Benin: crude oil, a first shipment of 250,000 barrels expected in October

A shipment of 250,000 barrels of Beninese crude oil is set to be marketed in October 2026, marking Benin's return to the oil market after more than two decades. The current production from the offshore Sèmè field, operated by Akrake Petroleum Benin, is around 3,000 barrels per day. The field had previously produced about 22 million barrels between 1982 and 1998 before its exploitation ceased. The announced shipment is to be offered on the international market, but no buyer has yet been identified.