After years of uncertainty and decline, the Tema Oil Refinery is beginning to show early signs of recovery, with Managing Director Edmond Kombat emerging as a central figure in efforts to restore the struggling state asset.
Once regarded as a financial burden and a candidate for privatisation, the refinery is now undergoing a cautious but determined turnaround under Kombat’s leadership. While the recovery remains fragile, it marks a notable shift in the fortunes of an institution many had written off.
During a recent visit by the Africa Extractives Media Fellowship, Kombat and his management team outlined a rebuilding process shaped by years of setbacks, operational breakdowns, and renewed strategic focus.
A Crisis Inherited
Kombat’s account paints a stark picture of the refinery’s condition when he assumed office in 2025. Operations had ground to a halt, infrastructure had deteriorated, and financial discipline had collapsed.
The refinery was weighed down by mounting debt, years of unaudited accounts, and delayed obligations to both workers and retirees. Staff morale was low, with an exodus of experienced personnel further weakening institutional capacity.
This marked a significant decline from earlier recovery efforts during the administration of John Dramani Mahama, when government intervention through the Energy Sector Levies Act helped reduce liabilities and stabilise operations. At the time, crude processing had resumed and infrastructure upgrades were underway, offering cautious optimism.
That progress, however, proved unsustainable.
Rebuilding from Within
Faced with limited external support, Kombat adopted a strategy centred on internal restructuring and self-financing. Rather than relying on bailouts, management focused on restoring confidence within the organisation.
Efforts began with addressing staff concerns, regularising promotions, and improving working conditions—steps that helped rebuild trust and stabilise the workforce.
Attention then shifted to operational recovery. Through improved efficiency and renewed engagement with industry stakeholders, the refinery gradually began generating internal revenue.
The most significant milestone came in late 2025, when engineers successfully restarted the refinery’s core processing unit after years of inactivity—signalling a return to production.
Restoring Capacity and Strategic Relevance
Since resuming operations, management has prioritised infrastructure repairs, system upgrades, and the phased restoration of key processing units. The revival has also created new employment opportunities and renewed focus on skills development for younger workers.
Kombat maintains that the refinery’s value extends beyond profitability. Its storage capacity, processing capability, and integration into regional supply networks position it as a strategic asset for Ghana’s energy security—particularly amid ongoing global supply uncertainties.
A Recovery Still in Progress
Despite these gains, significant challenges remain. Structural weaknesses that contributed to the refinery’s decline have not been fully resolved, and the sustainability of the current progress is yet to be tested.
What has changed, however, is the direction of travel.
Under Kombat’s leadership, the refinery is no longer dormant, and a renewed sense of purpose is evident. His broader ambition is to overturn the perception that state-owned enterprises are inherently inefficient or unsustainable.
For now, the story of the Tema Oil Refinery is shifting—from one of prolonged collapse to a test of whether disciplined leadership and sustained reforms can deliver lasting transformation.
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