Africa Oil 2017 First Quarter Financial and Operating Results
(firmenpresse) - VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/11/17 -- Africa Oil Corp. (TSX: AOI)(OMX: AOI) ("Africa Oil" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
As at March 31, 2017, the Company had cash of $450.1 million and working capital of $419.0 million as compared to cash of $463.1 million and working capital of $435.0 million at December 31, 2016. The Company continues to work closely with its Joint Venture Partners to focus efforts on advancing the South Lokichar Basin development in Blocks 10BB and 13T (Kenya) by undertaking activities aimed at increasing resources and resource certainty while progressing development studies and planning. We are pleased to have recommenced drilling activities in the South Lokichar Basin during the fourth quarter of 2016 and to have agreed with our Joint Venture Partners to extend the ongoing exploration and drilling campaign in the South Lokichar Basin.
In addition to the drilling and operational activities to support the South Lokichar Final Investment Decision for the Kenya Full Field Development by the end of 2018, engineering studies and contracting activities are underway in preparation for the start of Front End Engineering Design (FEED), which is expected in the second half of 2017. In parallel to the upstream development work, the Kenya Joint Venture and the Government of Kenya continue to progress the export pipeline commercial and finance studies and preparations are under way for the Environmental Social Impact Assessment and FEED which are also planned for the second half of 2017. The Kenya crude export pipeline is expected to run from South Lokichar to the Kenyan port of Lamu.
The Company has completed the following significant operational activities during and subsequent to the first quarter of 2017:
2017 First Quarter Financial Results
Operating expenses decreased $1.3 million during the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. The $1.1 million decrease in professional fees relates to increased cost during the first quarter of 2016 related to the completion of the farmout transaction with Maersk. Salaries and benefits decreased $0.2 million during the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due to the recovery of costs relating to the secondment of an employee. These decreases were offset by a $0.9 million donation to the Lundin Foundation during the first quarter of 2017 compared to a $0.6 million donation during the first quarter of 2016.
The Company holds the vast majority of its cash on hand in US dollars, the Company''s functional currency. Interest Income fluctuates in accordance with cash balances, the currency that the cash is held in, and prevailing market interest rates.
Expenditures on intangible exploration assets of $14.9 million were incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2017, which relate primarily to costs associated with the recommencement of drilling activities in the South Lokichar Basin and South Lokichar development studies. The Company is debt free.
The following table breaks down the material components of intangible exploration expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:
The Company incurred $14.5 million of intangible exploration expenditures in Kenya for three months ended March 31, 2017. Drilling and completion expenditures primarily relate to the drilling of Erut-1 in Block 13T, the drilling of the Ngamia-10 and Amosing-6 appraisal wells in Block 10BB as well as the completion of the water injection testing on the Amosing-2A, Amosing-3, and Ngamia-5 wells in Block 10BB. Development study expenditures are associated with studies aimed at progressing towards project sanction for the South Lokichar Basin. Exploration studies costs continue to be incurred in Kenya in conjunction with exploration and appraisal drilling campaign which recommenced in the fourth quarter of 2016.
The Company incurred $0.3 million of intangible exploration expenditures in Ethiopia for the three months ended March 31, 2017, which consists of license fees and general and administrative costs.
The Company''s unaudited consolidated financial statements, notes to the financial statements, management''s discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, and the 2016 Annual Information Form have been filed on SEDAR () and are available on the Company''s website ().
About Africa oil
Africa Oil Corp. is a Canadian oil and gas company with assets in Kenya and Ethiopia. The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and on Nasdaq Stockholm under the symbol "AOI".
Additional Information
This information is information that Africa Oil Corp. is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Swedish Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, on May 11, 2017 at 3:15 p.m. Pacific Time.
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain statements made and information contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, "forward looking statements") relate to future events or the Company''s future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimates of reserves and or resources, future production levels, future capital expenditures and their allocation to exploration and development activities, future drilling and other exploration and development activities, ultimate recovery of reserves or resources and dates by which certain areas will be explored, developed or reach expected operating capacity, that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.
All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable reserves and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements and reflect conclusions that are based on certain assumptions that the reserves and resources can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect, "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward- looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, changes in oil prices, results of exploration and development activities, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government or other regulatory approvals, actual performance of facilities, availability of financing on reasonable terms, availability of third party service providers, equipment and processes relative to specifications and expectations and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Keith C. Hill"
President and CEO
Contacts:
Sophia Shane
Corporate Development
(604) 689-7842
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Datum: 11.05.2017 - 16:15 Uhr
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