The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has commenced the export of its new crude grade, Cawthorne, marking a significant milestone in its drive to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production and expand its portfolio of globally competitive export streams.
The Cawthorne blend, the latest addition to Nigeria’s basket of crude grades, has an API gravity of 36.4, placing it firmly within the light, sweet category. It is comparable to Bonny Light and is highly valued in the global market for its superior petrol and diesel yields.
NNPC Ltd confirmed that on Sunday, April 5, 2026, the first cargo of the Cawthorne blend was loaded onto the MT Eburones vessel for export to the Netherlands, marking its official entry into the global market.
The maiden cargo of 950,000 barrels was exported via the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel. Strategically located offshore Bonny in Rivers State, the facility enhances crude evacuation from OML 18 and strengthens Nigeria’s export reliability, operational efficiency, and overall energy security.
The introduction of the Cawthorne crude grade underscores NNPC Ltd’s strategy to unlock value from its asset base, deepen market competitiveness, and support 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.
This development builds on recent additions such as Nembe and Utapate crude grades, reflecting a structured effort to optimise production, expand market offerings, and reinforce Nigeria’s position in the global oil market.
Commenting on the milestone, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, commended the policy direction of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the collaboration among OML 18 partners, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and other stakeholders.
He emphasised that the company remains focused on strengthening partnerships, maintaining operational discipline, and deploying innovative solutions to ensure sustainable growth and national energy security.
“This milestone reflects the direction we have set for NNPC Limited—one anchored on execution, partnership, and value creation. We are moving decisively from resource potential to resource monetisation, ensuring that every asset delivers measurable commercial outcomes.
“The successful export of the Cawthorne crude grade is part of a broader strategy to grow production, deepen market relevance, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a reliable global energy supplier,” he said.
NNPC Ltd reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging innovation, strategic partnerships, and operational efficiency to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources while ensuring long-term energy security and economic growth.