State oil company Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has exported 950,000 barrels of a new Cawthorne blend crude, marking the first lifting from the FSO Cawthorne facility — Nigeria’s first new crude oil terminal in 50 years, The Punch reported.

The cargo was loaded following the licensing and gazetting of the offshore facility by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), enabling the commencement of exports from OML 18 and surrounding assets.

The development confirms the launch of a new light sweet crude grade, Cawthorne, as NNPCL seeks to expand Nigeria’s export slate and improve crude evacuation infrastructure.

Sahara Group, a privately held African energy and infrastructure conglomerate with operations spanning upstream oil and gas, midstream logistics, power and trading, is a joint operator and partner on OML 18.

The company said the floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel provides critical offshore storage and offtake capacity, supporting production continuity and export efficiency.

“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,” Tosin Etomi, Head of Commercial and Planning at Asharami Energy, Sahara Group’s upstream subsidiary, is quoted as saying.

He said the development aligns with Sahara’s upstream growth strategy focused on scalable production, infrastructure optimisation and long-term value creation.

“The transition of FSO Cawthorne into active export is consistent with our upstream growth strategy, prioritising operational excellence, indigenous participation and infrastructure capable of sustainably supporting Nigeria’s production ambitions,” Etomi said.

Sahara added that the facility incorporates advanced technologies, including AI-enabled monitoring systems and enhanced safety frameworks, aimed at improving operational efficiency and environmental performance.

The company also highlighted its expanding oilfield services capabilities as a key driver of efficiency and innovation across its upstream portfolio.

“Our expanding oilfield services capabilities are integral to our upstream vision, enabling smarter operations, improved efficiencies and responsible resource development,” Etomi said, adding that community engagement and ESG standards remain central to operations.

“Sustainable social impact interventions and community participation have been key drivers of our upstream success, and we remain committed to aligning our operations with the highest global environmental, social and governance standards,” he said.

Sahara commended NNPCL’s leadership in the OML 18 partnership, as well as support from key agencies including the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in enabling the export milestone, according to The Punch.