Nigeria’s oil sector is set for a revenue boost as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited successfully exported 950,000 barrels of the new Cawthorne Blend crude. This shipment, carried out via the FSO Cawthorne, marks the country’s first new crude oil terminal in half a century.

The FSO Cawthorne, located offshore, provides storage and export capabilities for crude from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 and surrounding assets. Sahara Group, a joint operator in the region, highlighted the terminal’s advanced technologies, including AI-enabled monitoring systems and robust safety and environmental frameworks, which enhance efficiency and operational integrity.

Dr. Tosin Etomi of Asharami Energy praised the export as a milestone for Nigeria’s upstream oil sector, emphasizing the role of strategic partnerships, operational excellence, and sustainable development in achieving this success.

Cawthorne Blend, with an API gravity of 36.4, is similar in quality to Bonny Light and is expected to increase Nigeria’s daily crude supply from around 1.65 million barrels to roughly 1.7 million barrels, depending on market demand and operational stability.

The NNPC’s launch of this new crude grade aligns with Nigeria’s broader plan to increase production, despite longstanding challenges such as pipeline vandalism, theft, and security issues in the Niger Delta.