GHANA’S LOCAL REFINING DRIVE GETS BOOST AS TULLOW OPENS JUBILEE AND TEN CRUDE SUPPLY CHANNEL
7 OCTOBER 2026
By Boakye Stephen, Kumasi, Ghana | Reporting for Ghanaian News Canada
Ghana’s domestic refining ambitions have received a boost after Tullow Oil began supplying crude from its Jubilee and TEN fields to refineries operating in the country.
The first shipment was sold earlier this year to Sentuo Oil Refinery, creating a direct commercial link between Ghana’s offshore oil production and its domestic refining industry.
Tullow Chief Financial Officer Richard Miller disclosed the development during a virtual engagement with investors while discussing the company’s half-year performance.
He said the arrangement was reached on commercial terms and described the start of local crude sales as an important development for Ghana’s petroleum industry.
“This is a fantastic achievement looking at what has happened in Ghana’s oil sector over the years.”
According to Miller, the initiative is also being supported by mechanisms intended to provide a favourable refinancing package, while government measures to strengthen refinery operations could further support the sector.
He singled out Sentuo Oil Refinery as an increasingly important buyer of Ghanaian crude, noting that its purchases extend beyond Tullow’s production.
“Sentuo Oil has become one of the prolific buyers of crude not only from Tullow Oil alone but also from other partners on Ghana’s oil fields.”
The development comes as Tullow revises its 2026 lifting programme upwards. The company now expects to lift 14 crude cargoes during the year, comprising 11 from Jubilee and three from TEN.
Tullow delivered six cargoes during the first half of the year and plans to lift another eight in the remaining months. The revised projection represents two additional Jubilee cargoes compared with its November 2025 guidance.
The local sales could provide Ghanaian refineries with another source of domestically produced crude while creating a stronger connection between the country’s upstream petroleum operations and its refining capacity.
MAIN QUOTE
“This is a fantastic achievement looking at what has happened in Ghana’s oil sector over the years.”
COMMENTARY
The significance of the development lies in keeping more of Ghana’s crude supply chain connected to the domestic market. The commercial arrangement could support local refining while giving producers another market for Ghanaian crude.
The key test will be whether such arrangements can be sustained and expanded in a way that supports refinery operations, crude availability and the wider petroleum industry.
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