Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Dr Yussif Sulemana
The Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Dr Yussif Sulemana, has described the proposed Petroleum Hub project as a transformational initiative that could address longstanding gaps in Ghana’s energy value chain and boost national energy security.
According to him, there is a significant disconnect between upstream oil production and downstream refining and distribution, an issue that hampers Ghana’s ability to gain a competitive advantage in the energy sector.
Speaking to GhanaWeb Business on the sidelines of the inter-agency dialogue in Accra on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Dr Sulemana noted that without a clear linkage between oil production and the importation of refined petroleum products, Ghana cannot fully leverage its oil resources for strategic or economic benefit.
“If you observe the energy space, there’s been some segregation, there’s not much synergy between the upstream and downstream sectors,” he explained.
“Now, we are working assiduously to close that gap, and I think this Petroleum Hub will be able to do that. If you’re an oil producer with a refinery, but there’s no clear-cut linkage between what you produce and what you import as finished products, you’re not going to achieve competitive advantage in energy security,” he said.
He also highlighted the hub’s potential economic benefits, emphasising its ability to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on imported fuel.
“Currently, we spend between $350 million to $400 million importing finished petroleum products. If we manage to develop this hub and refine more locally, you can imagine the positive impact it’s going to have on our local currency,” he added.
The Petroleum Hub, a key component of Ghana’s energy infrastructure agenda, is expected to include refineries, petrochemical plants, storage facilities, and logistics services, positioning Ghana as a regional energy hub in West Africa.
SP/MA
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