China Endorses Ghana’s Energy Self-Reliance as Sentuo Oil Refinery Expands Capacity to 100,000 Barrels Per Day

The Chinese government has formally commended Ghana for its steadfast commitment to achieving energy self-reliance, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s industrialization journey. During the commissioning of Phase Two of the Sentuo Oil Refinery project in Tema, Chinese Ambassador Cong Song expressed strong support for Ghana’s strategic objective to add value to its natural resources locally. The expansion of the refinery is a central pillar of this vision, representing a major step toward reducing the country’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products and bolstering national energy security. The Phase Two expansion significantly elevates the refinery’s processing capacity, increasing it from 40,000 to 100,000 barrels per day. This substantial growth allows Ghana to domestically refine a larger portion of the crude oil produced from the Jubilee Oil Field, ensuring that more of the value chain remains within the country. Ambassador Cong Song highlighted that this development aligns with Ghana’s broader economic policy to cease the export of raw minerals by 2030, a move designed to stimulate industrial upgrading and create high-value employment opportunities for the Ghanaian workforce. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including President John Dramani Mahama, underscoring the high-level importance of the project to Ghana’s economic roadmap. Beyond its immediate production benefits, the Sentuo Oil Refinery is positioned to transform Ghana into a dominant petroleum refining leader within the West African sub-region. By leveraging its strategic location and increased capacity, the nation aims to serve as a regional energy hub, providing refined fuel to neighboring markets and enhancing the collective economic stability of the ECOWAS zone. This project further cements the strategic partnership between China and Ghana, reflecting a shared focus on infrastructure development and technology transfer. As the refinery moves into its new operational phase, it serves as a blueprint for how international cooperation can drive local industrial capacity. The successful scaling of the Sentuo facility is expected to catalyze further investments in the energy sector, ultimately fostering a more resilient and self-sufficient Ghanaian economy that is less vulnerable to global market fluctuations.