Business
NNPCL Launches Utapate Crude to Increase Nigeria’s Oil Exports
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has officially launched a new crude oil grade, the Utapate crude oil blend, to enhance the country’s foreign currency earnings and increase its presence in the global energy market.
NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday.
This significant development was unveiled at the Argus European Crude Conference, held in London, where the Managing Director of NNPC E & P Limited (NEPL), Nicholas Foucart, emphasized that the introduction of Utapate marks a milestone for Nigeria’s crude oil exports.
Foucart shared that production of the Utapate Field began in May 2024, and since then, the output has grown rapidly to 40,000 barrels per day (bpd) with minimal downtime.
He highlighted that five cargoes of the new blend have already been exported, mainly to Spain and the East Coast of the United States.
Additionally, two more cargoes are scheduled for shipment in November and December 2024, further boosting Nigeria’s crude oil exports.
One of the key reasons for Utapate’s success in the international market is its highly attractive qualities, according to Foucart.
The Utapate crude is sourced from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, which is fully operated by NEPL and its partner Natural Oilfield Services Ltd (NOSL), a subsidiary of SEEPCO Ltd. OML 13 holds significant reserves, including 330 million barrels of crude oil, 45 million barrels of condensate, and an impressive 3.5 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas.
This rich reserve underpins the potential for future growth in Nigeria’s crude oil production.
Looking ahead, Foucart outlined plans to ramp up production from the current 40,000 barrels per day to 50,000 bpd by January 2025.
By June 2025, production is expected to reach between 60,000 and 65,000 bpd, with a longer-term target of 80,000 bpd by the end of 2025.
Lawal Sade, Managing Director of NNPC Trading Limited, explained that the pricing structure of the Utapate blend is similar to that of the Amenam crude.
This is because both are light sweet crudes, highly valued by refiners worldwide for their low sulphur content and efficient yield of high-quality refined products.
The API gravity and other properties of Utapate make it an attractive option for global refineries.
It has been noted that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) plan to renew their partnership in agribusiness.
The new project is to involve youth in the agriculture business, widen their horizons, and educate them about the agritech sector.
The general manager shared that “The foundation is not only providing grants but also building a system of mentorship, structure, and support that enables corps members to see agribusiness as a serious enterprise pathway.” The plan is to use the NYSC platform to engage youths.
Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, has revealed the government’s intention of placing women in the livestock transformation agenda that they have in store for Nigeria.
During a recent event, he praised women, describing them as the backbone of the country, and shared that the country will keep on needing their support, hence the inclusion of the agenda team.
He also praised the First Lady for the impact she has made in the country so far and her advocacy for women’s empowerment.
Nigerians react as a user claims and shares that the price of rice in Nigeria is already reducing.
“Rice prices are finally dropping, minimum wage can buy a bag now. Step by step, we’re getting there. Nigeria will work in our lifetime.”
It can be noted that rice was sold at ₦85k to ₦90k, however, according to a market survey, the price of rice has dropped to ₦56k to ₦62k.
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