- The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is set to begin exporting a new light, sweet crude grade, Cawthorne, in March
- The grade will be exported via the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading vessel with 2.2 million barrels capacity
- The move is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s position within the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries amid efforts to raise production
Nigeria will commence exports of a newly introduced light, sweet crude grade, Cawthorne, in March as part of renewed efforts to increase oil production and solidify recent gains in output, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has revealed.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited confirmed the development to Reuters on Tuesday, February 24, noting that the move is expected to reinforce Nigeria’s standing within the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries as it pushes for a higher production benchmark amid steady improvements in output.
According to the report, the rollout of the Cawthorne grade forms part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to ramp up production after years of setbacks caused by crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and persistent security issues in the Niger Delta.
The PUNCH reported that a source familiar with the arrangement disclosed that the maiden export cargo is scheduled for the third week of March.
Cawthorne crude, with an API gravity of 36.4, is comparable in quality to Nigeria’s premium Bonny Light blend, which is prized by refiners for its strong gasoline and diesel yields. The report added that NNPC floated a tender last week for the new grade, targeting loading dates between March 24 and 25.
Energy intelligence firm Kpler indicated that the crude will likely be shipped via the Floating Storage and Offloading vessel Cawthorne, which can store approximately 2.2 million barrels.
The infrastructure is designed to support crude evacuation and production from Oil Mining Lease 18 and nearby assets in the eastern Niger Delta.
Industry projections suggest that the addition of the new stream could lift Nigeria’s crude and condensate supply from about 1.65 million barrels per day to nearly 1.7 million barrels per day for the remainder of the year, subject to operational stability and prevailing market demand.
Nigeria’s output ceiling under the OPEC+ agreement is currently pegged at 1.5 million barrels per day. Data released by the cartel showed that the country pumped roughly 1.48 million barrels per day in January.
In recent months, authorities have intensified security operations around critical oil infrastructure and pipeline networks, resulting in improved production figures and lower losses from theft. Cawthorne represents the third new crude stream introduced in recent years as policymakers and industry stakeholders seek to diversify exports and expand Nigeria’s market reach.
Earlier additions include Obodo, introduced in 2025, and Utapate, launched in 2024. Analysts believe expanding the range of crude grades allows Nigeria to tap into varied market niches, enhance pricing flexibility, and strengthen its competitiveness in global oil trade.
As Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria is pursuing sweeping reforms in the petroleum sector under President Bola Tinubu, with an emphasis on boosting production, attracting fresh investment, and raising government revenue.
The country’s oil output had previously suffered declines due to operational challenges and divestments by international oil companies. However, recent gains in upstream activity and reinforced pipeline security are gradually reversing that trend.
Sustained output growth alongside the launch of new crude grades could significantly improve Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings at a time when global oil prices remain volatile but continue to favour energy-exporting nations.