Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector recorded a strong expansion in 2025, with total product supply and demand rising by 15 percent to 8.7 billion litres, signaling growing energy consumption and emerging regional trade opportunities.
Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), Dr. Riverson Oppong, disclosed this during the 2026 COMAC Safety Week, highlighting key industry trends shaping the sector.
According to him, total domestic consumption reached 7.45 billion litres, driven by demand from both transportation and electricity generation.
However, domestic refinery output declined, with production falling by 11.3 percent year-on-year to about 500 million litres, underscoring Ghana’s continued reliance on imports.
“The downstream sector recorded 15% increase on product supply and demand giving you a total of 8.7 billion liters that was imported and then the consumption of 7.45 billion liters used for both transportation and also electricity generation. Domestic production from refineries was half a billion liter, which saw a decrease of 11.3% in the volumes year on year as compared to 2024,” Dr. Riverson Oppong said.
Exports of petroleum products to neighboring countries, particularly Burkina Faso and Mali, rose sharply by 25 percent to approximately one billion litres.
Dr.Riverson Oppong noted that this trend presents a strategic opportunity for Ghana to position itself as a regional supply hub, while urging regulators and the Ministry of Energy to approach the opportunity with caution.
“We exported to our neighboring countries, Burkina Faso and Mali, about a billion liter, which also saw a 25% increase on year on year. For me, as a businessman, or as an economist, this tells us that there is business opportunity in this direction and we call on the Minister of Energy, NPA, to take a critical look at serving as a supply agent to our neighboring countries. But that should be done with care,” he stated.
On product performance, petrol and diesel led the growth, recording increases of nearly 19 percent and 18 percent respectively.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) consumption also expanded by about 11 percent, reflecting sustained adoption across households and industry.
The data further showed increased activity in the mining and power sectors, with gas oil for mines rising by about 16 percent. Fuel oil for power generation saw an exceptional spike of nearly 1,000 percent, while gas oil for power plants increased by 184 percent, pointing to heightened reliance on thermal generation to stabilise electricity supply.
Marine gas oil (MGO) foreign also rose significantly by 143 percent, although local MGO consumption declined by 61 percent.
Overall, seven out of the 13 tracked petroleum products recorded year-on-year growth in 2025, reinforcing the sector’s expansion despite structural challenges, including declining domestic refining capacity and data reconciliation gaps within the regulatory framework.
“Petrol and diesel had the highest increase of 18, almost 19% for petrol and 18% for diesel. LPG also increased, which is a very beautiful, about almost 11% increase in the country against 2025 and 2024 difference. Gas oil mines increased 15% or let’s say 16% and indeed, that tells you that we are still mining, because when you are mining, that’s when we use a lot of fuel.
“Fuel oil for power increased heavily by almost 1,000% and I believe you all know why, to also avoid dumsor. For power plants gas oil, we have 184%, and MGO foreign, 143%. So seven out of 13 petroleum products recorded increase in 2025. However, we saw a decrease in MGO local by 61%,” Dr. Riverson Oppong said.
Dr. Riverson Oppong also indicated that discrepancies in reported volumes estimated at about 1.99 million litres remain under review with regulators.
He added that rising electric vehicle (EV) adoption could also shape future demand patterns, with 2025 recording the highest EV usage in the country to date, potentially influencing long-term petroleum consumption trends.
