The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has partnered with Sahara Group, Eroton E&P, and Bilton Energy to commission the country’s first wholly owned floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel.
The vessel, christened Cawthorne, has a capacity of 2.2 million barrels and is designed to enhance crude evacuation from Nigeria’s OML 18 and nearby assets.
According to a statement on Thursday, the vessel was designed to enhance oil and gas production and promote energy reliability, security, and sustainability in Nigeria.
The development marks another milestone from the partnership between NNPC and its joint venture partners, guaranteeing seamless operations and boosting strategic targets set by President Bola Tinubu.
Industry leaders have lauded the achievement, with Udobong Ntia, Executive Vice-President of Upstream at NNPC, saying it will “guarantee seamless operations” and “boost the strategic targets set by President Bola Tinubu towards ensuring optimised upstream production in Nigeria.”
Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of NUPRC, described the project as “a commendable achievement” that aligns with the commission’s vision of accelerating production in the nation.
Ibiyemi Asaolu, Managing Director of Niger Delta Exploration and Production Offshore Limited (NEOL), said the milestone highlights what is possible when innovation, collaboration, and execution excellence align.
“With FSO Cawthorne, we are not only securing production continuity from OML 18 but also contributing to Nigeria’s long-term energy infrastructure and revenue stability,” he added.
Tosin Etomi, Head of Commercial and Planning at Asharami Energy, described the Cawthorne FSO as “a symbol of innovation meeting necessity.”
The vessel is fitted with digital capabilities, driving operational flexibility, reducing carbon exposure, and enhancing overall evacuation safety.
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