NNPC records milestone as 950,000 barrels of new oil grade reach global market
Nigeria’s oil revenues are poised for a modest uplift after Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited recorded the first export of a new crude grade, Cawthorne Blend, marking a significant operational milestone in the country’s upstream sector.
The shipment of 950,000 barrels was lifted from the FSO Cawthorne vessel — described as Nigeria’s first new crude oil terminal in half a century — according to a statement released on Monday by Sahara Group. The development confirms earlier reports that the new light sweet crude was introduced to the international market this month under the leadership of Bayo Ojulari.
Sahara Group said the initial cargo followed the terminal’s licensing and gazetting by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, enabling the commencement of exports.
The offshore facility, FSO Cawthorne, provides storage and offtake services for crude produced from Oil Mining Lease 18 and adjacent assets in the eastern Niger Delta, reinforcing Nigeria’s export infrastructure.
In its response, Sahara Group highlighted the terminal’s strategic importance in enhancing energy security through improved production, storage and evacuation capacity. The company also pointed to the deployment of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence-driven monitoring systems and strengthened health, safety and environmental protocols, aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing risk.
The company commended NNPC’s leadership within OML 18, where it operates as a joint venture partner, noting that collaboration across stakeholders has continued to drive performance improvements in the upstream sector.
Dr Tosin Etomi, head of commercial and planning at Asharami Energy, a Sahara Group subsidiary, described the first lifting as a “defining moment” for both the asset and Nigeria’s wider oil industry.
“The successful commencement of crude lifting from FSO Cawthorne is a strong demonstration of what can be achieved through shared vision, technical discipline and committed collaboration,” he said.
Etomi added that the milestone aligns with Sahara’s long-term strategy of building a resilient and scalable upstream portfolio anchored on operational efficiency, indigenous participation and sustainable value creation.
He also acknowledged the role of regulatory and operational agencies — including the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority — alongside host communities, in facilitating the smooth take-off of operations.
Industry observers say the introduction of Cawthorne crude forms part of Nigeria’s broader effort to increase production after years of disruption caused by oil theft, pipeline vandalism and insecurity in the Niger Delta.
With an API gravity of 36.4, the new grade is comparable to Bonny Light, one of Nigeria’s premium exports, prized by refiners for its high gasoline and diesel yield. Analysts suggest the additional stream could raise Nigeria’s crude and condensate output from around 1.65m barrels per day to approximately 1.7m bpd, contingent on stable operations and favourable market conditions.