NNPC Limited, Sahara Group, Eroton E&P, and Bilton Energy Ltd have jointly unveiled Nigeria’s first fully indigenous Floating Storage and Offloading vessel, with a capacity of 2.2 million barrels, aimed at boosting long-term oil and gas production.

In a statement on Wednesday, the companies noted that the facility marks Nigeria’s first new crude oil terminal to be commissioned in five decades.

“Christened Cawthorne, the Floating Storage and Offloading Terminal is a world-class facility designed to enhance crude evacuation from Nigeria’s OML 18 and nearby assets. OML 18 partners include Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Eroton E&P, OML Eighteen Energy Resource Ltd (a Sahara Group Company) and Bilton Ltd,” the statement said.

NNPC’s Executive Vice President, Udobong Ntia, representing the Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, described the vessel as “another bold achievement from the partnership between NNPC and its joint venture partners, which will ensure seamless operations and advance President Bola Tinubu’s strategic goal of optimising upstream oil production in Nigeria.”

Strategically positioned offshore Bonny, the double-hull FSO vessel, with a 2.2 million-barrel storage capacity, marks a major leap in strengthening Nigeria’s crude export infrastructure and operational resilience, according to Sahara Group.

The company explained that the facility will receive, store, and offload crude oil to export tankers, offering a reliable solution to the logistical and infrastructural challenges that have long constrained Nigeria’s crude evacuation capacity.

NNPC’s Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Seyi Omotola, described the vessel as a symbol of renewed hope for Nigeria’s upstream sector, reaffirming the nation’s growing capability to make its energy industry globally competitive.

The Head of Commercial and Planning at Asharami Energy, a Sahara Group upstream company, Tosin Etomi, stated, “The Cawthorne FSO stands as a symbol of innovation meeting necessity. It is not just a vessel; it’s an assurance of continuity, reliability, and value creation for our partners, our nation, and our people. This collaboration with the NNPC, NUPRC and other stakeholders embodies the drive to turn complex energy challenges into sustainable solutions that power progress across Africa.”

Etomi noted that the ultramodern vessel is equipped with advanced digital technologies, making it “a vessel built for the future—enhancing operational flexibility, reducing carbon emissions from barge movements, and improving overall evacuation safety. It represents an investment in the resilience of both the upstream sector and the environment.”

“The commissioning of FSO Cawthorne reaffirms Sahara Group’s and indeed OML 18 partners’ commitment to powering progress responsibly through partnerships, innovation, and infrastructure that strengthen Africa’s energy independence,” Etomi added.

The statement added that the FSO Cawthorne project was developed to tackle long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s crude evacuation system, such as limited barging capacity, delays in ship-to-ship transfers, and restricted vessel access caused by siltation at several berthing points. It noted that the facility is essential to support the assets’ projected 2025 production target of 50,000 barrels of oil per day.