By Stephen Simon
Dangote Group has appointed former Shell executive David Bird as the new Chief Executive Officer of its refinery and petrochemicals business, in a move seen as part of efforts to strengthen operations at the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery and drive its next phase of expansion across Africa.
Bird brings decades of international experience in refining and downstream operations, having previously held senior positions at Shell and served as the chief executive of the Sohar refinery in Oman. His appointment comes as the Dangote Refinery continues to ramp up production and expand supplies of refined petroleum products to both the Nigerian and export markets.
The company said the leadership change is intended to consolidate operational efficiency and position the refinery for long-term growth. Since commencing production, the refinery has steadily increased output of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and other petroleum products, reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined products.
Industry analysts believe Bird’s international experience will be valuable as the refinery seeks to optimise production, improve logistics and expand exports to other African countries under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). They also expect the appointment to boost investor confidence in the multi-billion-dollar project.
The Dangote Refinery remains one of the largest single-train refineries in the world and is expected to play a significant role in reshaping Africa’s energy market. The facility has already begun exporting refined products to several countries while increasing domestic supplies to marketers in Nigeria.
Energy experts say the appointment signals the company’s intention to operate the refinery in line with global best practices as competition in the regional refining market intensifies. They note that experienced international leadership could help maximise the plant’s capacity and improve profitability over the coming years.
