Nigeria’s oil sector marked a historic milestone in May 2025 with the first international export of its newly launched crude oil grade, Obodo. The successful offtake of 600,000 barrels signals not just the debut of a new blend—but a strategic shift in Nigeria’s upstream outlook.
Nigeria’s oil sector marked a historic milestone in May 2025 with the first international export of its newly launched crude oil grade, Obodo. The successful offtake of 600,000 barrels signals not just the debut of a new blend—but a strategic shift in Nigeria’s upstream outlook.
Obodo crude, a medium sweet grade officially introduced in April 2025, originates from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 150, operated by Continental Oil & Gas (Conoil) under a production sharing contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The blend has been hailed by analysts as a timely addition to Nigeria’s export portfolio—positioned to attract international refiners seeking blends with favorable sulfur and viscosity profiles.
But the milestone was more than a routine oil transaction. It was a masterclass in homegrown collaboration and a bold statement about Nigeria’s renewed capacity to deliver energy solutions on its own terms.
A First-of-Its-Kind Lift
The 600,000 barrels of Obodo were stored and loaded offshore through FPSO Tamara Tokoni, a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel operated by Century Group, Nigeria’s foremost indigenous offshore asset operators. The cargo was purchased by Oando Trading, a subsidiary of Oando PLC, which executed the offtake via its crude oil tanker, the Atlanta Spirit.
The offtake marks the first documented international shipment of the Obodo blend, completing its journey from production at OML 150 to global markets—an export chain driven entirely by Nigerian companies.
NNPCL’s Strategic Backbone
The role of NNPCL, and specifically its Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS) division, was central to the transaction. NUIMS provided critical coordination between the upstream asset (Conoil), the midstream terminal (Century’s FPSO), and the trading and logistics operation (Oando).
Under the leadership of Engr. Bayo Ojulari, who assumed office as Group CEO of NNPCL in April 2025, the company has recommitted itself to unlocking production and reforming governance in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The Obodo offtake is seen as one of the early deliverables of Ojulari’s tenure, which has emphasized increased production targets, transparency, and investor confidence.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has also set clear upstream goals: raising national output to 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million bpd by 2030. The renewed hope agenda must keep hope alive in indigenous stakeholders in the energy sector. The Obodo blend’s export is a direct contribution to that target, and a tangible example of the upstream pipeline coming back to life.
Why Obodo Matters
The Obodo crude grade enters the market at a time of growing global interest in diversified energy supply. With medium sweet properties that make it suitable for refining into both gasoline and distillates, Obodo offers flexibility and pricing advantages for refineries balancing cost, environmental standards, and output.
Furthermore, its development adds credibility to Nigeria’s commitment to production diversification and reaffirms its role as a leading energy exporter on the continent.
For NNPCL, Century Group, Oando Trading, and Conoil, it is a testament to the strength of indigenous companies working in strategic alignment with national goals.
As Nigeria pushes toward ambitious production targets and deeper oil sector reforms, Obodo stands as both a product and a symbol—of resilience, of reform, and of a nation ready to meet the world on new terms.