The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has achieved a significant milestone with the export of 950,000 barrels of Cawthorne blend crude to the international market via the state-of-the-art FSO Cawthorne vessel, Nigeria’s first newly established crude oil terminal in five decades.

In a statement, Sahara Group said the development confirms earlier reports on the export of a new light sweet crude grade, Cawthorne, under the leadership of Bayo Ojulari at NNPC.

Sahara Group disclosed that over the weekend, the first shipment of 950,000 barrels from FSO Cawthorne commenced after the facility was officially licensed and gazetted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

The company explained that FSO Cawthorne functions as a vital offshore production support asset, offering storage and crude offtake services for output from OML 18 and other adjacent producing fields.

Sahara Group, a global energy and infrastructure conglomerate, reaffirmed the strategic importance of FSO Cawthorne in bolstering Nigeria’s energy security through dependable production, storage, and evacuation infrastructure.

The company also highlighted the advanced technologies deployed on the facility, noting that FSO Cawthorne is equipped with cutting-edge systems powered by AI-enabled monitoring and strengthened by robust QHSE frameworks. These features, it said, enhance operational efficiency, safeguard asset integrity, improve safety performance, and promote environmental sustainability.

Sahara commended NNPCL for its stewardship of OML 18, where Sahara Group serves as a joint operator and joint venture partner, noting that the company’s collaborative leadership continues to drive operational improvements and sustained value creation across Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.

The Head of Commercial and Planning at Asharami Energy, a Sahara Group upstream company, Dr Tosin Etomi, said the crude lifting from FSO Cawthorne represents a defining moment for the asset, the OML 18 partnership and the wider oil and gas sector.

“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 said.

Etomi said the milestone is in line with Sahara Group’s broader upstream strategy, which centres on developing a resilient, scalable, and responsible production portfolio driven by strong partnerships, asset optimisation, and sustainable 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,” he said.

He added that Sahara Group’s upstream portfolio also features an expanding oilfield services division, aimed at redefining innovation, driving efficiency, and advancing sustainability across the sector.

” Our expanding oilfield services capabilities are integral to our upstream vision, enabling smarter operations, improved efficiencies and responsible resource development,” Etomi said.