David Bird is the new CEO of Dangote refinery
Nigeria’s Dangote Group has appointed David Bird, a former Shell executive and ex-CEO of the OQ8 refinery in Oman, as Chief Executive of its Refinery and Petrochemical division.
The move marks a strategic step in Dangote’s push to accelerate its pan-African growth agenda.
Bird, whose appointment took effect on August 1, brings over 30 years of industry experience, including a 14-year tenure at Shell, where he oversaw the $12 billion Prelude Floating LNG project, according to Business Day.
His leadership arrives at a critical moment as Dangote’s $20 billion refinery complex, the world’s largest single-train facility, ramps up production following its commissioning in January 2024.
In a LinkedIn post, Bird noted that his priorities would include optimising refinery performance and expanding Dangote’s footprint across the African continent.
Despite scaling up output, the Lagos refinery has encountered early-stage operational challenges, including design flaws and unit upsets, prompting a shift to a more diversified crude slate to stabilise production.
Dangote’s refinery expansion
Following accusations of Aliko Dangote’s preference for foreign partnerships, Africa’s richest man recently announced that Nigerians would soon be able to own shares in the Dangote Refinery.
Dangote Group plans to list its refining business on both the Lagos and London Stock Exchanges, although a timeline for the dual listing has not been disclosed.
The refinery is currently undergoing a strategic upgrade aimed at increasing its production capacity from 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 700,000 bpd by the end of 2025.
Dangote’s entry has already disrupted traditional oil trade flows and is projected to end the decades-long $17 billion gasoline export trade from Europe to Africa.
How Virtual Reality is enhancing business and customer experience
