Nigerian National Petroleum Company Exports New Cawthorne Crude

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has initiated the export of its new Cawthorne blend crude, marking a significant step in Nigeria's efforts to boost crude oil production and expand its portfolio of export streams. The maiden cargo of approximately 950,000 barrels was shipped on April 5, 2026, aboard the MT Eburones vessel, bound for the Netherlands and the global market. The Cawthorne blend, with an API gravity of 36.4, is classified as a light, sweet crude, comparable to Bonny Light oil, and is highly valued for its superior petrol and diesel yields. This export was facilitated by the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel, strategically located offshore Bonny, Rivers State, which enhances crude evacuation from OML 18 and strengthens Nigeria's export reliability and operational efficiency. This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's mandate to increase crude oil production to three million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, emphasized that this milestone reflects a deliberate strategy to unlock value from its asset base, deepen market competitiveness, and ensure sustainable growth and energy security for Nigeria. The introduction of Cawthorne follows recent additions like Nembe Crude and Utapate Crude, further diversifying Nigeria's crude offerings.