Top 7 Refinery CEOs in Africa, 2026

Africa’s refining sector is often driven by experienced energy leaders managing some of the continent’s most important downstream assets.

These executives bring decades of experience in oil, gas, petrochemicals, engineering, operations, and large-scale industrial management. 

Many have worked across global energy markets, led refinery upgrades, managed complex supply chains, and helped shape national energy strategies.

Their roles now go beyond running refineries. They are central to Africa’s push to reduce fuel imports, strengthen energy security, expand exports, and build stronger industrial capacity.

Here are the Top 7 Refinery CEOs in Africa, 2026:

7. Noureddine Daoudi, Skikda Refinery, Algeria

Noureddine Daoudi leads Sonatrach, Algeria’s state-owned energy giant, which oversees the Skikda refining and petrochemical hub. The Skikda Condensate Refinery II has a processing capacity of about 122,000 barrels per day.

Daoudi was appointed Chairman and CEO of Sonatrach on October 26, 2025. He joined the company in 1988 after earning a State Engineer diploma in Geology from the Houari Boumediene University of Science and Technology.

Over more than three decades, he has held key roles in exploration and regulation. In 2018, he became Director of Exploration at Sonatrach, before later serving as chairman of Algeria’s hydrocarbon regulatory agency, ALNAFT. His leadership experience spans resource development, governance reform, and international energy cooperation.

6. Rashad Nazim Hassan, El Nasr Refinery, Egypt

Engineer Rashad Nazim Hassan Mohamed is Chairman and Managing Director of Nasr Petroleum Company, operator of the El Nasr Petroleum Refinery in Suez. The refinery has an estimated capacity of 131,000 barrels per day.

Hassan has spent his entire career at Nasr Petroleum, joining the company’s Technology Sector in 1995 after graduating from Suez Canal University with a degree in engineering.

He rose through technical and managerial positions, including Assistant General Manager for Development and Improvement in 2012, and General Manager for Technology and Development in 2017. His career reflects Egypt’s wider effort to modernise its refining infrastructure and improve operational efficiency.

5. Dr Mohamed Saad Ibrahim, Mostorod Refinery, Egypt

Dr Mohamed Saad Ibrahim is the Managing Director of the Egyptian Refining Company, which operates the Mostorod refinery project. The facility can process between 142,000 and 161,000 barrels per day.

Ibrahim began his career in 1975 at Nasr Petroleum before moving to Suez Petroleum Company in 1977. He later became chairman of the company and also served as chairman of Al Nasr Petroleum Company.

His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Suez Canal University, a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Cairo University.

The Mostorod project represents one of Egypt’s major downstream upgrades, turning an older refining site into a modern facility through a $4.3 billion redevelopment.

4. Bayo Ojulari, NNPC Limited, Nigeria

Bashir Bayo Ojulari is Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, which oversees Nigeria’s major state-owned refining assets, including the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries. The Port Harcourt refining complex has a capacity of 210,000 barrels per day.

Ojulari was appointed Group CEO of NNPC Limited by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on April 2, 2025. He is a petroleum engineer with more than three decades of experience across Nigeria, Europe, and the Middle East.

He began his career at Elf Petroleum Nigeria in 1989 before joining Shell in 1991. At Shell, he held senior roles in petroleum engineering, planning, production operations, and deepwater development. He later became Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company.

As NNPC chief, Ojulari is now responsible for steering Nigeria’s refining recovery programme and broader energy transition strategy.

3. Masoud Mahmoud Suleman, Ras Lanuf Refinery, Libya

Masoud Mahmoud Suleman chairs Libya’s National Oil Corporation, which owns the Ras Lanuf Refinery. The refinery has a capacity of about 220,000 barrels per day, making it one of Libya’s most important downstream assets.

Suleman has spent more than 22 years in Libya’s petroleum industry. Before becoming chairman, he served as Deputy Chairman of NOC and held leadership roles during critical periods between 2022 and 2024.

His experience includes reservoir engineering, production optimisation, field development, and strategic cooperation through roles at Sirte Oil Company, Mellitah Oil & Gas, AGESCO, and Chempetrol Overseas.

Located on Libya’s coast, Ras Lanuf remains central to the country’s refining and export infrastructure.

2. Simon Baloyi, Sasol, South Africa

Simon Baloyi is President and CEO of Sasol Limited, a role he assumed in April 2024. Sasol’s South African refining operations combine conventional crude refining with coal-to-liquids technology, giving the company a liquid fuels capacity of more than 250,000 barrels per day.

Baloyi joined Sasol in 2002 and rose through the company’s engineering, operations, asset services, and regional leadership structures. He previously served as Executive Vice President before becoming CEO.

His background includes process engineering, Fischer-Tropsch technology, plant optimisation, and executive management. He also contributes to energy transition policy discussions as Co-Chair of the B20 Energy Mix and Just Transition Task Force.

Baloyi’s leadership focuses on operational reliability, sustainable growth, and balancing South Africa’s energy security needs with decarbonisation goals.

1. David Bird, Dangote Refinery, Nigeria

David Bird is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals. He leads Africa’s largest single-train refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.

Bird assumed the role in 2025, with a mandate to scale production, strengthen export markets, and integrate the refinery into global refined products supply chains.

He has more than 25 years of international experience across refining, oil, gas, and petrochemicals. Before joining Dangote Refinery, he served as CEO of OQ8 in Oman and held senior roles at Santos Ltd and Shell.

At Shell, he worked in refinery management, supply operations, Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets, and floating LNG development. He also holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, the Dangote Refinery is one of Africa’s most strategic industrial projects and a key part of Nigeria’s plan to reduce fuel import dependence.