Tullow Oil has started selling crude oil from Ghana’s Jubilee and Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) fields to local refineries, with its first cargo going to Sentuo Oil Refinery earlier in 2026, the company’s Chief Financial Officer Richard Miller has disclosed.
Miller made the disclosure during a virtual investor meeting on Tullow’s 2026 half-year results, describing the move as “a fantastic achievement looking at what has happened in Ghana’s oil sector over the years.”
He said the sale was made on a purely commercial basis, with financing mechanisms arranged to support favourable terms for the deal.
The development, reported on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, links upstream oil production directly with domestic refining for the first time on a commercial scale, after years in which Ghana exported its crude and imported refined fuel.
Tullow sells first Jubilee crude cargo to Sentuo Oil Refinery
According to Miller, Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema received Tullow’s first domestic crude cargo earlier this year.
He added that Sentuo “has become one of the prolific buyers of crude not only from Tullow Oil alone but also from other partners on Ghana’s oil fields.”
Miller also commended government efforts to improve refinery operations in the country.
Tullow raises 2026 crude cargo liftings to 14
Tullow now expects to lift 14 cargoes of crude in 2026, two more Jubilee cargoes than in its initial guidance issued in November 2025.
- Total 2026 liftings: 14 cargoes
- Jubilee field: 11 cargoes
- TEN fields: 3 cargoes
- Lifted in the first half of 2026: 6 cargoes
- Planned for the second half of 2026: 8 cargoes
- Change from November 2025 guidance: +2 Jubilee cargoes
In a trading update ahead of its half-year results, Tullow said net production in the first half averaged 27.6 thousand barrels of oil per day from Jubilee and 8.1 thousand barrels per day from TEN. The company also raised its 2026 free cash flow guidance to between US$170 million and US$250 million.
How Ghana’s local crude refining push got here
The first cargo of Jubilee crude arrived at Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema in June 2026, about 15 years after Ghana began producing oil in 2011.
At the time, Energy Minister Dr John Abdulai Jinapor said about one million barrels of Jubilee crude had been arranged for processing at the refinery. He also confirmed that the Tema Oil Refinery received one million barrels of crude in May and resumed operations in June. GhanaTrends earlier reported on Tema Oil Refinery resuming crude oil processing as part of the same push.
Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare described the June delivery as the first time Ghana’s own crude had been brought ashore for local processing, saying the cycle of exporting crude and importing refined products at uncontrollable prices was beginning to change.
Sentuo refinery capacity and expansion
Sentuo Oil Refinery currently processes about 40,000 barrels per day. When its second phase is completed, capacity is expected to rise to 100,000 barrels per day.
- Current capacity: about 40,000 barrels per day
- Phase Two addition: 60,000 barrels per day
- Full capacity: 100,000 barrels per day
- Investment by Sentuo Group: nearly US$2 billion
Government officials say the expansion could position Ghana as a major refining hub in West Africa.
What Tullow’s local crude sales mean for Ghanaians
Selling Ghanaian crude to local refineries could reduce the country’s reliance on imported petrol, diesel and LPG, which are exposed to global price swings and foreign exchange pressures.
Government has said domestic refining is expected to create jobs, build local technical skills and supply diesel, LPG and asphalt for transport, households and road construction.
For the oil sector, a steady domestic buyer gives producers such as Tullow another outlet for their cargoes alongside international markets.
What happens next
Tullow plans eight more crude liftings in the second half of 2026 to meet its 14-cargo target. The company has not said how many of the remaining cargoes will go to Ghanaian refineries.
Attention will also turn to the completion of Sentuo’s second phase and continued operations at the Tema Oil Refinery, which together will determine how much of Ghana’s crude can be processed at home. More details are available on Tullow Oil’s official website.
Key details at a glance
- Tullow Oil has started selling Jubilee and TEN crude to Ghanaian refineries.
- The first cargo went to Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema earlier in 2026.
- CFO Richard Miller says the sale was on a purely commercial basis.
- Tullow expects 14 liftings in 2026: 11 from Jubilee and 3 from TEN.
- Six cargoes were lifted in H1 2026; eight are planned for H2.
- Sentuo processes about 40,000 barrels per day, rising to 100,000 after Phase Two.
FAQs
Is Tullow selling Ghana crude oil to local refineries?
Yes. Tullow Oil has started selling crude from the Jubilee and TEN fields to Ghanaian refineries, with its first cargo delivered to Sentuo Oil Refinery earlier in 2026.
How many crude cargoes will Tullow lift from Ghana in 2026?
Tullow expects to lift 14 cargoes in 2026, made up of 11 from Jubilee and three from the TEN fields.
What is the capacity of Sentuo Oil Refinery in Ghana?
Sentuo currently processes about 40,000 barrels per day and is expected to reach 100,000 barrels per day when its second phase is completed.
Tullow Oil’s decision to sell Jubilee and TEN crude to Sentuo Oil Refinery marks a commercial step forward for Ghana’s push to refine its own oil. With 14 cargoes planned for 2026 and refinery capacity set to expand, the coming months will show how much of Ghana’s crude stays at home to supply local fuel needs.
