Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited exported the first shipment of its new crude grade, Cawthorne, to the Netherlands. The 950,000-barrel cargo was loaded onto the MT Eburones on April 5. Cawthorne, a light, sweet crude with an API gravity of 36.4, is similar to Bonny Light. Its high petrol and diesel yield makes it attractive in international markets, marking a key step for Nigeria’s oil exports and broadening the country’s crude offerings abroad.

Bonny River Terminal (BRT) loading bay in Rivers State, Nigeria, handling crude oil exports.

New blends expand Nigeria’s oil offerings

The cargo was transported via the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel, stationed offshore Bonny in Rivers State. This FSO plays a critical role in moving crude from OML 18, improving both efficiency and reliability in exports while supporting national energy security. Its use underscores NNPC’s strategy of turning Nigeria’s resource potential into economic value, aligning with government goals to raise crude production to three million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030.

Cawthorne follows the launch of Nembe and Utapate as part of NNPC’s plan to optimize production and expand market offerings. The shipment highlights the company’s focus on partnerships, operational management, and value creation. Working with OML 18 partners, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and other stakeholders, NNPC is strengthening its role as a consistent supplier in Nigeria’s competitive oil market.

View of Bonny River Terminal (BRT) loading bay in Nigeria, exporting crude oil.

NNPC expands production, strengthens partnerships

The launch comes amid fluctuating global oil prices, which rose above $100 per barrel in March amid supply tensions linked to Iran before easing toward $95 per barrel. NNPC sees this as an opportunity to strengthen production and market influence, with plans to boost output by roughly 100,000 barrels per day in the months ahead. Last year, Nigeria averaged 1.6 to 1.7 million barrels per day, and NNPC targets 1.8 million barrels per day in 2026.

The first Cawthorne shipment underscores NNPC’s focus on disciplined operations, strategic partnerships, and optimizing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources. By converting these resources into tangible commercial outcomes, the company seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global oil market and support sustainable economic growth. This shipment marks a step in executing its broader strategy to enhance reliability and value in the country’s petroleum sector.