The Managing Director(MD) of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Edmond Kombat, has been named the Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP) Champion of the Year, 2026, in recognition of his leadership and contribution to the refinery’s recovery and the restoration of its refining operations.
Mr. Kombat received the recognition at the 2026 Annual Retreat of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, held at the Volta Serene Hotel in Ho, in the Volta Region.
Following the award, he expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, and the leadership and staff of the Ministry for their continued support for TOR’s recovery efforts.
In a statement, Mr. Kombat said the award reflected the collective efforts of the government, the Ministry, the TOR Board, Management, staff and other stakeholders working to restore the refinery’s operations.
He particularly acknowledged President Mahama for the policy direction and government support towards reviving strategic national assets and strengthening Ghana’s energy security.
He also thanked Dr Jinapor and the Ministry for their continued guidance, engagement and encouragement.
“I am deeply humbled and grateful for this recognition. I receive it not simply as a personal honour, but as recognition of the collective effort of the Government, the Ministry, the TOR Board, Management and staff, and all our partners who have contributed to the progress we are making at Tema Oil Refinery,” he said.
According to the citation accompanying the award, Mr. Kombat’s recognition was based on his leadership in the recovery of Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector and efforts to reposition TOR to fulfil its core mandate.
Key milestones cited included the completion of critical Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) works on the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and the resumption of crude oil refining after several years of operational inactivity.
The citation also highlighted TOR’s processing of locally produced Jubilee Medium Sweet Crude, including the reported milestone of processing one million barrels by August 2026.
The Ministry’s annual retreat provided a platform for reviewing the energy sector’s performance and achievements in 2026 while setting priorities and strategies for 2027.
Mr. Kombat said the recognition should motivate the refinery to consolidate its achievements and pursue better results rather than become complacent.
“This recognition is a great motivation for us to do more. As the Ministry reviews what we have achieved in 2026 and looks ahead to 2027, we at TOR are equally encouraged to raise the bar, consolidate the gains we have made and pursue even greater achievements,” he stated.
He said TOR would continue to prioritise operational excellence, safety, reliability, efficiency, accountability and financial sustainability as it works to strengthen its contribution to Ghana’s energy security.
Mr. Kombat also commended the refinery’s Board, Management and staff, particularly its engineers, operators, artisans, technical teams and support personnel, for their dedication and resilience.
He described the award as recognition of the collective efforts of the entire TOR workforce and urged staff to maintain their commitment to the refinery’s recovery.
Looking ahead, Mr. Kombat reaffirmed the refinery’s commitment to working with the government, the Energy Ministry, its Board and other stakeholders to sustain the progress made and position TOR as a safe, reliable, efficient and financially sustainable national asset.
He acknowledged that significant work remained but said the recognition had strengthened the refinery’s resolve to improve its performance and fulfil its strategic role in Ghana’s petroleum sector.
