The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has received 950,000 barrels of crude oil from Ghana’s Sankofa-Gye Nyame field in a partnership with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), marking the first time the refinery is processing crude from the field.

The crude, supplied through GNPC and transported via Sonangol Cazenga, will be processed at TOR into petroleum products for the Ghanaian market.

The development marks a significant step in efforts to strengthen Ghana’s domestic refining capacity and increase the use of locally produced crude for domestic fuel supply.

Sankofa crude is typically shipped in cargoes of about 950,000 barrels.


TOR said the shipment demonstrates the potential for closer collaboration between Ghana’s upstream and downstream petroleum sectors, with locally produced crude being channelled into domestic refining.

The Managing Director of TOR said the partnership with GNPC presents an opportunity to strengthen refinery operations while ensuring that more value from Ghana’s petroleum resources is retained within the country.

He described the receipt of the Sankofa crude as a milestone for the refinery and said it would support efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable petroleum industry.

The shipment comes as TOR continues its restart following extensive turnaround maintenance. President John Dramani Mahama reported in his 2026 State of the Nation Address that the refinery had resumed crude processing for the first time since 2018.

The refinery said the collaboration also aligns with the government’s objective of strengthening links between the upstream, midstream and downstream segments of the petroleum industry.

TOR and GNPC are expected to explore further areas of cooperation, according to the refinery.

The TOR Managing Director expressed appreciation to President Mahama and Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor for their support, as well as to GNPC’s management and the refinery’s tolling partners, Fujairah and Triangle Commodities Trading, for their continued cooperation.