The Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Edmond Kombat, has announced the launch of ‘Project Restore TOR’, a comprehensive recovery programme aimed at returning the refinery to full operation, improving its financial standing, and securing its long-term sustainability.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, on Monday, October 26, 2026, Mr Kombat disclosed that the initiative centered on the rehabilitation and restart of the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU).
To ensure execution, a Turnaround Maintenance Committee was constituted, with the entire rehabilitation funded solely through TOR’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and executed directly by TOR’s engineers and technicians. This step was crucial to address years of deferred maintenance and ensure safe, reliable operations.
Work has also resumed on key stalled projects across the plant, including Boiler No. 8, the F-61 Crude Heater, the Residue Air Cooler, and the Steam Turbine Generator.
The turnaround maintenance exercise ran from 1 August to 30 October 2025. Following the completion of the works, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) conducted a comprehensive inspection of the facility, confirmed compliance with all mandatory safety and operational requirements, and granted TOR full clearance to resume refining operations.
Beyond the plant overhaul, management has initiated a broad financial restructuring plan. An independent assessment of TOR’s liabilities was commissioned, alongside discussions with major creditors including SSNIT and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to establish sustainable repayment arrangements. Management is actively pursuing outstanding receivables, reviewing unaudited accounts, and tightening internal financial controls.
Operational support systems and site security have equally seen major upgrades. Management procured new operational vehicles, staff buses, and logistics to facilitate shift transport. Security measures were boosted through improved access controls, CCTV installation in critical zones, additional security personnel, and enhanced collaboration with National Security agencies.
Efforts are also underway to rebuild stakeholder confidence through regular engagement with all four in-house worker unions and their national parent bodies, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Human resource reforms are being pursued alongside reviews of conditions of service, job descriptions, and performance-management frameworks.
Looking to the future, management is currently formulating a five-year strategic plan to guide strategic investment decisions, drive business reforms, and chart the long-term growth trajectory of the nation’s premier refinery.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
