Sentuo Oil Refinery capacity to increase from 40,000 to 100,000 barrels per day – Energy Minister

Ghana's petroleum refining sector is set for a major transformation as the Sentuo Oil Refinery prepares to increase its refining capacity from 40,000 barrels per day to 100,000 barrels per day upon the completion of its second phase, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has announced.

Speaking during the commissioning of Phase II of the Sentuo Oil Refinery on Thursday, June 25, the Minister described the expansion as a strategic investment that will significantly boost Ghana's energy security, reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products, and position the country as a leading petroleum refining hub in West Africa.

According to Mr. Jinapor, the refinery's expansion aligns with the government's industrialisation agenda, which prioritises local value addition to Ghana's natural resources while strengthening the country's energy infrastructure

Addressing government officials, industry stakeholders and invited guests at the commissioning ceremony, the Energy Minister said the completion of the second phase of the refinery will more than double its current production capacity.

He explained that the expansion reflects President John Dramani Mahama's vision of increasing domestic processing of Ghana's natural resources instead of relying heavily on imported refined petroleum products.

"In line with His Excellency's vision of refining and adding value to our own products and resources, we are going to take the Sentuo Oil Refinery from a refining capacity of 40,000 barrels per day to 100,000 barrels per day upon completion," Mr. Jinapor stated.

He noted that the additional capacity will enable Ghana to meet a greater share of its domestic fuel demand while creating opportunities to supply petroleum products to neighbouring countries.

The Minister said increasing local refining capacity remains a critical component of government's strategy to enhance national energy security and reduce the country's exposure to fluctuations in global fuel markets.

According to him, refining more crude oil domestically will reduce Ghana's dependence on imported petroleum products, improve foreign exchange management and strengthen the resilience of the downstream petroleum sector.

He added that the Sentuo expansion, together with improvements to existing refining facilities, would significantly improve Ghana's capacity to satisfy local fuel consumption.

Mr. Jinapor also announced that Ghana's state-owned refinery, which had remained largely inactive for several years, has resumed operations.

He disclosed that the refinery, which had been idle since 2021, is now producing approximately 28,000 barrels of refined petroleum products per day.

"Before His Excellency assumed office, our old refinery was down. From 2021, the refinery had been idle. Today, we are producing about 28,000 barrels from our old refinery," he said.

The Minister described the revival of the refinery as an important milestone in government's efforts to rebuild Ghana's refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported fuel.

Mr. Jinapor expressed optimism that once both the Sentuo Oil Refinery expansion and improvements to the state-owned refinery are completed, Ghana will produce enough refined petroleum products to satisfy domestic demand while generating surplus volumes for export.

He said the development would strengthen Ghana's position as a regional energy hub, create additional employment opportunities, attract investment into the petroleum sector and generate valuable foreign exchange earnings.

Industry analysts believe increased refining capacity could also enhance supply chain efficiency and improve fuel availability across the country and the wider West African region.

The Energy Minister further disclosed that Ghana is expected to record an increase in crude oil production this year after several years of declining output.

According to him, higher crude production will provide additional feedstock for domestic refineries and support the government's long-term objective of expanding local petroleum processing.

He described the commencement of the refinery's second phase as clear evidence that strategic investments and sound leadership can drive industrial growth, strengthen the energy sector and accelerate economic transformation.

The expansion of the Sentuo Oil Refinery is expected to play a significant role in advancing Ghana's broader industrialisation agenda while reinforcing the country's ambition of becoming a competitive petroleum refining and energy distribution hub within the West African sub-region.