Nigeria Strengthens Crude Export Infrastructure with 2.2 Million-Barrel FSO Cawthorne Offshore Bonny
Nigeria has commissioned its first wholly owned Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel near the Bonny export terminal, marking a significant step in enhancing the country’s crude oil export capabilities. The development highlights the nation’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure in Africa’s top oil-producing economy.
The FSO Cawthorne, with a storage capacity of 2.2 million barrels, is designed to streamline crude transportation from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 and surrounding fields in the Eastern Niger Delta.
By reducing reliance on pipelines, the vessel also aims to curb oil theft, vandalism, and associated operational risks.
The project is a collaboration between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC, holding 55% of OML 18), Sahara Group, Eroton Exploration & Production, and Bilton Energy.
The FSO is stationed offshore Bonny, the loading hub for Nigeria’s premium Bonny Light crude.
Tosin Etomi, Head of Commercial and Planning at Asharami Energy, a Sahara Group subsidiary, highlighted that the FSO will reduce carbon emissions from barge operations while improving the safety and efficiency of crude evacuation.
Converted from a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), the double-hulled FSO is capable of receiving, storing, and transferring crude directly to export tankers.
It is expected to resolve long-standing logistical challenges, including limited barge capacity, shallow berths, and delays in ship-to-ship transfers.
The vessel is projected to help OML 18 achieve its 2025 production target of 50,000 barrels per day, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a leading exporter in the global crude market.
