Dangote Refinery Appoints David Bird as CEO of Petroleum, Petrochemicals Division
By Kamal Yalwa: August 2, 2025 The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has appointed David Bird as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its petroleum and petrochemicals business. The appointment, which took effect in July 2025, was first reported by S&P Global on Friday. Bird’s arrival comes as the refinery seeks to scale up operations, resolve production challenges, and roll out an ambitious nationwide fuel distribution scheme already facing significant regulatory and logistical hurdles. A source at the company told TheCable that Bird is a mechanical engineer and an alumnus of Imperial College, London, with an MBA from Stanford University. He brings extensive global experience in the oil and gas industry. Prior to this appointment, Bird served as the head of Oman’s Duqm Refinery, and also held senior roles at Santos Ltd and Shell, including Vice President of Prelude FLNG, where he led operations on the world’s first floating LNG facility. He also chaired Shell Australia’s RAP board and headed operations at Shell’s largest refinery in Singapore — Pulau Bukom. Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, will continue to serve as chairman of the refining business while retaining his role as CEO of the broader Dangote Group, which spans cement, fertilizer, and sugar refining operations. In a LinkedIn post cited by S&P Global, Bird stated that his focus will be on driving maximum output, operational efficiency, and expanding Dangote’s market presence beyond Nigeria and into the wider African continent. His appointment marks a pivotal phase for the 650,000 barrels per day refinery, which has been gradually ramping up output since its commissioning by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023. The refinery is expected to commence fuel distribution to end-users by August 15, 2025, using a fleet of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, further positioning itself as a critical player in Africa’s energy landscape.