Nigeria has exported the first cargo of its newly introduced Cawthorne crude grade, with approximately 950,000 barrels en route to India’s Sikka port.
A report by Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, said a spokesperson for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited confirmed the development, saying the shipping was done during the weekend following regulatory approvals by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The shipment marks the commercial debut of Cawthorne, a light, sweet crude comparable to Nigeria’s flagship Bonny Light grade, which is prized by refiners for its high yield of gasoline and diesel.
The cargo was loaded from the Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel, Cawthorne, which has a storage capacity of 2.2 million barrels.
Ship-tracking data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea indicates the cargo is destined for India’s Sikka port, home to the 1.36 million barrel-per-day Reliance-owned Jamnagar refinery — one of the largest refining complexes in the world.
Production Background
Cawthorne crude is produced from Oil Mining Lease 18 (OML 18) in the eastern Niger Delta, an area historically plagued by crude theft and sabotage. The block contains the Awoba and Buguma fields and was previously operated by Shell. The OML 18 oil block is currently operated by NNPC Eighteen Operating Limited (a joint venture partner) with equity held by NNPC Ltd (55%), Eroton Exploration & Production (27%), Sahara Field Production Limited (16.2%), and Bilton Ltd.
The partners deployed the 2.2-million-barrel Floating Storage and Offloading unit named FSO Cawthorne to enhance oil export, reduce reliance on pipeline transport, and minimize theft.
The block is expected to reach peak production of 50,000 barrels per day, according to industry data.
Strategic Importance
Reacting to the development, Sahara Group highlighted the significance of the FSO Cawthorne in boosting Nigeria’s energy security drive by strengthening production, storage and evacuation of crude oil.
Sahara Group’s Head of Commercial and Planning, Tosin Etomi, confirmed that advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence-supported systems, were deployed on the FSO Cawthorne.
“The successful commencement of crude lifting from FSO Cawthorne is a significant milestone for the OML 18 partnership and a strong demonstration of what can be achieved through shared vision, technical discipline and committed collaboration,” Etomi stated.
Cawthorne joins other recently introduced Nigerian grades, including Obodo (2025) and Utapate (2024), reflecting sustained efforts by NNPC to diversify export streams and stabilize production.
In a statement on Thursday, Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said the new crude blend export marks a strategic move to diversify Nigeria’s crude grades and expand its export destinations. “The maiden cargo, estimated at 950,000 barrels, was lifted from the Niger Delta and delivered to Indian refiners seeking more flexible crude options,” Olusegun stated in a post on his X handle.
He noted that the development strengthens Nigeria’s position in the global oil market, especially within the Atlantic Basin, while deepening trade ties with India, which is one of the world’s largest crude importers. “It also reflects ongoing efforts to boost oil revenues, optimize existing assets, and introduce new crude blends, with potential for sustained exports depending on market demand and production stability,” he added.
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Nigeria’s Production Recovery Push
The export comes as Nigeria pushes to boost crude production under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Nigeria’s total production capacity is estimated at approximately 2.2 million barrels per day, though years of underinvestment, field maturation, and crude theft have kept output below this ceiling.
The country has missed the OPEC production quota of 1.5 million per day for the seventh consecutive month and has consistently recorded production shortfalls, losing trillions of naira in revenue over the years. The country produced 1.48 million barrels per day of crude oil and condensate in February, a significant drop from 1.63 million barrels recorded in January.
President Tinubu had signed executive orders offering fiscal incentives for operators and permitting local firms to take over mature onshore fields from international oil companies.
The NUPRC has continued to reaffirm its commitment to boosting oil and gas production, which contributes a major chunk of foreign exchange earnings for the country’s economy.
Market Context
Demand for West African crude has been rising amid the US-Israeli conflict in Iran, which has disrupted crude supply from the Persian Gulf. Analysts project that the successful launch of Cawthorne could help Nigeria capture additional market share in Asia, particularly from refiners seeking alternative supply sources.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X
