Africa’s largest oil refinery, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, is set to embark on a major expansion that will lift capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million, according to its incoming chief executive.
Speaking at a media session in Lagos, Managing Director and CEO-designate David Bird said the project would rely on a replication model that mirrors existing infrastructure, allowing construction to proceed without redesigning core systems.
“We will not re-engineer or redesign,” Bird said. “By replicating what already works, we can accelerate delivery and avoid the delays that often plague large industrial projects.”
Bird said the expansion would be completed within three years, supported by significant groundwork already undertaken at the Lekki site. Procurement of long-lead items is expected to start immediately, while piling and site preparation works are planned to begin before the end of January 2026. The first phase of completion is targeted for early 2026.
He highlighted that the land had already been reclaimed and raised, reducing the pre-investment hurdles that typically slow refinery developments. Steel structures for the new units are expected to start taking shape before the end of this year.
On refinery operations, Bird said the facility imports all of its crude oil by sea, giving it the flexibility to process Nigerian and international crude grades, as well as intermediate feedstocks. Advanced conversion units, he said, ensure the production of fuels that meet strict market standards.
The refinery currently produces between 50 and 52 million litres of petrol daily and supplied over 50 million litres per day throughout the recent festive period. Bird said the plant has been designed with sufficient resilience to maintain supply even when individual units are taken offline for maintenance.
Addressing policy issues, Bird said talks were continuing with NNPC Ltd to expand crude supply under the naira-for-crude arrangement, calling for stronger execution by government and regulators.
Bird, an Australian national and former senior Shell executive, will formally take up the role in July 2025. Analysts believe his experience leading major energy projects across Australia, Asia, the United States and the Middle East will be critical as Dangote Refinery scales up operations and strengthens its position in Nigeria’s energy landscape.
