NNPC to launch Cawthorne crude exports in March

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, will begin exporting a new light, sweet crude grade known as Cawthorne from March, according to a company spokesperson, marking a further recovery in output from Africa’s top oil producer.

The introduction of Cawthorne formed part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to raise production, which has long been constrained by pipeline vandalism, crude theft and operational disruptions. It followed the launch of two new grades in recent years as the country seeks to strengthen its position within the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and push for a higher production target.

Cawthorne crude, scheduled for export in the third week of March according to a source familiar with the matter, has an API gravity of 36.4. This places it in the light, sweet category, similar in quality to Bonny Light, which is prized for its high petrol and diesel yields.

NNPC last week issued a tender for March 24–25 loading of the new grade, a trader said.

The crude is expected to be exported via the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel, which has a storage capacity of 2.2 million barrels.

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According to analysts at Kpler, the facility is designed to enhance evacuation and production from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 and adjacent assets in the Eastern Niger Delta.

Based on storage and evacuation capacity, Kpler estimated that the addition of Cawthorne could lift Nigeria’s combined crude and condensate output from about 1.65 million barrels per day (bpd) to roughly 1.7 million bpd for the remainder of the year.

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Nigeria’s crude production quota under OPEC+ currently stands at 1.5 million bpd, with January output reported at 1.48 million bpd, according to OPEC data.

Other recently introduced Nigerian grades include Obodo, launched in 2025, and Utapate, introduced in 2024, reflecting sustained efforts by NNPC to diversify export streams and stabilise production.