Benin to resume Sèmè oilfield production in 2026... first crude oil exports in decades

Benin has exported its first crude oil cargo in decades after resuming production at the Sèmè offshore field, with the shipment now en route to the Netherlands. The field, located in Benin's offshore Block 1 and operated by Akrake Petroleum Benin, restarted output in 2026 following a halt in 1998. Current production is running at roughly 3,000 barrels per day, below the initial target, according to Crypto Briefing. The milestone matters as it marks Benin's return as a crude exporter after a multi-decade gap and signals the ramp-up of a long-dormant asset. What to watch next is whether output can be scaled toward the initial target and whether further cargoes follow.