950,000-barrel maiden export signals push to expand Nigeria’s oil portfolio and boost global competitiveness…….
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has taken a major step in expanding Nigeria’s crude oil offerings, announcing the successful export of a newly introduced grade known as Cawthorne.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the company confirmed that the first shipment of the crude blend approximately 950,000 barrels was dispatched on April 5 aboard the MT Eburones vessel, bound for the Netherlands and international markets beyond.
The cargo was lifted from the offshore Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) facility located near Bonny in Rivers State, a key infrastructure expected to enhance crude evacuation from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 and improve export efficiency.
According to the NNPC, the Cawthorne blend falls within the light, sweet crude category, with an API gravity of 36.4. This places it in the same class as Nigeria’s highly sought-after Bonny Light, making it particularly attractive to refiners due to its high yields of petrol and diesel.
The introduction of the new grade is part of a broader strategy by the company to optimise production, diversify export streams, and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global oil market.
NNPC said the move aligns with national targets to ramp up crude production to three million barrels per day and increase gas output to 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030.
The launch of Cawthorne also builds on recent additions to Nigeria’s crude slate, including Nembe and Utapate blends, reflecting what the company described as a deliberate and structured expansion of its oil portfolio.
Commenting on the milestone, Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari said the development underscores a shift toward value-driven operations and stronger market positioning.
He credited ongoing policy reforms and collaboration with regulators such as the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission for enabling the progress.
“This milestone reflects our focus on execution, partnership, and value creation,” Ojulari said, adding that the company remains committed to converting Nigeria’s vast resource base into tangible economic returns.
With the successful debut of the Cawthorne blend, NNPC is positioning itself to play a more dynamic role in global energy markets while reinforcing Nigeria’s reputation as a reliable crude supplier.
