Government has outlined plans to strengthen Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector through policy reforms, increased local refining, strategic investment and technological innovation, with the aim of meeting about 70% of the country’s fuel demand from domestic refineries.
Speaking at the opening of the 7th Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GhIPCon 2026) in Accra, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, said recent global geopolitical tensions had highlighted the need for Ghana to build a more resilient energy sector that can withstand external shocks.
He said Ghana is beginning to reverse six consecutive years of declining crude oil production, revealing that output from the Jubilee Field has risen to about 95,000 barrels per day, the highest level recorded in recent years. Gas production, he added, has also increased by more than 50 million standard cubic feet per day.
Dr Jinapor also announced that after the successful allocation of a one-million-barrel parcel of Jubilee crude to local refineries, the next crude allocation will go to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as part of government’s efforts to revive the state-owned facility.
He said expansion projects at TOR and the Sentuo Oil Refinery are expected to enable the two plants to supply about 70% of Ghana’s domestic demand for refined petroleum products. According to him, the move will reduce the country’s dependence on fuel imports, ease pressure on foreign exchange and create jobs.
The Energy Minister said government wants Ghana to move beyond exporting crude oil to refining and adding value locally while positioning the country as West Africa’s preferred energy hub.
He stressed that building a resilient downstream sector would require sound policies, modern infrastructure, strategic petroleum reserves, efficient transport networks and stronger private sector investment.
Earlier, the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, said the downstream petroleum sector remains a key contributor to Ghana’s economy, accounting for about 10% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Delivering the welcome address, he said the conference theme, “Building a Resilient Downstream: Policy, Innovation and Investment for Growth,” reflects the need to strengthen Ghana’s energy security amid growing global market uncertainty.
Mr Tameklo said Ghana maintained uninterrupted fuel supplies during recent geopolitical tensions through close collaboration between government, regulators and industry players.
He said the NPA would continue to pursue technology-driven regulation, promote fair competition, ensure fuel quality and create an investor-friendly environment to support sustainable growth in the downstream petroleum sector.
He also urged industry players to embrace digitalisation, automation, cleaner fuel technologies and innovation to improve efficiency and strengthen the country’s energy security.
Both speakers called on participants at the two-day conference to translate discussions into practical policies, strategic partnerships and investments that will strengthen Ghana’s downstream petroleum value chain and position the country as a leading petroleum and energy hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
By: Vanessa Edotom Boateng | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
