Sentuo Group has officially begun Phase II expansion works on its oil refinery project in Tema, with the Executive Chairman of the company, Mr Xu Ningquan, describing the investment as a major step in Ghana’s industrialisation drive.
The sod-cutting ceremony, held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited facility, was attended by President John Dramani Mahama, Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor, Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, and China’s Ambassador to Ghana, Cong Song, among other government officials and industry leaders.
In his address, Mr Xu said the expansion would significantly boost Ghana’s refining capacity and strengthen its position as a regional energy hub.
“Today, we are not simply cutting sod for another industrial project. We are laying another foundation stone for Ghana’s future,” he said.
He said Phase II of the project would add an additional three million metric tonnes of annual refining capacity, improve domestic fuel production and reduce reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
According to him, the investment is expected to create thousands of jobs during construction and operation, while also strengthening local supply chains and increasing government revenue.
Mr Xu said Sentuo Group’s philosophy was rooted in local value addition and industrial self-sufficiency.
“Produce in Ghana. Process in Ghana. Manufacture in Ghana. Employ Ghanaians. Export from Ghana,” he said.
He added that Africa’s long-standing dependence on exporting raw materials while importing finished goods must change if the continent is to achieve sustainable economic growth.
President Mahama, in his remarks, welcomed the project and reiterated his government’s commitment to industrial transformation and job creation through private sector partnerships.
The Sentuo Group executive also praised government policies aimed at improving investor confidence, particularly the administration’s 24-hour economy agenda, which he said aligned with continuous industrial production.
He noted that the refinery’s operations already reflect the principles of round-the-clock production, describing industry as a sector that “never sleeps”.
Mr Xu further announced plans for broader investments, including an integrated fertiliser manufacturing project and large-scale commercial farming initiatives, following a memorandum of understanding with government.
He said Sentuo Group was committed to ensuring that host communities benefit directly from its operations through employment opportunities, skills training, infrastructure development, and educational support programmes.
“Industrial growth will inevitably go hand in hand with community advancement,” he said.
The company also outlined Ghana’s potential to become a regional hub for refining, petrochemicals, manufacturing and logistics under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Phase II expansion is expected to strengthen Ghana’s energy security, improve foreign exchange retention and reduce fuel import dependence.
The project adds to Sentuo’s existing operations in Tema and forms part of wider efforts to position Ghana as a leading industrial and energy centre in West Africa.
The ceremony ended with renewed calls for sustained collaboration between government and private investors to accelerate Ghana’s industrialisation agenda.
