Tema Oil Refinery to Resume Operations by October 2025, Says Acting MD

After years of operational setbacks and industry uncertainties, Ghana’s premier state-owned oil refinery, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), is poised to return to full refining capacity by October 2025, according to its Acting Managing Director, Edmund Kombat.

This long-awaited revival signals a pivotal moment not just for Ghana’s energy security but for the broader West African downstream oil sector. The announcement, made by Kombat earlier this week, reflects a concerted effort by government and industry stakeholders to restore TOR’s relevance amid rising energy demand and regional competition.

Kombat, who was appointed Acting MD in a bold move to inject technocratic leadership into TOR, brings an impressive blend of legal, financial, and energy sector experience to the role.

From Boardrooms to Refineries: Who Is Edmund Kombat?

A seasoned entrepreneur and energy strategist, Kombat is not new to the corridors of power or the complexities of refinery management. His credentials span multiple sectors:

• Founder & Chairman of the Edkom Group, which includes firms like Citi Energy Ltd and Oyster Agribusiness Ltd, where he reportedly raised over $3 million, improving livelihoods for more than 4,500 farmers.
• He has also held key roles in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London and Premium Bank in Accra, giving him robust global financial insight.
• His policy experience includes working as Business Analyst for the Ministry of Energy and as Special Assistant to the CEOs of both TOR and BOST (Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation).
• Most recently, he served as Head of Risk & Compliance at Convenio Energy Pty in South Africa.

Academically, Kombat is a Harvard-trained public policy expert, having earned a Master in Public Administration (MPA) as an Edward S. Mason Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government. He also holds a First Class BA from the University of Ghana, an LL.B from GIMPA, and a BL from the Ghana School of Law.

A Strategic Turnaround

Kombat’s announcement is a strategic reflection of months of behind-the-scenes work to stabilize TOR, attract investment, and upgrade infrastructure. Analysts believe that a successful restart will help reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported refined products, boost foreign exchange savings, and restore public confidence in state-led industrial ventures.

TOR, once a key pillar of Ghana’s energy architecture, has over the years suffered from underfunding, mismanagement, and political interference. Kombat’s entry may signal a shift toward merit-based leadership and operational transparency.

Regional Significance

With refineries in the region, such as Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, already attracting international attention, TOR’s re-entry into the refining space adds competitive pressure and opens up new possibilities for cross-border trade and collaboration within ECOWAS.

As the countdown to October 2025 begins, Kombat and his team face the challenge of not only restarting operations but sustaining them in a tough economic climate. Still, industry watchers remain cautiously optimistic.

“This is not just about resuming operations,” a senior analyst at the Institute for Energy Security noted, “It’s about repositioning TOR as a viable, competitive, and transparent asset for Ghana and West Africa.”

For Edmund Kombat, the road ahead is steep, but his diverse expertise may just be the refinery’s most valuable resource.

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