Dangote Industries Limited plans to nearly double the workforce at the Dangote Refinery to support a strategic push for operational expansion. The move aims to bolster the facility’s technical and operational capacity as it scales up production.
Edwin Devakumar, the vice president of oil, gas, and fertiliser at Dangote Industries Limited, announced the plan during a media briefing at the refinery complex in Lagos on Friday. He stated that the increase in personnel is necessary to manage the growing complexities and output requirements of the plant.
The recruitment drive will span almost all operational areas of the facility, with the exception of the water treatment section, where the company believes it already possesses sufficient capacity to handle current and projected needs.
Devakumar clarified that the workforce will practically become double within the refinery, ensuring that the human capital available matches the technical scale of the infrastructure.
Scaling production and operational capacity
The decision to increase staffing comes as the refinery continues to ramp up its refining capacity to reduce Nigeria’s long-term reliance on imported petroleum products. The facility, which is the largest single-train refinery in the world, has been transitioning from the commissioning phase to full-scale commercial operations.
Expanding the workforce suggests an increase in shift rotations and a greater need for specialised engineers, technicians, and safety officers to maintain the 650,000 barrels per day capacity. This expansion is critical for the refinery to maintain stability while pushing for maximum throughput.
Historically, the project has faced various hurdles, including challenges with crude oil sourcing and regulatory disputes. However, the current push for more personnel indicates a shift toward optimising internal operations and ensuring that the facility can run at peak efficiency without technical bottlenecks.
The recruitment is expected to create significant employment opportunities for Nigerian professionals in the energy sector, aligning with the company’s goal of localising technical expertise in refining and petrochemicals.
The company has not yet released a specific timeline for when the new hires will be fully onboarded or the exact number of positions available. The immediate focus remains on identifying the specific skill gaps in the production and maintenance departments to ensure the expanded workforce is effectively integrated into the refinery’s operational framework.
Explore more Oil & Gas stories from Business Elites Africa.
