Oil: Benin to Ship 330,000 Barrels to the Netherlands, Its First Export in 28 Years

Benin is preparing to ship about 330,000 barrels of crude oil from the offshore Sèmè field to the Netherlands. Loading onto the tanker Kriti Jade is scheduled for November 1 and 2, 2026, marking Benin’s first oil sale in nearly three decades. Akrake Petroleum Benin, a subsidiary of Rex International Holding, holds a 76% stake in the block, alongside the Beninese state (15%) and Octogone Trading (9%), and will handle the crude’s lifting and transport for three years. The Sèmè field produced about 22 million barrels between 1982 and 1998 before operations were suspended.