David Bird, Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery, has disclosed that the company plans to expand the facility’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day within three years, using a replication-based strategy to minimise delays and cost overruns.Speaking on Wednesday, Bird said the proposed expansion, targeted for implementation from 2026, will largely replicate the refinery’s existing design rather than involve fresh engineering work.
He explained that the approach, described as “roofless replication,” allows the company to accelerate construction by avoiding redesigns that typically slow down major energy projects.According to him, maintaining the current configuration will enable Dangote Refinery to move quickly into procurement and construction, particularly for long-lead equipment, without reopening detailed technical reviews.
Bird noted that procurement of major equipment and process units is expected to commence immediately, with orders planned for completion by the first month of 2026. Simultaneously, early civil works and site preparation are scheduled to begin before the end of this month.
He said these parallel activities are intended to shorten timelines and ensure steady project execution.The Dangote Refinery, located within the Lekki Free Trade Zone near Lagos, is currently the world’s largest single-train refinery, with an installed capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.
Expanding to 1.4 million barrels per day would place the facility among the largest refining complexes globally and significantly alter refined fuel supply patterns across Africa.Bird added that the project benefits from extensive preparatory work already completed at the site. The land designated for the expansion has been reclaimed and elevated in advance, removing one of the major causes of delay associated with large-scale industrial developments.
He said the level of site readiness could allow visible structural construction to begin before the end of the year, a timeline rarely achievable on new refinery projects.The Dangote Refinery plays a key role in Nigeria’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported fuel, conserve foreign exchange and stabilise domestic energy supply. When fully operational, the existing facility is expected to meet local petrol demand and export excess products to regional markets.
Bird acknowledged the challenges faced by large refinery projects globally but expressed confidence that the combination of design replication, early procurement and prepared land would enable Dangote Refinery to deliver the expansion within the projected timeframe.
