The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited announced that it has begun exporting a newly developed crude oil grade named Cawthorne. The launch was disclosed in a statement released on Tuesday by Andy Odeh, who serves as the corporation's chief corporate communications officer. According to the announcement, the inaugural shipment consists of 950,000 barrels destined for the Netherlands, marking the first export of this particular grade.
NNPC said the introduction of Cawthorne is intended to raise overall production levels and to broaden Nigeria's presence in the international oil market. The company highlighted that the new grade meets specifications demanded by European refiners, which it hopes will open additional avenues for future sales. By moving this volume to Europe, NNPC aims to demonstrate the commercial viability of Cawthorne and to attract further interest from overseas buyers.
Andy Odeh's briefing signals that NNPC is actively diversifying its export portfolio, a move that could translate into higher foreign exchange earnings for the country. If the Cawthorne grade secures a steady market in Europe, Nigerian oil revenues may receive a boost without necessarily affecting domestic supply.
