Edmond Kombat Named 2026 ESRP Champion of the Year

The Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Mr Edmond Kombat, has been named the 2026 Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP) Champion of the Year (Petroleum) in recognition of his leadership in restoring the refinery’s operations and strengthening Ghana’s domestic crude oil refining capacity.

The award recognises Mr Kombat’s contribution to the recovery of Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector, particularly the completion of critical Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) works on TOR’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), which paved the way for the resumption of crude oil refining after several years of operational inactivity.

The recognition highlights ongoing efforts to reposition the state-owned refinery to fulfil its core mandate of processing crude oil locally, supporting value addition and contributing to Ghana’s energy security.

One of the key milestones under Mr Kombat’s leadership was the processing of locally produced Jubilee Medium Sweet Crude, with the refinery reaching the significant benchmark of one million barrels by August 2026.

The achievement marks progress towards restoring TOR’s operational capacity and strengthening the connection between Ghana’s crude oil production and domestic refining.

Processing locally produced crude at the refinery also supports efforts to retain more value within the domestic economy while reinforcing the strategic role of TOR in the country’s petroleum industry.

According to the citation accompanying the award, Mr Kombat’s leadership has helped restore a strategic national asset with the potential to contribute to domestic petroleum refining and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.

The citation further commended his results-oriented approach and transformative stewardship in advancing the refinery’s recovery agenda.

The completion of the critical maintenance works on the Crude Distillation Unit was a major step in TOR’s efforts to return to its core operations.

The maintenance programme enabled the refinery to resume crude processing after years of inactivity, marking an important development in the rehabilitation of the state-owned facility.

The subsequent processing of Jubilee Medium Sweet Crude demonstrated progress towards rebuilding the refinery’s operational capacity and improving the contribution of locally produced crude to domestic petroleum supply.

These developments are expected to support local value addition and provide a foundation for further improvements in operational reliability, efficiency and long-term sustainability.

However, sustaining the recovery will require continued attention to maintenance, operational performance and the financial viability of the refinery.

The award was presented under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, led by Minister Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, who signed the citation recognising Mr Kombat’s achievements.

The recognition comes as the government continues to pursue efforts to strengthen Ghana’s energy sector and improve the performance of strategic state-owned enterprises.

For TOR, the progress recorded under Mr Kombat’s leadership represents an important step towards restoring the refinery’s role in the country’s downstream petroleum industry.

A more reliable domestic refining operation could support Ghana’s broader energy objectives, including increased local value addition, improved energy security and reduced exposure to external refined petroleum supply risks.

Mr Kombat’s recognition as the 2026 ESRP Champion of the Year (Petroleum) highlights the importance of restoring the operational capacity of critical energy infrastructure.

The achievement also draws attention to the role of domestic refining in Ghana’s efforts to maximise value from its petroleum resources and strengthen the resilience of its energy sector.

While the award marks progress in TOR’s recovery, the refinery’s long-term contribution will depend on its ability to sustain operations, maintain efficiency and establish a financially viable path forward.

The recognition therefore represents a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to reposition Tema Oil Refinery as a functional, reliable and sustainable national refining asset.