oil
Nigeria is preparing to expand its crude portfolio with the March 2026 debut of Cawthorne, a new light, sweet grade from the Eastern Niger Delta. State oil company Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited says the launch supports efforts to cement a hard-won production rebound after years of theft, vandalism, and unrest. Similar in quality to the country’s prized Bonny Light, Cawthorne boasts a 36.4° API gravity and is expected to lift output closer to Nigeria’s OPEC+ quota. Exported via a dedicated offshore vessel, the grade could raise capacity to about 1.7 million barrels per day—boosting revenues and widening Nigeria’s appeal to global refiners. The new grade follows the successful launches of Obodo and Utapate, part of a broader strategy to expand Nigeria’s crude offerings.
Nairametrics