The recovery of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has generated 1,657 permanent, temporary and contractor jobs, Managing Director Edmond Kombat has announced, linking the employment gains to rehabilitation works at the state-owned refinery.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at Jubilee House on Monday, October 26, Mr Kombat said the programme had opened opportunities for young engineers, maintenance workers and local businesses.
He also reported that more than 6,500 indirect and temporary workers were engaged during turnaround maintenance.
Engineers and contractors benefit
Mr Kombat’s breakdown included 415 young engineers recruited into permanent positions, 301 temporary workers engaged for maintenance on the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), and 287 assigned to the Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit.
Another 654 workers were employed through 35 local contractors operating at the refinery. “TOR’s recovery has created 1,657 permanent and temporary jobs,” he said.
The figures place permanent recruitment alongside shorter-term maintenance engagements and employment through contractors, rather than representing 1,657 permanent additions to TOR’s workforce.
Restoring crude processing
The employment announcement follows efforts to restore refining after prolonged shutdowns that left TOR relying largely on storage services.
Under Project Restore TOR, management prioritised rehabilitation of the CDU, financial controls and rebuilding confidence among staff and business partners.
In an earlier operational update, TOR said crude refining resumed on December 19, 2025, following turnaround maintenance conducted between August and October that year. Management described the restart as a phased process aimed at stabilising equipment and sustaining reliable operations.
Further recovery work covers the RFCC unit, boilers, crude-heating equipment and other infrastructure needed to improve processing capacity.
Staff cases addressed
Mr Kombat said management had resolved more than 300 outstanding staff petitions and promotion-related cases, including matters that had remained unsettled for over a decade.
He said conditions of service, job descriptions and performance-management systems were also being reviewed as part of efforts to improve staff welfare.
Looking beyond the rehabilitation programme, he outlined ambitions for a new refinery, petrochemical facilities and additional storage capacity. These remain development plans, with the broader objective of expanding domestic refining and strengthening Ghana’s energy security.
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