Jubilee Crude Processes Locally at Sentuo Refinery for First Time in History

Ghana has marked a historic turning point in its petroleum and industrialisation journey with the arrival of locally produced Jubilee crude oil at the Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema for processing.

The milestone signals a bold shift from exporting raw resources to adding value within the country.

The cargo was received during the refinery’s first-ever Jubilee Crude Oil Berth Ceremony, attended by government officials, industry stakeholders, and Sentuo executives.

Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, described the occasion as a defining moment in Ghana’s history and a significant step toward President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of transforming natural wealth into tangible benefits for Ghanaians.

“For the first time in Ghana’s history as an oil-producing nation, a cargo of Jubilee crude, lifted from beneath our own waters, has arrived not in Rotterdam, Guangdong or the Gulf of Mexico, but here on Ghanaian soil, at a world-class refinery in Tema, to be transformed into fuel that will power Ghanaian homes, businesses and roads,” she stated.

The Minister said the development breaks a 15-year pattern where Ghana exported crude only to import refined petroleum products at prices beyond its control.

“For over 15 years, ordinary Ghanaians, including transport operators, traders, farmers and fishermen, have borne the burden of fluctuating fuel prices resulting from that arrangement. Today, that cycle begins to change as we build the Ghana envisioned under President Mahama’s reset agenda – a Ghana that not only extracts its wealth but transforms it,” she said.

Hon. Ofosu-Adjare praised Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited and parent company Sentuo Group for their nearly US$2 billion investment, which she said demonstrates confidence in Ghana’s industrial future and aligns with Africa’s push to move beyond raw material exports.

She noted the refinery’s operations will create economic linkages across sectors: diesel for transportation and logistics, LPG for cleaner household cooking fuel, and asphalt for road construction and infrastructure.

“The benefits of this refinery extend far beyond petroleum products. Behind every barrel refined are jobs, opportunities, technical skills and improved livelihoods for Ghanaian workers, engineers and families,” she added.

The government, she said, is committed to building a local industrial ecosystem around the refinery, including petrochemicals, fertiliser production, and plastics.

Discussions in China have already generated excitement about establishing a fertiliser plant in Ghana, with the Ministry ready to work with Sentuo to deliver it.

Describing the refinery as a practical response to the “resource curse,” the Minister argued that “the true value of natural resources lies not in their extraction but in their transformation into products that drive industrial growth and national development.”

Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, called the arrival of Jubilee crude a landmark achievement and a deliberate national effort to maximise value, deepen local refining, and strengthen energy security.

He said President Mahama directed urgent measures to boost domestic refining amid global energy supply concerns. Through collaboration with Sentuo, GNPC, Explorco, Tullow Ghana, Kosmos Energy, Vitol Ghana and others, arrangements have been concluded for approximately one million barrels of Jubilee crude to be supplied to Sentuo.

Dr Jinapor also revealed that Tema Oil Refinery received one million barrels of crude in May and resumed operations in June, with plans for additional Ghanaian crude supplies to reduce import dependence.

He announced that Sentuo’s planned Phase Two expansion will increase capacity from 40,000 to 100,000 barrels per stream day, positioning Ghana as a major refining hub in West Africa.

Founder and Executive Chairman of Sentuo Group, Mr Xu Ningquan, hailed the ceremony under the theme “Ghana’s Oil Fields to Ghana’s Industries” as timely and strategically important.

“Every barrel refined domestically creates opportunities for local businesses and strengthens Ghana’s competitiveness,” he said, reiterating Sentuo’s commitment to Ghana’s vision of becoming a petroleum hub for the sub-region.

He called for increased government support to sustain long-term investment in direct crude refining.

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