Conoil Ships First Cargo of Obodo Crude from Nigeria to Germany

Business Post gathered that the first cargo could be headed for the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

In a statement by the chief executive of NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Conoil Producing Limited was congratulated on the successful shipment of the first cargo of the Obodo crude blend.

Mr Komolafe said this development marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s upstream sector, demonstrating the growing capacity of indigenous operators to contribute meaningfully to national crude oil production and exports.

“The introduction of the Obodo crude blend further diversifies Nigeria’s export portfolio and aligns with the commission’s strategic objectives to enhance production output, maximise hydrocarbon resources, and attract investment through operational efficiency and innovation,” he said.

Mr Komolafe maintained that this achievement by Conoil, under the production sharing contract framework with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, also reflects the positive outcomes of collaborative regulatory support, enabling indigenous players to thrive.

“As the regulator of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry, the NUPRC remains committed to providing a transparent, predictable, and investment-friendly environment that encourages the development of new crude streams and ensures optimal value for the Nigerian people.

“We look forward to more milestones of this nature that advance national energy security and economic resilience,” he said.

According to tracking data from Kpler, the Suezmax Atlanta Spirit loaded on  April 25 from the floating production, storage and offloading vessel Tamara Tokoni.

Obodo has a gravity of 27.65°API and a very low sulphur content of 0.05pc, according to Argus.

Obodo joins the list of crude grades launched by Nigeria in the last year.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) restarted production of similar-quality Utapate in 2024 and launched Nembe a year earlier.

Obodo could find favour with European refineries, as Nigerian medium sweet grades — including Forcados, Escravos and Bonga — have gone predominantly to Europe, the largest market for the country’s crude.