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By Merit Ibe
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of , David Bird, has unveiled an ambitious expansion blueprint that could see the $20 billion Lekki-based facility double its capacity and emerge as the world’s largest refinery.
Addressing journalists during a tour of the complex on February 18, 2026, Bird disclosed that the refinery is embarking on multiple large-scale projects, including the construction of a major diesel hydrotreater, expansion of polypropylene production, additional marine jetties, and a world-scale Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) plant to boost detergent manufacturing across Africa.
He described the refinery as a “continent-building project,” stressing that its impact goes far beyond Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply. According to him, the facility is reshaping energy trade flows across Africa and the Atlantic basin.
Bird said the refinery has successfully transitioned from construction to full-scale operations and is now evolving into a safe, stable and highly efficient commercial enterprise capable of generating revenues to fund its bold expansion agenda.
The refinery, he noted, is already exporting refined products to key international markets. Recent shipments include gasoline to New York Harbour, Bermuda and parts of South America, as well as aviation fuel to Dubai — clear evidence, he said, of its global competitiveness.
Explaining its operational framework, Bird stated that the Dangote Refinery functions as a “merchant refinery,” a widely adopted global model where crude oil and intermediate feedstocks are sourced from different regions and processed into finished fuels. This structure, he said, ensures high utilisation of processing units and uninterrupted fuel supply to Nigeria, even when certain units undergo scheduled maintenance.
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He firmly dismissed claims that the refinery imports finished petrol for domestic sale. Instead, he clarified, it imports intermediate feedstocks and blending components which are further refined into Euro 5-compliant fuels. “Only finished, on-spec products are supplied to the market,” he stressed.
Providing further insight into sourcing strategy, Bird revealed that the refinery has processed more than 25 crude grades from Nigeria and countries including Brazil, Angola and Senegal, while also importing feedstocks from South America. However, he described Nigerian crude as the most commercially attractive due to its proximity and cost advantages. He added that the company is working to expand its “crude-for-naira” arrangement to deepen local sourcing and reduce foreign exchange exposure.
Addressing concerns about recent operational shutdowns, Bird explained that the temporary halt of some units was part of routine “pit stop” maintenance typical after major start-ups. Despite the downtime, he said the refinery maintained steady domestic supply by sourcing intermediate feedstocks to keep downstream units operational.
During the maintenance window, the refinery averaged about 41 million litres of petrol supply daily, underscoring what he called the resilience and flexibility of its systems.
On fuel standards, Bird said the refinery produces Euro 5-grade petrol, diesel and aviation fuel — products that are low in sulphur and free from harmful metals. He emphasised that cleaner fuels deliver significant public health benefits and argued that Nigerians deserve the same quality standards available in Europe and North America.
The refinery currently employs about 4,200 operational staff, with ongoing and future expansion projects expected to generate tens of thousands of construction jobs at peak activity levels.
On energy independence, Bird disclosed that the facility runs on a 500-megawatt captive power plant powered by natural gas, ensuring reliable electricity for operations. While there are no immediate plans to connect to the national grid, he said the company is exploring broader opportunities to support gas-based industrial growth.
With expansion now firmly underway, the Dangote Refinery appears poised not just to refine fuel, but to redefine Africa’s industrial ambition.
