LAGOS, NIGERIA — The Dangote Group has announced the appointment of David C. Bird, a globally respected energy executive, as the new Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Oil Refining and Petrochemicals Ltd. This leadership transition comes at a crucial time as the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest integrated refining complex, enters a new phase of operations.
Bird, a British national and former CEO of Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company in Oman, brings over three decades of international oil and gas experience to the helm. His mandate is clear: fix existing technical inefficiencies, optimize output, and lead the refinery’s expansion across Africa and into global markets.
“This is a pivotal opportunity to make African refining world-class. It’s all about efficiency, reliability, and extending our footprint across the continent,” Bird noted in a recent LinkedIn statement.
Located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, the Dangote Refinery is designed to process up to 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with ambitions to ramp up to 700,000 barrels daily under Bird’s leadership. The refinery, which began phased operations earlier this year, is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel and serve as a hub for refined petroleum products across West and Central Africa.
Bird’s appointment signals a new operational era focused on:
- Resolving inherited design and commissioning bottlenecks
- Increasing product output efficiency
- Expanding export infrastructure across African markets
- Enhancing environmental and operational compliance standards
One of Bird’s most ambitious tasks will be to lead the refinery’s preparation for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and potentially the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The planned listing is expected to unlock new capital, boost investor confidence, and position the Dangote Refinery as a transparent, globally competitive entity in the downstream sector.
Bird’s leadership is seen as a major step in aligning Dangote Group’s industrial ambitions with global best practices. His previous tenure in Oman, where he oversaw the successful development of a major Middle Eastern refining hub, makes him uniquely qualified to replicate similar success in Africa.
This appointment also reinforces the Dangote Group’s commitment to attracting world-class talent to manage its industrial assets as it eyes continental energy dominance, beginning with the transformation of Nigeria from a net importer to a refining powerhouse.
Commissioned in 2023, the Dangote Refinery is the largest single-train refinery in the world, situated on 2,635 hectares of land in Lagos. It integrates refining and petrochemical operations to supply gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, polypropylene, and more—aiming to meet 100% of Nigeria’s refined product needs and generate surplus for export.
Interface Africa Magazine will continue to monitor developments at the Dangote Refinery as it transitions into a beacon of Africa’s industrial and economic transformation.
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