TOR denies shutdown reports, targets 45,000 barrels per day output

The management of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has dismissed reports that the refinery has shut down due to a lack of government investment, describing the claims as inaccurate.

Speaking to Citi Business News on Friday, February 20, 2026, TOR’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Godwin Mahama Ayaba, said the refinery is transitioning into the second phase of its operational ramp-up following a successful test run after years of inactivity.

According to him, TOR is preparing to integrate the F-61 furnace with the existing F-1 furnace to power the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), a move expected to increase output capacity to 45,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd) from the current 28,000 bpsd.

“Obviously, that preparation cannot be done whilst there is an ongoing process. So, technically, you need to hold on with operations to be able to prepare in order to do the tie-in. That is what technically or engineering-wise, that is how it ought to be, and that is what we are doing,” he explained.

Mr. Ayaba noted that caution is necessary, especially as the F-61 furnace previously exploded in 2017. “In trying to bring it back to operation, we need to be very careful so that we meet all the engineering requirements in order not to find ourselves in the same situation that occurred in the year 2017,” he said.

He further disclosed that Vega Engineering, an Italian company that constructed the F-61 furnace, is required to oversee its commissioning before handing it over to TOR’s internal engineers.

“So, all those preparations are underway to be able to bring the F61 to stream so that, as I said earlier, we will be able to do the 45,000 instead of currently the 28,000 that we are doing,” he stated.

Reiterating TOR’s position, Mr. Ayaba said the current operational posture is not due to maintenance, technical problems, or funding constraints.

“The narrative outside there pointing to issues of lack of investment, lack of funds, technical issues, maintenance issues, is not the fact on the ground,” he added.

CitiNewsRoom