, some of which had remained unresolved for over a decade. He said efforts to improve staff welfare included reviews of conditions of service, job descriptions, and performance-management systems.
Beyond the rehabilitation of the CDU, the recovery programme includes further work on the RFCC unit, boiler systems, crude-heating equipment, and other infrastructure required to improve the refinery's operational capacity. The programme aims to increase the refinery's capacity and create opportunities for employment and industrial development. Mr Kombat stated that the planned projects would help increase Ghana's domestic refining capacity.
The Managing Director disclosed that management intended to pursue additional development projects, including plans for a new refinery, petrochemical facilities, and expanded storage capacity. These projects are expected to create further opportunities for employment and industrial development in Ghana. The broader objective is to build a sustainable refinery that supports job creation, strengthens the country's industrial base, and contributes to national energy security.
The TOR recovery programme has made significant progress since its inception, with a focus on creating jobs and improving the refinery's operational capacity. With the implementation of Project Restore TOR, the refinery is expected to increase its domestic refining capacity and contribute to Ghana's energy security. The programme's success is expected to have a positive impact on the country's economy and industrial development.
Key points
- TOR's recovery programme has created 1,657 permanent and temporary jobs.
- The programme aims to increase Ghana's domestic refining capacity and create opportunities for employment and industrial development.
- The broader objective is to build a sustainable refinery that supports job creation, strengthens the country's industrial base, and contributes to national energy security.
