Sentua Oil Refinery | Sentuo web site, learn more page (accessed May 27, 2026)
Construction & Development Phases
The refinery was designed from the outset as a multi-phase development, with each phase consisting of one identical processing train with a crude throughput of 1.5 MTPA (approximately 30,000 bpd of crude input) and a refined product output of approximately 2.0 MTPA (~40,000 bpd equivalent):
Phase 1 — Train 1
Construction ran from June 2021 to mid-2023, with a technical start-up on August 29, 2023 and presidential commissioning on January 26, 2024. Total Phase 1 investment: $753.85 million (91% equity / 9% debt — $683.85 million Sentuo Group equity + $70 million China Eximbank loan). EPC contractor: China Shandong International Economic & Technical Cooperation Group Ltd (CSI — 山东国际加纳公司).
Phase 2 — Train 2 (cumulative output ~5 MTPA / ~80,000 bpd product equivalent)
A second identical processing train financed by a $100 million Sinosure-backed syndicated loan co-issued by China Eximbank and China Construction Bank, signed in July 2023. Total Phase 2 investment: $862.11 million (87% equity / 13% debt — $762.11 million Sentuo Group equity + $100 million loan). Nominal completion was originally targeted for January 2024; actual commissioning has been delayed and is currently in progress.
Phase 3 — Train 3 (cumulative output ~7 MTPA / ~120,000 bpd product equivalent)
Announced in July 2024 following receipt of the full NPA operating licence. Sentuo Group committed a further $980 million — fully equity-funded, with no external financing disclosed — for a third identical processing train adding 2 MTPA crude throughput / ~2 MTPA additional product output. No EPC contractor or timeline has been publicly announced.
Total committed investment across all three phases: ~$2.6 billion
Plant Configuration & Technology
SORL is fundamentally a catalytic cracking-centred complex — distinct from Tema Oil Refinery (TOR)'s simpler hydro-skimming/FCC design — and capable of processing medium to heavy crude grades, including Ghana's domestic Jubilee Sweet Light crude:
Each processing train is built around an identical set of units processing 1.5 MTPA of crude oil, as documented in the SORL Environmental Impact Statement (2020). The configuration — centred on catalytic cracking and hydrotreating rather than the simpler hydroskimming design of TOR — enables processing of medium to heavy crude grades, including Ghana's domestic Jubilee Sweet Light crude, and yields a high-value, Euro IV+ compliant product slate:
| Processing Unit |
Type / Technology |
| Crude Oil Desalting Unit |
Removes salts and water from crude prior to distillation |
| Sour Crude Atmospheric Distillation Unit (CDU) |
Separates crude into primary fractions; 1.5 MTPA per train |
| Heavy Oil Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCC) |
Converts heavy atmospheric residue into LPG, gasoline, and diesel fractions |
| Diesel Hydrotreating Unit |
Desulphurisation of diesel to meet Euro IV+ standards |
| Naphtha NMTG* Combined Reforming Unit |
Converts naphtha into high-octane gasoline components and hydrogen |
| Catalytic Gasoline Selective Hydrogenation Unit |
Reduces sulphur in FCC gasoline while preserving octane rating |
| Sulphuric Acid Combined Unit |
Processes acid gas streams; produces sulphuric acid as byproduct |
| Lube Base Oil Unit |
Produces lubricating base oil and solvent naphtha (~200,000 t/yr) |
| Asphalt / Pitch Unit |
Produces road asphalt and pitch products (~350,000 t/yr) |
*Naphtha Methanol-To-Gasoline
Engineering & Technology Provider: Shanghai HoTo Engineering Inc. (上海河图工程股份有限公司): A Shanghai-based Chinese engineering company founded in 2005, specialising in full-cycle EPC and engineering design services for oil refining and petrochemical enterprises. HoTo holds multiple patents and proprietary technologies across fluid catalytic cracking, hydrotreating, sulphur recovery, catalytic reforming, and hydrogen production. Its role at SORL covered overall planning, engineering design, and project management for the full 5 MTPA (Phases 1+2) refinery complex. The specific count of "26 state patents" cited in earlier versions of this profile is unverified and has been removed pending a primary source confirmation.
Capacity Summary
| Phase |
Crude Throughput (EIS basis) |
Product Output (Commercial basis) |
Approx. bpd (product) |
Status |
| Phase 1 (Train 1) |
1.5 MTPA |
~2.0 MTPA |
~40,000 |
✅ Operational (Jan 2024) |
| Phase 2 (Train 2) |
+1.5 MTPA |
~5.0 MTPA cumulative |
~80,000 total |
🔄 In commissioning |
| Phase 3 (Train 3) |
+1.5 MTPA |
~7.0 MTPA cumulative |
~120,000 total |
🔄 Announced / planned |
Note on capacity: The distinction between crude throughput (EIS metric) and product output (commercial metric) accounts for the apparent discrepancy between the 1.5 MTPA per-train figure in the EIS and the 2.0 MTPA per-phase figure in financing and commercial communications. Both are correct in their respective contexts.
Product Slate
SORL produces a broader product slate than TOR, reflecting its more complex hydrocracking configuration:
Primary fuels (domestic market focus):
- Gasoil / Diesel (34% of output in 2024)
- Gasoline / Petrol (27% of output)
- LPG / Cooking Gas (25% of output)
- Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK / jet fuel)
- Kerosene
Specialty and industrial products:
- Lubricating base oil and solvent naphtha (~200,000 t/yr)
- Asphalt / pitch products (~350,000 t/yr)
- Polypropylene (~400,000 t/yr of polymer and byproducts)
- Ammonium sulphate, sulphuric acid, sulphur
Product quality standard: Euro IV and above — enabled by the diesel hydrotreating and catalytic gasoline selective hydrogenation units, yielding a cleaner product slate than TOR's legacy output.
