The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has commenced export of its newly introduced crude grade, Cawthorne, to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production capacity and expand the country’s portfolio of globally competitive export streams.

Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude surged to $115.8 per barrel – its highest level since April 2008 – as President Donald Trump warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight,” while strikes were reported on Iran’s Kharg Island, the hub for roughly 90 per cent of the country’s oil exports.
NNPCL disclosed the Cawthorne export in a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, yesterday, noting that the move was part of the company’s ongoing efforts to strengthen market presence and improve crude evacuation efficiency, while supporting the Federal Government’s broader production growth agenda.

Cawthorne Blend crude, the latest addition to Nigeria’s basket of crude grades, has an American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity of 36.4, placing it firmly within the light, sweet category, comparable to Bonny Light, and highly valued in the global market for its superior petrol and diesel yields.

NNPCL confirmed that on Sunday, April 5, 2026, the Cawthorne blend crude, which was loaded on an MT Eburones vessel, departed for The Netherlands and onward to the global market.

The maiden cargo of 950,000 barrels was exported via the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel. Strategically located offshore Bonny, Rivers State, the FSO enhances crude evacuation from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 and strengthens Nigeria’s export reliability, operational efficiency and overall energy security.

According to the company, the introduction of Cawthorne to the international market underscores NNPCL’s deliberate strategy to unlock value from its asset base, deepen market competitiveness and support the presidential mandate of scaling crude oil production to three million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030.

The launch of the Cawthorne grade builds on recent additions such as Nembe and Utapate, reflecting what the company described as a sustained and structured approach to optimising production, expanding market offerings and reinforcing Nigeria’s position in the global crude oil market.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, commended President Bola Tinubu’s policy direction and sector reforms, as well as the collaboration among OML 18 partners, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and other stakeholders toward achieving the milestone.

He stressed that NNPCL remains focused on deepening partnerships, strengthening operational discipline and deploying innovative solutions to ensure sustainable growth and energy security for the country, while reaffirming the company’s commitment to disciplined execution and value delivery.

NNPC Limited said it would continue to leverage innovation, strategic partnerships and operational discipline to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources while ensuring long-term energy security and economic growth.

TRUMP added that tonight will be “one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world,” as his deadline quickly approaches.

Brent crude climbed to $111, with the strike keeping both benchmarks in crisis pricing territory as escalation risk moved directly into core oil infrastructure.

Strikes on Kharg Island put roughly 90 per cent of Iran’s export capacity at risk. Any remaining flows still face constraints moving through Hormuz, which normally carries 20 per cent of global oil flows.

Pricing reflects both logistics and potential production loss.

WTI rarely trades at these levels. The last time it held above $115 was during the 2008 commodity supercycle. Then, demand and capacity drove the rally. Now, access and infrastructure are doing the work.

Trump has set a deadline for Iran to agree to terms to end the war, while also threatening strikes on additional infrastructure, including power plants and transport networks.

Iran rejected those demands, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warning that concessions allowing neighbouring states to export through the Strait were over, and that U.S. and allied infrastructure would be targeted across the region if “red lines” were crossed.