Ghana has begun refining its own crude oil locally following the arrival of Jubilee crude at the Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema, marking a shift in the country’s downstream petroleum strategy.
The milestone was highlighted at a crude oil berthing ceremony, where Sentuo Oil Refinery Executive Chairman Ningquan Xu described the development as a significant step in Ghana’s industrial and energy transformation agenda.
He noted that for years Ghana has exported crude oil while importing refined petroleum products, a trend he said has limited the country’s ability to fully benefit from its natural resources.
According to him, local refining of Jubilee crude will help retain value within the economy, improve energy security, and generate new employment opportunities.
Xu further disclosed that President John Dramani Mahama is expected to cut the sod for Phase Two of the refinery’s expansion project on June 24, 2026. The expansion is projected to boost refining capacity and create additional jobs.
The Sentuo Refinery also indicated that the development positions Ghana to gradually emerge as a petroleum processing and trading hub for the West African sub-region.
Xu said the event marks a turning point in Ghana’s energy history, where more of the country’s natural resources are processed domestically to support national development.
