In a major leadership shift, Dangote Group has appointed David Bird, former CEO of Oman’s Duqm refinery, as the new Chief Executive Officer of its Petroleum and Petrochemicals division.

Bird officially took over in July, tasked with leading the fuels and chemicals arm of the company, which operates the world’s largest single-train refinery launched last year in Lagos. His appointment is seen as a strategic move to stabilize operations and scale the company’s reach across Africa and beyond.

Founder Aliko Dangote remains Chairman of the refining business and CEO of the broader group, which also includes interests in cement, sugar, and fertilizer.

Bird brings decades of experience from global energy markets. While at OQ8, he steered Duqm’s expansion and crude diversification. At Dangote, he plans to prioritize plant efficiency, trading performance, and flexible feedstock sourcing to reduce dependence on local crude.

The Lagos refinery, with a 650,000 b/d capacity, has faced several technical and regulatory hurdles since its commissioning in January 2024. Despite challenges, it has already cut Nigeria’s fuel import dependency. Still, issues like “rent-seeking” and fuel quality standards remain obstacles, according to Dangote.

Bird’s leadership comes at a time of expansion. The group plans to grow capacity to 700,000 b/d, enhance port infrastructure, and set up overseas storage hubs in countries like Namibia. In August, Dangote will launch a 4,000-strong fleet of CNG-powered trucks to support distribution across the region.