AI assistant
TOWER RESOURCES PLC — Earnings Release 2018
Jan 11, 2019
7980_rns_2019-01-11_19f050ac-bfd2-407a-ab41-d90023223937.html
Earnings Release
Open in viewerOpens in your device viewer
Wentworth Resources Plc : Commercial, Operational Update and 2019 Production Guidance
Wentworth Resources Plc : Commercial, Operational Update and 2019 Production Guidance
PRESS RELEASE 11 January 2019
WENTWORTH RESOURCES PLC
("Wentworth" or the "Company")
Commercial, Operational Update and 2019 Production Guidance
Wentworth, the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: WEN) and AIM (AIM: WEN) listed
independent, East Africa-focused oil & gas company, is today providing an update
to shareholders.
Tanzania
Operations
Gas demand for the Company's producing reserves continued to grow in the final
quarter of 2018, resulting from combined demand from the Kinyerezi-1, Kinyerezi-
2 and Ubungo II power stations, and the burgeoning demand growth from industrial
customers including Dangote Cement and Goodwill Ceramics. This demand from off-
takers collectively resulted in an average daily production in Q4 2018 of 87.3
MMscf/d and for the month of December 2018 of 92.5 MMscf/d.
The average production for the full year 2018 was 83.2 MMscf/d; above the
Company's 2018 production guidance range of 65 - 75 MMscf/d and greater than the
Daily Committed Quotient ("DCQ") of 80.0 MMscf/d, which the Joint Venture
Partners are required to supply under the Gas Sales Agreement with TPDC and for
the TANESCO-owned, Mtwara Power Station (ca.2.5 MMscf/d).
Commercial
The Company is pleased to inform shareholders that monthly payments for November
and December 2018 (post allocation of the Tanzania Petroleum Development
Corporation ("TPDC") receivable, adjusted to reflect the Ziwani-1 exploration
well and associated 3D seismic costs as previously announced) for gas sales
generated from the Mnazi Bay Concession of $3.0 million net to Wentworth, have
been received. Payments were received from both TPDC and Tanzania Electric
Supply Company Limited ("TANESCO"). The Company is pleased to report that due
arrears from TPDC and TANESCO, have steadily reduced over the course of 2018 and
now stand at three months for both off-takers.
As a result of the continued demand and sustainable payment landscape, the
Company has continued to meet and pay-down its debt commitments from free cash-
flow in 2018 and expects to be substantially debt free within the next twelve
months, with the final payment on its single outstanding loan facility falling
due in January 2020. As at 31 December 2018, outstanding debt was $8.3 million
(excluding $2.5 million corporate overdraft facility), with cash of $11.8
million.
2019 Production Guidance and Outlook
Discussions continue with TPDC with regards reducing the Madimba gas receiving
facility export pressure from the current 92.5barg to ca.75barg. This will allow
for a sustained overall production rate and/or plateau period from the current
well stock, prior to installation of compression facilities. As communicated by
the Company on 3 October 2018, this is technically and operationally feasible,
has the potential to extend the production plateau by c.18 months on a
standalone basis and c.42 months including slickline and chokes upgrade work;
and would be immediately accretive to asset value.
As of 7 January 2019, the field was delivering ca.89.6 MMscf/d: 86.8MMscf/d to
TPDC with an additional 2.8 MMscf/d to TANESCO. Current demand for Mnazi Bay gas
is estimated by the Joint Venture Operator to be in excess of 95 MMscf/d.
For 2019, the Company anticipates further growth in gas demand with the
extension to the Kinyerezi-1 power plant which is expected to come online in Q4
2019. This facility will initially require 5 MMscf/d and will build up
approximately 30 MMscf/d of gas requirement when fully commissioned over a six-
month period. Continued gas demand growth in 2019 is also expected, primarily
from the Dangote Cement Plant and other smaller industrial consumers; adding an
additional 10-15 MMscf/d to national demand needs by Q2 2019.
