Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited (SORL), a subsidiary of China's privately held Sentuo Group, commissioned Phase 1 of its Tema-based refinery in January 2024, making it Ghana's first major privately developed oil refinery. That alone was historic. Phase 2 is a bold step further. The expansion will increase the refinery's processing capacity from 40,000 barrels per day to 100,000 barrels per day, effectively more than doubling output and positioning Ghana among the leading petroleum refining hubs in West Africa and the Sahel.
Ecobank Ghana is mandated to coordinate a $200 million financing package, (Ecobank-coordinated financing); total Sentuo Group investment across both phases estimated at ~$980 million
Sentuo's downstream petroleum project sits squarely within the priority sectors GIPA was built to attract, particularly relevant for capital-intensive projects like refining or industrial manufacturing. Operating at 100,000 barrels per day cannot afford downtime and Sentuo's expansion is a direct embodiment off the 24-Hour Economy policy in action. Sentuo's location in the Tema Industrial Area, and the government's active promotion of the refinery as an export-oriented facility, aligns with the GFZA's mandate to attract export-focused manufacturing investments.
Sentuo's Phase 2 is creating energy security, industrial ecosystem depth, and government goodwill that downstream manufacturers can leverage.700–800 direct jobs → 1,500+ direct jobs upon completion. From 40,000 barrels per day to 100,000 barrels per day, effectively more than doubling output and positioning Ghana among the leading petroleum refining hubs in West Africa and the Sahel.
