Nigeria’s Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL) has officially introduced its new crude oil grade, the Utapate blend, to the international market. The blend, developed in partnership with Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), was first lifted in July 2024, with its first cargo of 950,000 barrels heading to Spain.
At a ceremony in London, NNPC’s Managing Director, Nicholas Foucart, highlighted that production from the Utapate field had rapidly increased to 40,000 barrels per day, with five cargoes already exported, primarily to Spain and the U.S. East Coast. Two additional cargoes are scheduled for November and December 2024, marking a significant boost to Nigeria’s oil exports.
The Utapate blend, produced in Akwa Ibom State, is a light sweet crude with a low sulfur content and is highly valued by international refiners. NNPCL plans to increase production to 50,000-65,000 barrels per day by mid-2025, with a target of 80,000 barrels per day by the end of that year.
The blend is produced with an emphasis on environmental responsibility, including reduced carbon emissions, and aligns with global sustainability principles. The Utapate field development, which began in 2013, includes extensive infrastructure improvements, such as new production facilities and an offshore loading platform.
This milestone follows the earlier launch of Nigeria’s Nembe crude oil and reflects NNPCL’s ongoing efforts to boost production, expand reserves, and enhance Nigeria’s presence in the global oil market.
