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Turkish Airlines and Turkish Cargo Rise to the Top Amid Pandemic

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Turkish Airlines - Investors King

Although the aviation industry took a hard hit in 2020 and suffered its heaviest losses to date, Turkish Airlines distinguished itself with relatively good business performance. According to CAPA (Centre for Aviation, part of the Aviation Week Network) Turkish Airlines established itself as the busiest aircraft carrier in Europe during the pandemic, and one of the top five airlines in the world. This was achieved by a series of agile steps to maintain liquidity, keep costs at a manageable level and adapt to the “new normal”.

Turkish Airlines successfully ended the fiscal year 2020 with 6.7 billion USD revenue, which accounts for 50% of the preceding year’s level, with a net loss of only 836 million USD. During these uncertain times, the airline was also able to maintain its robust route network. According to Eurocontrol, in April 2021 Turkish Airlines operated an average of 685 flights per day – almost double the number of the closest competitor in Europe, Lufthansa. In 2020, Turkish Airlines flew 28 million passengers, with an impressive load factor of 71%. Currently, the airline serves 179 international destinations with 16 intercountry and 58 intercontinental flights. The new Istanbul Airport also stayed on top: even with a 68% loss of traffic, it was still Europe’s most successful airport as of March 2021, with 616 departing and arriving flights.

This success is based on cost cutting activities, capex reduction and active capacity management. In fact, Turkish Airlines achieved such performance without relying on any governmental cash injections. Furthermore, agreements with Boeing and Airbus on fleet growth will further decrease the aircraft financing needs of Turkish Airlines by around 7 billion USD in the coming years.

“Our success as the best performing flag-carrier airline in Europe is not coincidental. Apart from the multiple measures we took, we owe this success to our dedicated staff. While other airlines faced layoffs, we did not part ways with any of our colleagues during this process. Instead everyone within Turkish Airlines accepted salary cuts from up to 50% depending on the role and responsibilities. The exceptional sense of unity within our staff is what sets Turkish Airlines apart: together as a family, we decided that no member of the Turkish Airlines family would be left behind during this crisis.”, says Turkish Airlines’ Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı.

Turkish Airlines also turned the pandemic into an opportunity to increase its cargo operations, with 50 of its passenger aircrafts being reconfigured to increase its cargo fleet capacity. Turkish Cargo managed to become one of the top five air cargo companies in the world and the 6th largest cargo company. The company increased its market share in total global cargo revenue from 0.6% in 2009 to 4.7% in 2020. As of February 2021, one in 20 cargo flights around the world were handled by Turkish Cargo.

This allowed Turkish Cargo to deliver 50,000 tons of medical supplies, including more than 45 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, to destinations all over the world. In addition, new technologies and innovative solutions have been developed. One example is SmartIST, one of the largest air cargo facilities in the world, which is scheduled to open this year. Located at Istanbul Airport, the facility uses modern technology such as drones and automated robots to process and deliver goods even faster.

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Oando Targets 100,000 Barrels Per Day Production by 2028

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Oando Plc

Nigerian energy company Oando is targeting a production of 100,000 barrels per day by 2028, following its acquisition of Eni’s Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) earlier this year.

This was disclosed by Oando Executive Director Alex Irune during an exclusive Fireside Chat at the ongoing African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies conference with Bloomberg News Correspondent Jennifer Zabasajja.

He shared the company’s future expansion plans and role in Nigeria’s energy transition and plans by the company to contribute to the 2 million barrels per day.

Mr Irune also highlighted the growing role of indigenous firms in the sector, particularly as international oil companies (IOCs) divest from onshore and shallow water assets.

“In the space of 24 months, you’re going to see about 60 percent-70 percent [of Nigeria’s production] by indigenous players, just based on the transition of IOCs to the deep offshore and the acquisitions we have seen, whether it’s Seplat, our deal or the ongoing Renaissance deal,” he said.

He also revealed that Oando is focused on maximizing the development of assets acquired through its deal, which increased its stake in OMLs 60, 61, 62 and 63 to 40 percent and nearly doubled its reserves to one billion barrels of oil equivalent.

The company’s ownership in NAOC’s joint venture assets will also grow, including 40 oil and gas fields, 12 production stations, and key infrastructure including pipelines, processing plants and the Brass River Oil Terminal.

He also noted that Oando remains open to future mergers and acquisitions across the continent.