Wentworth's operational activities in 2019 will include working with TPDC to
determine the optimal operating transnational pipeline inlet pressure for the
system and ensuring the maintenance of the current production plateau using
existing wells and infrastructure. The Mnazi Bay Joint Venture anticipates
conducting slickline and choke upgrade activities and will perform regular
pressure build up tests to further reduce uncertainty with respect to in-place
and recoverable gas volumes over the forthcoming year. These activities will
help to ensure that forecast production meets the Daily Committed Quotient
("DCQ") of 80.0 MMscf/d, which the Mnazi Bay Joint Venture is required to supply
under the Gas Sales Agreement with TPDC and for the TANESCO-owned, Mtwara Power
Station (ca.2.5 MMscf/d), without risking a shortfall in 2019 and beyond.
For 2019, full year average daily production, is expected by the Company to be
in the range of 75 to 85 MMscf/d in order to sustain the current plateau rate
from the existing five producing well stock. The Company will continue to update
the market as new sources of demand materialise, in addition to operational
updates on the asset.
Mozambique
Further to its announcement dated 17 December 2018, the Company is in the
process of relinquishing the Tembo Appraisal License with a planned effective
exit date of 30 April 2019. The Company continues to assess suitable upstream
opportunities in country, through its strong relationships with ENH and INP.
Eskil Jersing, CEO, commented:
"We are pleased that the Mnazi Bay asset has successfully ramped up to deliver
sustainable and material production rates, with minimal downtime in 2018. The
Mnazi Bay Joint Venture continues to work with all stakeholders on the four key
value catalysts, referred to in the 3 October 2018 RNS, to ensure that we derive
the maximum possible production value from the Mnazi Bay field. We look forward
to updating the market on our progress in 2019, in a rapidly developing demand-
led landscape. With the intended relinquishment of the Tembo appraisal licence
in Q2 2019, our efforts this year will be primarily focused on maintaining
efficient operations at our Mnazi Bay asset, strengthening our financial
position and executing on our M&A led growth mandate."
-Ends-
Enquiries:
Wentworth Eskil Jersing, [email protected]
Chief Executive Officer +44 (0)118 2065427
Katherine Roe, [email protected]
Chief Financial Officer +44 (0)118 2065428
Stifel Nicolaus Europe AIM Nominated Adviser and +44 (0) 20 7710 7600
Limited Broker (UK)
Callum Stewart
Ashton Clanfield
Simon Mensley
Peel Hunt LLP Broker (UK) +44 (0) 20 7418 8900
Richard Crichton
James Bavister
Vigo Investor Relations +44 (0) 20 7390 0230
Adviser (UK)
Patrick d'Ancona
Chris McMahon
About Wentworth Resources
Wentworth Resources is a publicly traded (OSE: WEN, AIM: WEN), independent oil &
gas company with natural gas production; exploration and appraisal
opportunities, all in the onshore Rovuma Delta Basin of coastal southern
Tanzania and northern Mozambique.
Inside Information
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by Wentworth to
constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation
(EU) no. 596/2014 ("MAR"). On the publication of this announcement via a
Regulatory Information Service ("RIS"), this inside information is now
considered to be in the public domain.
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
This press release may contain certain forward-looking information. The words
"expect", "anticipate", believe", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend",
"forecast", "plan", and similar expressions are used to identify forward looking
information.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on
management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made
considering management's experience, current conditions and expected future
development in the areas in which Wentworth is currently active and other
factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Wentworth
undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking
statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
information. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous
assumptions, risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the
predicted outcome will not occur, including some of which are beyond Wentworth's
control. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to: the risks
associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in
exploration, development and production, delays or changes in plans with respect
to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures, the imprecision
of resource and reserve estimates, assumptions regarding the timing and costs
relating to production and development as well as the availability and price of
labour and equipment, volatility of and assumptions regarding commodity prices
and exchange rates, marketing and transportation risks, environmental risks,
competition, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external
sources and changes in applicable law. Additionally, there are economic,
political, social and other risks inherent in carrying on business in Tanzania
and Mozambique. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will
prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could vary or differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. See Wentworth's
Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2017,
available on Wentworth's website, for further description of the risks and
uncertainties associated with Wentworth's business.
Notice
Neither the Oslo Stock Exchange nor the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange
has reviewed this press release and neither accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section
5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.