The Minister of State for the Ministry of Energy, Mr Herbert Krapa has announced plans are well underway for the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) in the Greater Accra Region to secure a strategic partner within the next 90 days to commence full operations. 

To ensure the process is successful and in the country's best interest, the Minister of State for the Ministry of Energy, Herbert Krapa, stated that the government, through the Ministry and its agencies, will guide and protect the process.

Mr. Krapa's remarks followed the announcement by TOR's Managing Director, Kofi Tagoe Mocumbi, that the refinery would complete the process and announce a strategic investor within the next three months. 

This announcement came during Mr. Krapa’s first working visit to the refinery since assuming office, which also included visits to Sentuo Refinery and Tropical Cable and Conductors Limited, both in Tema.

During the briefing, Mr. Mocumbi assured the Minister and the media that TOR had begun the process of selecting a strategic partner to revamp and expand its operations, with a three-month timeline set for this goal.

Mr. Krapa emphasized the government's commitment to providing TOR with “capital, technology, and efficiency” to revitalize the refinery, generate state revenue, and secure employment for its staff.

 He noted the need for immediate interventions to prepare the refinery, including operationalizing departments such as the laboratory.

“TOR needs all our support and attention, and it is for these reasons that I chose TOR for my first official visit,” he stated, highlighting TOR's significant potential in the downstream sector and expressing concern over its lack of operation for some time.

Mr. Krapa, reflecting on discussions with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, expressed strong conviction that finding a strategic investor was the primary objective and urged all stakeholders, including the board, management, and the union, to form a united front to expedite the revamping process.

He stressed the importance of preparing TOR for the investor by ensuring the efficiency of its terminal, pipelines, laboratories, and storage facilities, which could generate immediate revenue.

Regarding the usage of TOR facilities for storing Sentuo Refinery products, Mr. Krapa noted that the two companies were not competitors and could complement each other.

 He encouraged TOR to embrace the idea of renting its facilities to Sentuo while working towards fully revamping its operations.

During his visit to Sentuo Refinery, Mr. Krapa assured management that the government, through policies and programmes, would continue to promote harmony and growth for local industry players. 

He was accompanied by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Wilhelmina Asamoah, Deputy Chief Executive Officers of the National Petroleum Authority Ghana, Perry Curtis Kwabla Okudzeto and Linda Asante, and various Directors and Heads of Department from the Ministry.