TOR revival drives job creation, employs 1,542 Ghanaians – MD

The ongoing revival of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has generated employment for 1,542 Ghanaians through a combination of permanent and temporary jobs, Managing Director Edmond Kombat has revealed.

According to him, the refinery’s restoration programme extends beyond repairing ageing infrastructure, focusing equally on rebuilding local technical expertise and creating lasting employment opportunities for Ghanaians.

In a Facebook post published on August 2, 2026, and sighted by GhanaWeb Business, Mr Kombat said TOR recruited 300 young engineers into permanent roles last year as part of a long-term strategy to develop a new generation of refinery professionals.

He explained that the newly employed engineers are undergoing extensive training and gaining practical experience to equip them with the skills required to operate and manage the refinery in the future.

Mr Kombat also disclosed that 301 temporary workers, including recently graduated university students, were hired during the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU). Their contribution, he noted, helped the refinery complete the maintenance exercise within a record timeframe.

He added that the ongoing Turnaround Maintenance of the Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) Unit has created another 287 temporary jobs.

Beyond these direct recruitments, TOR has awarded contracts to approximately 35 local subcontractors, whose projects have provided employment for 654 temporary workers carrying out key assignments across the refinery.

Mr Kombat said the employment generated through the restoration programme goes beyond statistics, stressing that it has created meaningful opportunities for many families while restoring hope to young professionals.

He stated that the initiative has provided beneficiaries with valuable skills, stable incomes and dignified employment, contributing to the broader objective of rebuilding Ghana’s industrial workforce.

According to him, the jobs created form part of TOR’s wider RESET and RESTORATION agenda, which aims to restore refinery operations, strengthen technical capacity and create sustainable career opportunities for Ghanaian engineers and technicians.

Mr Kombat also acknowledged the support of President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, for their commitment to reviving the state-owned refinery.

He particularly commended President Mahama for facilitating the allocation of Ghana’s indigenous crude oil to TOR, describing the decision as a landmark achievement for a nation that had long exported crude oil while relying heavily on imported refined petroleum products.

Highlighting the significance of the development, he wrote: “Ghanaian crude. Refined by Ghanaian engineers. In a Ghanaian refinery.”

TOR officially resumed refining operations on December 19, 2025, after years of inactivity and operational setbacks, marking a major milestone in efforts to restore the refinery as a strategic asset within Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.

Prince Antwi

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