Dr. William Mensah-Ansah, an industrialist, has voiced strong criticism against the detrimental political interference that has been impacting the operations of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) in Ghana. He highlighted that this interference has significantly weakened TOR’s operational capacity, preventing the refinery from realizing its full potential.
One of the major issues Dr. Mensah-Ansah pointed out is the frequent change in leadership at TOR. He noted that between 2009 and 2016, the refinery had four different chief executive officers. However, from 2017 to 2023, it saw five managing directors, and a sixth had just taken office. This continuous rotation of leadership has hindered the implementation of strategic plans and disrupted the refinery’s stability.
Dr. Mensah-Ansah emphasized that with proper leadership consistency, TOR should not be struggling to operate efficiently. He highlighted that the refinery possesses the capacity to produce over 45,000 barrels per stream day for the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and an additional 14,000 barrels for the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC). The installation of a furnace should have facilitated faster production and increased capacity utilization.
He underscored the importance of protecting TOR from political manipulations and stressed that the refinery’s primary role is to refine crude oil for the Ghanaian market and beyond. Dr. Mensah-Ansah also highlighted TOR’s efficient work interlink system, emphasizing that it contributes to the refining and distribution process of various petroleum products.
In his appeal to the government, Dr. Mensah-Ansah called for a comprehensive plan to revitalize TOR, allowing it to regain its operational vibrancy. The goal is to eliminate undue political influence and provide the refinery with the stability and resources needed for successful operations in the future.
Source : GNA NEWS
