By Joke Kujenya
THE NIGERIAN National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has introduced the Utapate crude oil blend to the global market, marking a milestone in Nigeria’s crude oil production and revenue generation efforts.
The launch occurred at the Argus European Crude Conference in London, highlighting Nigeria’s push for economic growth through energy exports.
The Utapate crude oil blend, produced from the Utapate field in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, Akwa Ibom State, offers a low sulfur content of 0.0655%, making it attractive to refiners in Europe and the United States.
Since May 2024, production has rapidly scaled to 40,000 barrels per day (bpd), with five cargoes exported to Spain and the U.S. East Coast. Two additional shipments are scheduled for November and December 2024.
According to Nicholas Foucart, Managing Director of NNPC Exploration & Production Limited (NEPL), ongoing projects aim to increase output to 50,000 bpd by January 2025 and 80,000 bpd by year-end.
Foucart emphasized the blend’s environmental sustainability and compliance with global regulations.
Lawal Sade, Managing Director of NNPC Trading Limited, stated that Utapate’s pricing mirrors the popular Amenam crude, offering high yields of valuable products due to its light, sweet properties.
To maintain steady supply, NNPC plans term contracts targeting refiners in Europe and the U.S.
The field, developed between 2013 and 2019, includes advanced infrastructure such as production facilities, a subsea pipeline, and an offshore loading platform.
With reserves of 330 million barrels of crude oil, 45 million barrels of condensate, and 3.5 trillion cubic feet of gas, the Utapate crude blend bolsters Nigeria’s energy profile on the international stage.
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