Eni lifts force majeure on exports of Nigeria's Brass River crude

Italy's Eni has lifted its force majeure on exports of its Brass River crude blend in the Niger Delta, after completing repairs to a damaged supply pipeline earlier in the week, the company said March 18.

Eni declared force majeure on exports of its Brass River crude blend in the Niger Delta on March 7, following the loss of pressure on a trunkline to the terminal due to 'third party interference'.

Brass River production averaged near 100,000 b/d in 2020, according to S&P Global estimates. Brass River is a light sweet crude, which has a gravity of 40.1 API and sulfur content of 0.18%.

Nigeria's main crude export grades Bonny Light remains under force majeure, however, following a recent spate of disruptions in the Niger Delta hitting supplies to export terminals.

Shell, Nigeria's biggest producer, pumps a large proportion of the Bonny Light crude produced in the eastern division of the Niger Delta through NCTL. Bonny Light is one of Nigeria's key export grades, with production at 200,000-250,000 b/d.

Nigeria has the capacity to pump around 2.2 million b/d of crude and condensate but in recent months the OPEC member only pumped 1.55 million b/d of crude last month -- below its 1.7 million b/d OPEC quota -- as it remains hamstrung by operational setbacks, with key pipelines facing persistent sabotage.