As part of ongoing efforts to increase output and streamline operations, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is preparing to expand its production capacity.
In order to increase its processing capacity from 28,000 barrels per stream day to 45,000 barrels per stream day, the refinery is now implementing technical procedures.
The initiative is part of wider efforts to restore the operations of the Tema Oil Refinery and enhance its impact on the national petroleum industry.
According to officials, the F61 unit, a new processing facility that will operate alongside the existing F1 unit, will be integrated to boost capacity.
To boost productivity and improve efficiency, both units will be connected to the refinery’s crude distillation system.
Engineers are currently working through the transitional technical procedures needed to integrate the new unit into the processing system, according to management, who clarified that operations have continued since the refinery resumed production.
The refinery anticipates a large increase in output from its current level of 28,000 barrels per stream day to 45,000 barrels per stream day after the integration is finished.
At present, the Tema Oil Refinery is functioning under a tolling system in which private firms supply crude oil for processing at the plant.
In this arrangement, the refinery returns the refined petroleum products to the company that supplied the crude after refining it and charging a processing fee.
Under the tolling arrangement, the Tema Oil Refinery processes crude oil provided by private firms and charges a refining fee, after which the refined petroleum products are returned to the suppliers.
Speaking in an interview on Citi FM on Monday, March 9, the refinery’s Corporate Affairs Officer, Godwin Mahama Ayaba, explained that the facility does not manage the sale or distribution of the finished products.
According to him, those decisions are handled by the companies that provide the crude oil.
Mr Ayaba explained that the addition of the F61 unit will increase output to 45,000 barrels per stream day, even though the refinery’s existing nameplate capacity is only 28,000 barrels.
He added that proposals to increase capacity to roughly 60,000 barrels per stream day in the medium term are being considered by management.
