By Sarah Baafi
Ghana’s push toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy future is gaining momentum, with renewed operations at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), expanded LPG infrastructure, and ambitious solar-powered initiatives, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has announced.
Addressing Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang during a working visit to the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, Dr. Jinapor confirmed that TOR has resumed crude oil processing for the first time in many years, describing it as a major milestone.
“For so many years, for the first time, Tema Oil Refinery has started processing crude oil. If you go there at night, you will see the fire on the tip of the furnace, which means that we are making so much progress,” he said.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s commitment to expanding the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a cleaner alternative to firewood and charcoal. He described the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company as critical to this agenda.
While only 6,500 cylinders were refurbished in 2024, Dr. Jinapor said performance improved dramatically after management was given a clear mandate. “By the end of the year, they had refurbished 57,000 cylinders,” he revealed.
To modernize operations, he announced that the government has secured $8.5 million in funding to retool and revamp the company, with plans to turn it into a modern cylinder manufacturing facility.
On renewable energy, Dr. Jinapor said the Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to deploy solar-powered irrigation systems, particularly in northern Ghana, to support dry-season farming.
He further disclosed plans to roll out solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations across the country, warning that Ghana’s estimated 17,000 EVs could strain the national grid if left unchecked.
“So we want to be innovative and ahead of the curve by installing solar-packed charging stations where, through an app, you can pay maybe two cedis or five cedis and charge your car in minutes,” he said.
According to the Minister, the shift to solar-powered transport could cut fuel costs by up to 50 percent, reinforcing the government’s broader commitment to green transition and long-term energy sustainability.
