According to data intelligence firm, Kpler, the first export cargo of Nigeria’s newest crude grade, Anyala, is on its way to Northwest Europe. The Aframax Minerva Clara is said to have loaded a 700,000-barrel stem of Anyala crude from the Abigail-Joseph Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel on January 10^th2021.

The tanker is on its way to the Fos-sur-Mer Terminal at the Mediterranean port of Marseille, France. Trading house, Vitol, who has a stake in indigenous producer, FIRST E&P, the operator of the Anyala West oil fields, is reported to have chartered the tanker.

Another source said the cargo may travel from Fos-sur-Mer to the Cressier refinery in Switzerland through the SPSE pipeline. The 68,000 b/d Cressier is operated by Varo Energy. Varo Energy is a joint venture between Vitol, private equity fund of the Carlyle Group, and private investment fund, Reggeborgh.

Asian refiners are said to be showing interest in the grade and a second cargo may be loading in March.

Anyala is a medium sweet crude grade, similar in quality to Bonny Light. When refined, it will produce a high yield of middle distillates that will make it attractive to both simple and complex refineries.

The new grade is gotten from shallow-water Anyala West oil fields in the Niger Delta, which first struck oil in November 2020. According to FIRST E&P, the fields in blocks OMLs 83 and 85 are to reach 60,000 b/d when fully developed. Anyala is Nigeria’s latest oil development since the start-up of the Egina field in 2018.

The project is estimated to contain 300 million barrels of crude oil recoverable reserves. Seven development wells have been planned in Phase 1 in the Anyala West field (OML 83), which will be developed along with the nearby Madu field (OML 85).

The final investment decision on the project was made in July 2018, while first oil was initially expected in 2019. OMLs 83 & 85 are located in the shallow waters offshore Bayelsa State in the south-south region of Nigeria.