Nigeria's New Crude Streams to Boost Oil Output by 12M Barrels

Nigeria's crude oil production is projected to increase by 12 million barrels due to the introduction of new crude grade streams, including the Cawthorn blend, expected to be operational by mid-2026. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) reported that the Cawthorn blend contributed 3.41 million barrels from January to May 2026, bringing the total output to approximately 12.16 million barrels.

However, the output has not yet reached the target of 80,000 barrels per day, with current production averaging 55,190 barrels daily as of January. The Managing Director of NNPCL, Nichola Foucart, expressed confidence in the ongoing development of the project, which aims to increase production capacity to 80,000 barrels per day by the end of 2025.

The Cawthorn blend, characterized by low sulfur content and a reduced carbon footprint, is expected to attract international interest, with the first cargo of 950,000 barrels destined for Spain.