Dangote Refinery names new CEO to drive expansion

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has appointed David Bird, previously the head of Oman’s Duqm Refinery, as its Chief Executive Officer.

Bird, who formerly led operations at Shell’s Balau Pokom refinery, will oversee the company’s fuels and petrochemicals division, which operates the world’s largest single-train refinery, commissioned in January 2024.

The strategic appointment aims to address production hurdles and spearhead the refinery’s next phase of growth.

Bird’s expertise, honed during his tenure at OQ8 where he expanded Duqm’s capacity and diversified its crude inputs, is expected to bolster Dangote’s efforts to optimize operations and scale output.

His participation in the recent Dangote Leadership Development Program Graduation Ceremony underscores his early engagement with the organization.

The move reflects Dangote Group’s ambition to cement its position as a leading player in Africa’s refining and petrochemical sector.

Aliko Dangote, the group’s founder, will continue as chairman of the refining business and CEO of the broader conglomerate, which spans cement, fertilizers, and sugar refining.

In a LinkedIn post, Bird outlined his vision to extend Dangote’s market presence beyond Nigeria, aiming to establish the refinery as a global leader.

His priorities include maximizing efficiency and output at the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility, which has faced challenges from unit outages and design issues in 2025, particularly with its residue fluid catalytic cracker. These disruptions have forced reliance on the lower-yield reformer, impacting production.

Since its launch, the Lagos-based refinery has reshaped Nigeria’s fuel market, reducing dependence on imported gasoline.

However, Dangote has criticized “rent-seeking” trade partners and substandard fuel imports for complicating operations.

Bird’s trading-focused strategy, emphasizing high utilization, efficiency, and feedstock flexibility, aligns with the refinery’s shift to process diverse crude grades due to limited Nigerian oil availability.

A naira-based agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, a 7.2% stakeholder, mandates fixed domestic product sales.

Looking ahead, Dangote Group plans to increase the refinery’s capacity to 700,000 barrels per day, enhance port infrastructure, and develop storage facilities in Namibia and beyond.

In August 2025, the company will launch a distribution network featuring 4,000 CNG-powered trucks. Long-term goals include listing the refining business on the London and Lagos stock exchanges, as reiterated by Aliko Dangote.

Despite early setbacks, the refinery’s rapid ramp-up in 2024 surprised analysts, influencing global oil benchmarks through its exports. Bird’s leadership is poised to navigate ongoing challenges and drive Dangote’s vision of regional and global dominance.