The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) confirmed to Platts,  part of S&P Global Energy, that the maiden cargo of the light sweet crude was exported over the weekend from the Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) Cawthorne facility.

According to the national oil company, about 950,000 barrels of crude were loaded for export, marking the debut international shipment of the new grade.

“NNPC shipped the first cargo of the new Cawthorne crude at the weekend. A total of 950,000 barrels of crude was exported from the FSO Cawthorne,” the NNPC spokesperson said.

Ship-tracking data showed that the cargo is headed for Sikka Port in India, home to the Reliance-owned Jamnagar refinery, one of the largest refining complexes in the world. The refinery has in recent months sought to broaden its crude sourcing options amid disruptions in global energy supply linked to geopolitical tensions.

NNPC has described Cawthorne crude as a light sweet grade, similar in quality to Nigeria’s flagship Bonny Light crude, making it potentially attractive to refiners seeking cleaner, high-value feedstock.

The new grade is produced from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18, located in the eastern Niger Delta. The asset, which includes the Awoba and Buguma fields, has historically faced operational challenges due to crude theft and pipeline sabotage.

NNPC is the operator of OML 18, which was previously managed by Shell, while Sahara Group, Eroton Exploration and Production, and Bilton Energy are partners in the asset.

Sahara Group also confirmed the lifting of the first cargo, describing it as a major step forward for the OML 18 partnership and Nigeria’s broader energy ambitions.

In a statement, Sahara’s Head of Commercial and Planning, Tosin Etomi, said the commencement of exports from the FSO Cawthorne reflected the strength of collaboration among the partners and the successful deployment of advanced operational systems.

He added that the 2.2-million-barrel FSO facility is equipped with modern technologies, including systems supported by artificial intelligence, to enhance production, storage, and evacuation efficiency.

Industry figures indicate that OML 18 is expected to reach a peak production level of about 50,000 barrels per day, offering a potential boost to Nigeria’s crude output.

The development comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to raise oil production and improve export volumes under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Since assuming office in May 2023, the government has introduced a range of policy measures aimed at attracting investment into the upstream sector and reviving declining production.

Nigeria produced about 1.48 million barrels per day in February, according to government estimates, even as the country’s installed production capacity is put at around 2.2 million barrels per day.

Despite its vast reserves, Nigeria’s oil sector has struggled in recent years due to underinvestment, ageing infrastructure, operational disruptions, and persistent crude theft.

To address these challenges, the Federal Government has rolled out executive orders offering fiscal incentives to investors and supporting the transfer of mature onshore oil assets from international oil companies to indigenous operators, while encouraging foreign majors to focus on offshore and deepwater developments.

The export of the first Cawthorne cargo is expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global crude market, particularly at a time when demand for alternative oil supplies is rising across Asia and other major consuming regions.