The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) announced that it has commenced exporting a new crude grade, cawthorne, to the international market.

In a statement issued by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the company said the cawthorne blend crude was loaded onto an MT Eburones vessel and sailed to the Netherlands, en route to the global market.

The statement noted that the cawthorne blend, the latest addition to Nigeria’s crude basket, has an API gravity of 36.4, placing it within the light, sweet category, comparable to Bonny Light crude oil and highly valued for its superior petrol and diesel yields.

Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Bashir Ojulari, described the development as a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production and expand its portfolio of globally competitive export streams.

Mr Ojulari said the maiden cargo of 950,000 barrels was exported through the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading vessel.

“Strategically located offshore Bonny, Rivers State, the FSO enhances crude evacuation from OML 18 and strengthens Nigeria’s export reliability, operational efficiency and overall energy security.

“The introduction of Cawthorne to the international market underscores NNPC Ltd.’s deliberate strategy to unlock value from its asset base and deepen market competitiveness.

“This supports the Presidential mandate of scaling crude oil production to three million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030,” he said.

He added that the inauguration of the cawthorne grade builds on recent additions such as Nembe and Utapate, reflecting a sustained and structured approach by NNPC Ltd. to optimise production, expand market offerings and reinforce Nigeria’s position in the global crude market.

Mr Ojulari commended the policy direction of President Bola Tinubu, as well as sector reforms and collaboration among OML 18 partners, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders in achieving the milestone.

He said the company would continue to deepen partnerships, strengthen operational discipline and deploy innovative solutions to ensure sustainable growth and energy security for the country.

Mr Ojulari reaffirmed NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to disciplined execution and value delivery.

“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 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.

“We remain firmly focused on delivering sustainable growth in line with national objectives and global market expectations,” he said.

He added that NNPC Ltd. would continue to leverage innovation, strategic partnerships and operational discipline to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources while ensuring long-term energy security and economic growth.

 (NAN)