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Seplat Energy Plc Records $535 Million in Revenue in the First Nine Months of 2021

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Seplat Energy Plc - Investors King

Seplat Energy, a leading Nigerian independent energy company listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the London Stock Exchange, recorded $535 million in revenue in the nine months that ended 30 September 2021.

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) stood at $266.4 million while cash realised from operations was $163.8 million, the company stated in its unaudited financial statements for the period.

Total expenditure for the period was $83.9 million. Cash at the bank was estimated at $273.9 million and the energy company posted $479.8 million as net debt. See other details below.

Operational highlights

  • YTD working-interest production of 47,280 boepd down 6.7% year on year largely as a result of the shut-in of the Forcados Oil Terminal (FOT) in August (Q3: 40,381 boepd)
  • Liquids production down 16.6% year on year at 27,804 bopd, recovering to 33kbopd liquids in October
  • Gas production up 13% to 113 MMscfd, despite FOT impact on associated gas
  • Completed two gas wells and three oil wells in the period, new Gbetiokun wells performing strongly

Financial highlights (9M 2021)

  • Revenue after adjusting for an underlift was $535 million
  • EBITDA of $266.4 million
  • Cash generated from operations $163.8 million
  • Cash at bank $273.9 million, net debt of $479.8 million
  • Total capital expenditure of $83.9 million
  • Interim dividend of 2.5 cents ($0.025)

Corporate updates

  • Name changed to Seplat Energy Plc to reflect new strategic vision outlined in July; new branding launched in October
  • Acquisition of Cardinal Drilling rigs for $36 million and cessation of legal proceedings by Access Bank Outlook for 2021
  • Expected production narrowed to 48-50 kboepd for full year, subject to market conditions
  • Amukpe-Escravos Pipeline (AEP) commissioning has commenced, oil flow expected in December 2021
  • Capex now expected to be $167 million for the full year
  • ANOH project remains on track for first gas in H1 2022

Commenting on the financial statements, Roger Brown, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Production has recovered strongly since the outage at Forcados Oil Terminal (FOT) and we have been averaging nearly 33kbopd liquids throughout October. Now that production has normalised, we expect production to be in the range 48-50 kboepd for the year, provided uptime on the Forcados Pipeline and FOT remains above the budgeted 80%. I’m pleased to report that our new wells at Gbetiokun are performing strongly, and we will soon commence drilling the exciting Sibiri prospect on OML40.

“We have taken the difficult, but practical decision to bring an end to the uncertainty of the Access Bank legal dispute regarding Cardinal Drilling Services, which completes the Board-mandated removal of Related Party Transactions.

“Although we maintain our previously stated position that legal action against the Company was wholly without merit, the risk of significant disruption to our operations and other opportunities from a long, drawn-out legal case brought us to a negotiated settlement with Access Bank. We have therefore acquired the four Cardinal rigs and we are now focusing on fast tracking their deployment in future drilling campaigns. `

“Our business model is robust, despite setbacks in the third quarter, thanks to the prudent and flexible approach we have taken to managing the business. With an increased focus on efficiency in our operations, improving uptime by opening up the Amukpe to Escravos Pipeline and driving further cost reduction across our portfolio, this will provide the bedrock allowing us to operate effectively in fluctuating commodity prices and generate returns for shareholders. I am optimistic that the coming year will be much stronger, with many of the problems of the past put behind us.

“After we set out our future strategy in July’s Capital Markets Day and launched our new corporate name of Seplat Energy plc, complete with its new branding, we are now focusing on building out and executing the energy transition that is right for Nigeria. A strong step forward will be when we bring on stream the ANOH project next year delivering more transition gas to an energy poor market, over reliant on expensive, high carbon-emitting electricity generated from small-scale diesel and PMS generators. Our three-pillar strategy is designed to ensure we balance carbon emission reduction with the essential social agenda for undeniably the most under-electrified, youngest and fastest growing population on earth.”

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Energy

Nigeria Targets $5bn Investments in Oil and Gas Sector, Says Government

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Crude Oil - Investors King

Nigeria is setting its sights on attracting $5 billion worth of investments in its oil and gas sector, according to statements made by government officials during an oil and gas sector retreat in Abuja.

During the retreat organized by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, explained the importance of ramping up crude oil production and creating an environment conducive to attracting investments.

