Nigeria: NNPC Ltd Launches Utapate Crude Oil Grade

6 August 2024

The NNPC Ltd has announced the introduction of Utapate crude oil blend, a new crude oil grade into the international crude oil market.

From Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, fully operated by NEPL, NNPC Ltd's upstream subsidiary, the Utapate crude oil blend commenced operations in July 2024, as its first cargo headed for Spain.

Located offshore Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria, Utapate's current crude oil production is at 28,000 barrels per day, with potential to increase it to 50,000 barrels per day. Also, the sulphur content of the new crude is 0.0655%.

Spanish oil giant Repsol won the tender for the initial cargo of 950,000 barrels of the new crude blend, which is comparable to the much sought after Amenam crude. Gulf Transport and Trading, another leading crude oil dealer, have also secured the cargoes' tenders for August and September 2024.

During the Argus European Crude Conference in London last year, NNPC Ltd announced the launch of Nembe crude oil, produced by the NNPC/Aiteo operated Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 Joint Venture (JV).

Similar to the Nembe crude oil grade, the Utapate crude oil blend has a low sulphur content and low carbon footprint due to flare gas elimination, fitting perfectly into the required spec of major buyers in Europe.

This remarkable achievement signals the commitment of the NNPC Ltd to increase Nigeria's crude oil production and grow reserves through the development of new assets.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.