With the announcement of the export of its new crude grade, Cawthorne, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has reached a major milestone in its efforts to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production and broaden its range of internationally competitive export streams. According to a statement from its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy, the Cawthorne blend crude is the most recent addition to Nigeria’s basket. Its API gravity of 36.4 places it firmly in the lightsweet category, similar to Bonny Light, and it is highly valued in the global market for its superior yields of gasoline and diesel. 00:07/03:11 10s Smart Video He mentioned that on Sunday, April 5, 2026, the Cawthorne mix crude was loaded onto an MT Eburones ship and sent to the Netherlands and the international market.The Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) ship was used to export the first 950,000 barrels of cargo. The FSO, which is strategically situated offshore Bonny, Rivers State, improves crude evacuation from OML 18 and fortifies Nigeria’s export dependability, operational effectiveness, and general energy security.
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“The launch of Cawthorne into the global market highlights NNPC Ltd’s intentional approach to unlock value from its asset base, enhance market competitiveness, and support the Presidential mandate of increasing gas output to 12 billion cubic feet per day and crude oil production to three million barrels per day by 2030.”It stated that the introduction of the Cawthorne grade builds on more recent additions like Nembe and Utapate, demonstrating NNPC Ltd’s persistent and methodical strategy to maximize output, broaden market offers, and strengthen Nigeria’s standing in the world crude oil market.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy direction and sector reforms, as well as the outstanding cooperation of OML 18 partners, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and other stakeholders in reaching the milestone, were praised by Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari.In addition to reiterating the company’s dedication to disciplined execution and value delivery, Ojulari emphasized that NNPC Ltd. is committed on developing partnerships, bolstering operational discipline, and implementing creative solutions to guarantee sustained growth and energy security for the country.
The direction we have established for NNPC Limited, which is based on execution, collaboration, and value generation, is reflected in this milestone. We are making a firm transition from resource potential to resource monetization, making sure that each asset produces quantifiable commercial results.
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