Dangote Refinery Appoints Former Duqm Boss as CEO to Tackle Production Challenges
- The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrolchemicals has appointed David Bird, former head of Oman’s Duqum Refinery, as CEO
- The appointment became effective in July 2025 and shows a bold plan by the Dangote conglomerate to solve production hitches
- Since its commissioning in January 2024, the Dangote refinery has transformed Nigeria’s fuel supply chain, slashing gasoline imports
Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has announced the appointment of David Bird, former head of Oman’s Duqm Refinery, as the new Chief Executive Officer of its fuels and petrochemicals division.
The appointment, which takes effect in July 2025, signals a bold move by the Dangote Group to resolve production challenges and fast-track its expansion plans.
Source: Instagram
Dangote’s push to regain momentum
Bird brings decades of experience, including key roles at Shell and as CEO of OQ8, where he oversaw the ramp-up and diversification of the Duqm complex.
Since its commissioning in January 2024, the Dangote refinery has transformed Nigeria’s fuel supply chain, slashing gasoline imports and becoming a major player in the African refining sector.
However, a series of technical hiccups, including repeated outages on the critical residue fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC), has slowed full-scale operations.
Bird’s appointment is expected to stabilise output and introduce a more structured expansion strategy.
Chairman's role remains with Aliko Dangote
While Bird takes on operational leadership, Aliko Dangote retains his position as Chairman of the refining business and CEO of the broader Dangote Group.
The conglomerate remains active in multiple sectors, including cement, fertilisers, and sugar.
Bird’s arrival frees Dangote to focus on high-level strategic moves, such as public listing plans and cross-border infrastructure development.
Expansion strategy beyond Nigeria
According to a report by Punch, Bird said he aims to extend Dangote’s refining footprint across Africa, leveraging his experience in multinational operations and large-scale project execution.
He is expected to oversee the refinery’s scale-up from 650,000 to 700,000 barrels per day, port infrastructure upgrades, and storage expansions in Namibia and other countries.
Source: Getty Images
In August 2025, the group will launch its own distribution business featuring a fleet of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, further asserting control over the value chain.
Production recovery in sight
Despite previous setbacks, Dangote officials report improved operations in Q3 2025, with the RFCC running at 85% capacity.
The refinery has become Nigeria’s only active refining facility, particularly during outages at NNPC’s plants, and has started exporting significant volumes.
In July 2025, Nigeria exported 220,000 b/d of petroleum products, with Dangote accounting for a major share.
Exports included jet fuel (45%), gasoil (24%), and residual fuel, a byproduct typically processed further under normal conditions.
Toward public listing and global play
The Dangote Group has expressed interest in listing the refinery on the London and Lagos Stock Exchanges.
Aliko Dangote reaffirmed the group’s goal to go public, using Bird’s leadership to strengthen corporate governance, scale efficiently, and court international investors.
The refinery’s rapid rise and its ripple effects on global oil markets suggest that under Bird’s guidance, it could yet become a dominant force in both regional and global refining.
Dangote Refinery hikes petrol ex-depot price
Legit.ng earlier reported that amid the increase in global crude oil prices, which inched toward $73 per barrel as of Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Dangote Refinery has increased its ex-depot prices by almost 7 per cent.
The refinery reportedly halted petrol sales on Thursday, July 31, 2025, in anticipation of the price increase, prompting swift reactions from other depot operators.
According to data from Petroleumpriceng, the petroleum product tracking platform, Dangote Refinery increased its ex-depot price from N825 per litre to N865.
Source: Legit.ng