“We’re always looking to do a deal. We stay where we have a comparative advantage, but we don’t rule out any markets. Nigeria is the first place we look – we have an immense amount of potential. As a leading energy company, we owe it to the country to reach that potential.”

Mr Irune also discussed the role of Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in strengthening the investment case, particularly for gas in Nigeria and fostering industry synergies.

The Oando-NAOC deal was the first M&A transaction following the PIA’s implementation and the company plans to leverage the deal to boost oil and gas production, with a view to supporting Nigeria’s energy transition in the future.

“In the immediate term, our focus is on producing every drop of oil we can to be able to fund that transition journey. We will use gas as a transition fuel – our assets are largely gas assets as a company, and Nigeria is largely a gas province as a country.”

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Alleged Bankruptcy: AMCON Withdrawals Case Against Dapo Abiodun’s Petroleum Company

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Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has said it has withdrawn the case it instituted against Heyden Petroleum Limited.

The Corporation had approached the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court and prayed for the court’s approval to takeover Heyden Petroleum Limited owned by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

AMCON had accused the company of bankruptcy, saying it was moving to acquire it in order to save it from further risk.

The presiding judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa had, after reviewing AMCON’s motion and supporting documents, agreed with it and ordered an interim takeover of the petroleum company.

Meanwhile, in a swift reversal, AMCON, in a statement issued by its Head of Corporate Communications, Jude Nwauzor, disclosed that the Asset Management Corporation had discontinued the matter, noting that “AMCON is not in dispute with Heyden Petroleum.”

Nwauzor said, “Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the media regarding to the pending litigation between the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Heyden Petroleum Limited

“We hereby notify the general public that AMCON and Heyden Petroleum Limited have settled all issues between them amicably, and Heyden Petroleum Limited has demonstrated commitment to meeting their obligations and has been making payments accordingly.

“Given this latest development, AMCON has formally discontinued its pending litigation against Heyden Petroleum Limited, particularly Suit No. FHC/AMC/67/2024.

“As a responsible debt recovery agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, it is not the practice of AMCON to engage in a media trial of obligors who are meeting their obligation. Accordingly, the general public is urged to disregard any negative commentaries on the relationship between AMCON and Heyden Petroleum Limited.”

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N1.3bn Fraud Allegation: Court Orders Arrest of Dana Air MD For Not Showing Up For Arraignment

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Mr. Hathiramani Ranesh

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Dana Air, Mr. Hathiramani Ranesh for failing to appear in court for his arraignment in the alleged N1.3 billion fraud preferred against him by the Office of the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF).

The Federal Government had on October 10, 2024, asked the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Dana Air after failing to honour invitation for his arraignment.

The AGF had filed a six-count charge against Ranesh and two others and marked Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd as the 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.

The prosecution argued that Ranesh and the two companies, along with others still at large, committed a felony between September and December 2018 at the DANA Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina.

They were accused of conspiring to remove, convert, and sell four units of industrial generators—three units Ht of 9,000 KVA and one unit of 1,000 KVA—valued at over N450 million. These assets were reportedly part of the Deed of Asset Debenture used as collateral for a bond, which remains valid.

The defendants and others at large were said to have conspired to fraudulently divert N864 million between April 7th and 8th, 2014, at House No. 116, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Isolo-Lagos.

This sum, reportedly part of the bond proceeds from Ecobank intended for revitalizing production at Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina, was allegedly diverted for unauthorized purposes.

They were also accused of conspiring to transfer N60,300,000 to an Atlantic Shrimpers account (No: 0001633175) at Access Bank, fraudulently diverting funds earmarked as part of the Ecobank bond proceeds for resuming production at the Katsina factory.

The cumulative amount involved in the charge totals N1,374,300,000. Each offense is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

After Mojisola-Okeya Esho, counsel to the Federal Government, had requested for bench warrant to be issued against Ranesh, the defence lawyer, B. Ademola-Bello, disagreed with Esho, saying that they had filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter and that the prosecution had already been served.

Delivering ruling on the application, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, agreed with Esho that Ranesh’s arrest was necessary due to his failure to appear in court despite being served with the charge and several proceedings having taken place.

Justice Egwuatu held that, according to Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the court has the authority to issue an arrest warrant against any defendant who fails to attend court sessions.

Egwuatu ordered that Ranesh must appear before the court on January 13, 2025, before any objections can be raised.

Consequently, he adjourned the matter till January 13, 2025, for hearing.

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