TOR Recruits 300 Young Engineers into Permanent Positions, Creates 1,542 Jobs

Management of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has recruited a record 300 young Ghanaian engineers into permanent positions as part of efforts to build the next generation of refinery professionals and strengthen the country’s petroleum refining industry.

The recruitment forms part of a broader employment drive that has created 1,542 permanent and temporary jobs following the refinery’s return to operations after years of inactivity.

Speaking during the commissioning of TOR’s refurbished Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) on Saturday, August 1, Managing Director Edmond Kombat said the recruitment reflects the refinery’s deliberate investment in Ghana’s technical capacity and industrial future.

According to him, the newly employed engineers are undergoing intensive training and gaining practical experience to become the country’s next generation of refinery experts.

“For a nation that has exported crude oil for more than 15 years while importing refined petroleum products, refining Ghanaian crude with Ghanaian engineers in a Ghanaian refinery marks a significant turning point in our industrial history,” Mr. Kombat stated.

He explained that beyond restoring refinery operations, TOR has strengthened financial discipline, improved operational efficiency and created thousands of employment opportunities through its ongoing rehabilitation programme.

Mr. Kombat disclosed that during the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the Crude Distillation Unit, TOR engaged 301 temporary workers, including many newly graduated university students, to support refurbishment works that were completed in record time.

He added that the ongoing maintenance of the Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) Unit has created an additional 287 temporary jobs.

According to him, TOR has also awarded contracts to about 35 local subcontractors, who have collectively employed 654 temporary workers to execute critical projects across the refinery.

Combining these temporary engagements with the recruitment of the 300 permanent engineers, Mr. Kombat said the refinery has directly created employment opportunities for 1,542 Ghanaians.

He noted that the jobs have provided beneficiaries with skills, income and renewed hope while helping to rebuild Ghana’s technical workforce.

“This is not merely about rehabilitating plants and equipment. It is about restoring livelihoods, rebuilding technical capacity and creating opportunities for our people,” he said.

Mr. Kombat lauded President John Dramani Mahama for supporting the revival of the refinery, saying the President’s leadership transformed confidence into concrete action.

He also commended the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, for his consistent support, leadership and commitment to restoring TOR.

Among the Minister’s interventions, he said, was the facilitation of nearly 400 solar street lighting poles through the Ministry of Energy, significantly improving security, operational safety and the refinery’s ability to support the Government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.

The Managing Director also acknowledged the support of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST), GOIL PLC, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the refinery’s Board of Directors, contractors, technical partners and staff for their roles in the refinery’s revival.

He also expressed appreciation to international partners, Triangle Commodities Trading and Fujairah, for their confidence in TOR at a time when many had doubted the refinery’s future.

Mr. Kombat said the refinery remains committed to honouring the confidence reposed in it by ensuring that the partnerships continue to deliver lasting value to Ghana’s energy sector.

He described the reopening of the refinery as more than an industrial achievement, saying it represents renewed hope for thousands of Ghanaian workers, families and young professionals while positioning TOR once again as a strategic national asset.