The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has officially begun exporting its latest crude grade, Cawthorne, with an initial shipment of 950,000 barrels. According to Andy Odeh, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, the maiden cargo was loaded onto the MT Eburones vessel via the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) system offshore Bonny, Rivers State, and is headed to the Netherlands and global markets.
Cawthorne is classified as a light, sweet crude with an API gravity of 36.4, comparable to the internationally renowned Bonny Light. NNPC highlights that its superior petrol and diesel yields make it highly sought after in the global oil market. The introduction of this new grade not only diversifies Nigeria’s crude portfolio but also strengthens the country’s export efficiency and global competitiveness.
The launch of Cawthorne follows previous introductions of new grades, Obodo in 2025 and Utapate in 2024, as Nigeria seeks to consolidate its leadership in OPEC+ and expand its crude output. The initiative comes after years of production constraints caused by pipeline vandalism, crude theft, and regional unrest, signaling a strategic push to stabilize and boost Nigeria’s oil exports.
NNPC CEO Bashir Bayo Ojulari praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for policy direction and sector reforms, while recognizing the cooperation of OML 18 partners and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Ojulari emphasized that NNPC will continue leveraging innovation, strategic partnerships, and disciplined operations to maximize Nigeria’s hydrocarbon value, ensuring long-term energy security and economic growth.
The Cawthorne crude export marks a key milestone in NNPC’s strategy to expand production and enhance Nigeria’s global oil market presence. With plans to reach three million barrels of crude per day and 12 billion cubic feet of gas per day by 2030, NNPC’s new crude streams are expected to attract strong international demand, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainable growth and energy leadership.
source: nairametrics