Feedstock & Crude Supply
Unlike TOR — which was designed for light West African and Angolan crudes — SORL's hydrocracker is designed to run medium to heavy crude grades, giving it broader feedstock flexibility. Crucially, Sentuo has successfully processed Ghanaian domestic crude (Jubilee/TEN grades) and has negotiated a partial baseload supply of domestic crude from the government, reducing its dependence on imported feedstocks. As of 2024, it was also sourcing Russian crude to supplement domestic supply.
Operational Performance
| Year |
Production (MT) |
Notes |
| 2023 |
86,877 |
Partial year (Aug–Dec only); start-up phase |
| 2024 |
312,070 |
Full year; 260% increase over 2023 |
| 2024 market share |
65% |
Of all petroleum products refined within Ghana |
By end-2024, Sentuo had become the dominant force in Ghana's domestic refining, accounting for 65% of all locally refined petroleum products and holding nearly 24% of all privately held fuel storage capacity in the country.
Quality Controversy
Shortly after commissioning, in February 2024, Ghana's National Petroleum Authority (NPA) briefly suspended the sale of fuel from SORL, citing concerns over alleged substandard product quality. The suspension was subsequently lifted following product testing and remediation by SORL. The company has since received its full NPA operating licence (July 2024) and continued uninterrupted operations through 2025 and into 2026.
References
- AidData / China Eximbank Project Database — Confirms SORL incorporation date (November 18, 2018), registration number (CS329482018), two-phase project structure, capacity (5 MTPA / 100,000 bpd), financing terms, Phase 1 EPC contractor (CSI), and Chinese project titles.
china.aiddata.org/projects/108263
- AidData / China Construction Bank Project Database — Confirms Phase 2 Sinosure-backed $100M loan details (China Eximbank + China Construction Bank, signed July 2023).
china.aiddata.org/projects/108264
- Sentuo Oil Refinery Ltd. EIS Draft (June 2020, via Scribd) — Environmental Impact Statement containing early project specifications, site details, and original Phase 1 timeline.
scribd.com/document/591492640
- SORL Official Website — sorlgh.com (acessed May 27, 2026) — States process licensor (Shanghai HoTo Engineering), BRI framework, "1D1F" alignment, phase capacities (2 MTPA / 5 MTPA), site location in Tema Industrial Zone, and contact information.
sorlgh.co
- 2. Shanghai HoTo Engineering — SORL Project Page — Confirms HoTo's specific role at SORL such as enabling seamless integration across all eight process units. Also confirms the plant start-up date of December 15, 2023.
cnhoto.com/newsinfo/900415
- Shanghai HoTo Engineering — About Us — Confirms holding multiple patents — including proprietary technologies in FCC, hydrotreating, hydrocracking, sulphur recovery (HSR technology), and catalytic reforming.
HoTo Linkedin page
- Yen.com.gh (July 20 2023) — Reports Ghana's Trade Minister visit to the construction site; confirms August 2023 start-up target and refinery operational scope.
yen.com.gh — Sentuo operations
- Graphic.com.gh (January 29, 2024) — Confirms presidential commissioning ceremony on January 26, 2024; $2 billion total investment; Xu Ning Quan as Executive Chairman; 100-acre site; product slate.
graphic.com.gh — Sentuo commissioning
- Xinhua News Agency (January 29, 2024) — Ghanaian presidential commissioning coverage confirming Chinese-built status and capacity.
english.news.cn — Xinhua Sentuo
- Petro-Logistics.com (May 15, 2024) — Technical market analysis: feedstock flexibility (medium/heavy crudes and Russian crude), Jubilee/TEN crude compatibility, market positioning vs. TOR.
petro-logistics.com — Sentuo West Africa
- Tank Terminals / Ghana Upstream (July 29, 2024) — Confirms receipt of full NPA operational licence; announces $980M Phase 3 investment for 2 MTPA additional capacity.
tankterminals.com — Sentuo $980M
- GhanaWeb (August 1, 2024) — Reports full NPA operating licence granted; ARDA and CITAC congratulations; $980M further investment commitment details
ghanaweb.com — Sentuo licence
- Ghana Upstream Petroleum Chamber (July 29, 2024) — Additional confirmation of full licence and Phase 3 announcement.
ghanaupstream.com — Sentuo $980M
- The High Street Journal (January 18, 2026) — 2024 vs 2023 production data (86,877 MT vs 312,070 MT); 65% domestic market share; 24% of private fuel storage capacity in Ghana; product yield breakdown (diesel 34%, gasoline 27%, LPG 25%).
thehighstreetjournal.com — Sentuo CBOD
- IntelliNews (February 26, 2024) — NPA temporary suspension of SORL fuel sales citing quality concerns; subsequent resolution.
intellinews.com — NPA suspension
- Africa Intelligence (October 31, 2025) — Reports on SORL's dispute with Dubai-based crude oil trader; crude supply security challenges; Chairman identified as "Xu.
africaintelligence.com — Sentuo Dubai
- Sentuo Group Instagram (April 13, 2026) — CEO highlights manufacturing priorities and alignment with Ghana's 24-hour economy plan; most recent public statement
instagram.com/reel/DXE3kmpjAzw
