Sentuo Oil Refinery is emerging as a major buyer of Ghana’s locally produced crude, with Tullow Oil confirming the sale of its first cargo to the refinery earlier this year.
The crude was sourced from Tullow’s Jubilee, Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) fields, marking a significant development in efforts to strengthen the connection between Ghana’s upstream oil production and domestic refining.
Tullow’s Chief Financial Officer, Richard Miller, disclosed the transaction during a virtual meeting with investors following the company’s half-year results.
Responding to questions about efforts to have more Jubilee crude refined locally, Mr Miller said the sale to Sentuo was conducted on a purely commercial basis.
“This is a fantastic achievement looking at what has happened in Ghana’s oil sector over the years,” he said.
Mr Miller said mechanisms had also been put in place to support a favourable refinancing package for the initiative, while commending government efforts to improve refinery operations in the country.
He identified Sentuo as an increasingly important participant in Ghana’s crude market, noting that the refinery was buying crude from multiple producers operating in Ghana.
“Sentuo Oil has become one of the prolific buyers of crude not only from Tullow Oil alone but also from other partners on Ghana’s oil fields,” he said.
The development provides local refineries with an additional source of domestically produced crude while creating a commercial channel for Ghana’s upstream producers.
Tullow raises 2026 lifting outlook
The local sale comes as Tullow expects to increase its crude liftings in 2026.
The company projects 14 cargoes for the year, comprising 11 from the Jubilee field and three from the TEN fields.
The revised forecast is two Jubilee cargoes higher than Tullow’s initial guidance issued in November 2025.
Tullow lifted six cargoes during the first half of 2026 and expects to complete another eight cargoes during the second half.
The company said measures being implemented across its operations are expected to improve performance and support a stronger turnaround by the end of the year.
The growing participation of local refineries in Ghana’s crude market could provide an important commercial link between domestic oil production and efforts to expand refining capacity within the country.
