NNPCL Debuts Cawthorne Crude,  Deepens Nigeria’s Global Export Footprint

 The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, has launched a new crude oil grade, Cawthorne, into the international market, signaling a strategic push to boost production, diversify exports, and strengthen Nigeria’s position in global energy trade.

The state oil firm confirmed that its maiden cargo of 950,000 barrels was successfully exported on April 5, 2026, aboard the MT Eburones vessel to the Netherlands, marking the first international shipment of the new blend.

Cawthorne crude, with an API gravity of 36.4, is classified as a light, sweet grade, similar to Nigeria’s premium Bonny Light, making it highly attractive to refiners due to its high petrol and diesel yield.

According to NNPC Limited, the cargo was lifted from the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading, FSO, facility located offshore Bonny in Rivers State, a development expected to enhance crude evacuation from OML 18 and improve export efficiency.

Speaking, Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the milestone as a key step in the company’s commercial transformation and production growth agenda.

“This milestone reflects the direction we have set for NNPC Limited, one anchored on execution, partnership, and value creation,” Ojulari said.

“We are moving decisively from resource potential to resource monetisation, ensuring that every asset delivers measurable commercial outcomes,” he added.

He noted that the introduction of the Cawthorne blend is part of a broader strategy to scale Nigeria’s crude production and expand its portfolio of competitive export grades, alongside recent additions such as Nembe and Utapate.

“The successful export of the Cawthorne crude grade is not an isolated achievement; it is part of a broader, deliberate strategy to grow production, deepen market relevance, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a reliable global energy supplier,” Ojulari stated.

The launch aligns with the Federal Government’s target of increasing crude oil production to three million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030, reinforcing Nigeria’s ambition to remain a key player in the global energy market.