Nigeria is set to start exporting a new light, sweet crude grade named Cawthorne in March, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced, marking a strategic step to increase the country’s crude production and strengthen its position in the global oil market. The move comes amid ongoing efforts to recover output previously hampered by crude theft and unrest in the Niger Delta.
Brandspur Banking News Desk reports that Cawthorne crude, with an API gravity of 36.4, is similar in quality to Nigeria’s flagship Bonny Light, prized for its high yields of gasoline and diesel. The grade is scheduled for shipment via the Floating Storage and Offloading vessel Cawthorne, which has a storage capacity of 2.2 million barrels and will serve Oil Mining Lease 18 and adjacent assets in the Eastern Niger Delta.
NNPC’s spokesperson confirmed that the first tender for Cawthorne crude is set for March 24-25. Analysts at Kpler project that with the vessel’s capacity, Nigeria’s combined crude and condensate supply could rise from around 1.65 million barrels per day (bpd) to roughly 1.7 million bpd for the remainder of 2026. The country’s current OPEC+ production quota is 1.5 million bpd, and data shows Nigeria produced 1.48 million bpd in January.
This initiative follows the successful introduction of two other new crude grades, Utapate in 2024 and Obodo in 2025, as part of Nigeria’s broader plan to diversify export options and enhance oil revenue. Industry experts note that the Cawthorne launch could support Nigeria’s ambitions for a higher production quota within OPEC, while improving operational efficiency and export logistics.
NNPC executives highlighted that the development not only reinforces Nigeria’s role as Africa’s top oil exporter but also underlines ongoing investments in upstream infrastructure and strategic energy policy implementation. Observers believe this expansion is critical for stabilising domestic oil supply, attracting foreign investment, and boosting the nation’s trade balance.
SOURCE: brandspurng.com
