Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has described the delivery of Jubilee crude oil to Sentuo Oil Refinery for local processing as a landmark achievement that will deepen value addition.
He stated that this will strengthen energy security and accelerate Ghana’s industrialisation agenda.
Speaking at Sentuo Oil Refinery’s first-ever Jubilee Crude Oil Berthing Ceremony in Tema, Mr. Jinapor said the development marks a significant shift in Ghana’s petroleum industry, where crude oil produced locally can now be refined within the country rather than exported for processing abroad.
According to him, the initiative reflects a deliberate policy direction by the government to maximise the economic benefits of Ghana’s natural resources through local value addition.
He stated that the achievement goes beyond a commercial transaction.
“It represents a deliberate national policy decision to deepen local value addition, strengthen energy security, promote industrialisation, and retain a greater share of the benefits derived from Ghana’s petroleum resources within our economy.”
He noted that for many years, Ghana exported crude oil while relying heavily on imported refined petroleum products, a model he said was unsustainable in the long term.
He recalled that the country’s sole state-owned refinery faced significant operational challenges for nearly eight years, limiting Ghana’s capacity to process its own crude oil.
He noted that, if this refinery did not exist, many of these young men and women would still be searching for jobs or competing for limited opportunities elsewhere.
“This is why investments of this nature are critical to Ghana’s economic future,” he added.
The minister commended the management of Sentuo Oil Refinery for its investment and vision, describing the facility as one of the most significant private sector investments in Ghana’s downstream petroleum industry.
According to him, the government remains committed to ensuring that Ghana’s natural resources contribute directly to industrial development, job creation, and national prosperity.
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has described the Sentuo Oil Refinery as a strategic national asset that will strengthen Ghana’s industrial base, boost domestic refining capacity, and reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
She also said the facility represents a significant milestone in Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda and aligns with the government’s broader economic reset programme.
Source: Kwadwo Baffour Atuahene