He highlighted the need to work closely with agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to achieve these goals.

Lokpobiri acknowledged the challenges posed by issues such as insecurity and pipeline vandalism but expressed confidence in the government’s ability to tackle them effectively.

He stressed the necessity of a globally competitive regulatory framework to encourage investment in the sector.

The minister’s remarks were echoed by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, who spoke at the 2024 Strategic Women in Energy, Oil, and Gas Leadership Summit.

Kyari stressed the critical role of energy in driving economic growth and development and explained that Nigeria still faces challenges in providing stable electricity to its citizens.

Kyari outlined NNPCL’s vision for the future, which includes increasing crude oil production, expanding refining capacity, and growing the company’s retail network.

He highlighted the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s vast gas resources and optimizing dividend payouts to shareholders.

Overall, the government’s commitment to attracting $5 billion in investments reflects its determination to revitalize the oil and gas sector and drive economic growth in Nigeria.

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Energy

Nigeria’s Rig Count Surges by 23% in February 2024

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Oil

In February 2024, Nigeria’s oil and gas exploration activities surged with rig count increasing by 23% compared to the previous year.

The rig count, a crucial index measuring upstream activities, climbed to 16 rigs from the 11 rigs recorded during the same period in 2023.

This leap in exploration activities comes as a positive development for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, indicating growing momentum and investor confidence in the industry.

Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), attributed this sustained surge to the positive impact of the recently enacted Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The PIA, with its provisions for institutional governance, efficient administration, and attractive fiscal regimes, has created a conducive environment for investment and operations in the country’s oil and gas sector.

Despite the remarkable increase in exploration activities, Nigeria’s crude oil production for the month declined to 1.32 million barrels per day (mbpd), compared to January’s output of 1.46 mbpd.

This decrease highlights the challenges faced by the Nigerian oil industry, including infrastructure constraints, security issues in oil-producing regions, and operational disruptions.

To further enhance exploration efforts, Komolafe announced a strategic partnership with TGS-Petrodata to acquire approximately 56,000 square kilometers of 3D Seismic Gravity data, focusing on the Niger Delta deep and Ultra Deep Offshore regions.

This initiative aims to mitigate risks associated with exploration in challenging environments, with investors financing the project and resulting revenues to be shared between the government and TGS.

Looking ahead, Komolafe expressed optimism about sustained growth in oil exploration activities throughout 2024, with plans for an upcoming oil licensing round, a critical step in implementing the nation’s PIA and driving further advancements in the oil and gas sector.

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NNPC Faces Mounting Subsidy Burden as Oil Prices Skyrocket

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Petrol - Investors King

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is facing an increasingly daunting subsidy burden as oil prices continue to surge.

Investigation has revealed that escalating crude oil prices pose a significant challenge to Africa’s largest oil producer, placing immense pressure on the government’s finances and the state-owned NNPC.

Brent, the benchmark for Nigeria’s crude oil, has skyrocketed from an average of $77 in January to as high as $86 per barrel.

While this surge in oil prices could potentially boost funding for Nigeria’s 2024 budget, which is anchored on a benchmark of $77.96 per barrel, the country’s inability to meet production quotas hampers its capacity to capitalize on the revenue influx from oil sales.

One of the primary consequences of soaring oil prices is the ballooning petrol subsidy burden borne by the NNPC.

Despite the government’s imposition of a cap on petrol retail prices, the widening gap between the landing cost and the pump price necessitates substantial subsidies to sustain consumer affordability.

Charles Akinbobola, a Lagos-based energy analyst, elucidated that the combination of a higher exchange rate, elevated oil prices, and static petrol retail prices compounds the subsidy dilemma for Nigeria.

With the country’s limited refining capacity mandating the importation of all petroleum products, the subsidy burden further intensifies, straining NNPC’s resources.

The opacity surrounding the subsidy program, coupled with reports of NNPC’s utilization of Nigeria LNG dividends to fund petrol subsidies, raises concerns about transparency and accountability.

Faith Akinnagbe, an energy lawyer, emphasizes the urgency of disclosing NNPC’s subsidy expenditures to ensure public accountability and oversight.

As Nigeria grapples with the repercussions of surging oil prices, the NNPC faces an uphill battle in managing its burgeoning subsidy obligations amidst fiscal constraints and economic uncertainties.

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