The Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has sworn in a 3-member Interim Management Committee to oversee the affairs of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as part of efforts to restructure and revamp it.
Speaking after the swearing-in at the refinery, the Minister noted that the ministry is aware of issues confronting TOR, adding that successive presidents since the 4th Republic have in one way or other, “thought about value addition to our natural resources hence the need for the facility to remain operational”
Issues the minister outlined include age long debt which is threatening to cripple the operations of the facility, infrastructural challenges and equipment problems.
Dr. Prempeh urged the staff of the refinery to put all past rancours behind them, cooperate with the IMC and work hard to ensure success of the refinery. To the IMC, he urged them to be diligent in their work and bring their rich experience to bear in discharging their mandate.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Kwasi Obeng-Fosu in an interview said the Minister of Energy Dr. Prempeh is concern about TOR as he emphasize the need to find the right partnerships, managerial infrastructure and equipment to enable TOR work as a strategic stakeholder in the oil and gas sector.
The PRO, Kwasi Obeng-Fosu also added that the committee is to submit its report, including findings and recommendations, to the Minister within three (3) months.
The Chairman of the 3-member IMC is Mr. Nobert Cormla-Djamposu Anku. The other members are Mr. William Ntim Boadu and Mr. Okyere Baffuor Sarpong.
The committee’s terms of reference among others include, to ensure the smooth transfer from the outgone Directors, undertake technical and human resource audits as well as receiving and assessing viable partnerships for TOR, if any.
