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REG - Challenger Energy - Interim Results

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RNS Number : 2237O  Challenger Energy Group PLC  29 September 2023

 

 

29 September 2023

Challenger Energy Group PLC

("Challenger Energy" or the "Company")

 

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2023

Challenger Energy (AIM: CEG), the Caribbean and Atlantic-margin focused oil
and gas company, with oil production, appraisal, development and exploration
assets across the region, announces its Interim Results for six months to 30
June 2023.

 

The Interim Results and Chief Executive Officer's commentary are set out in
full below and are also available on the Company's
website https://www.cegplc.com/ (https://www.cegplc.com/) .

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

 Challenger Energy Group PLC                     Tel: +44 (0) 1624 647 882

 Eytan Uliel, Chief Executive Officer
 WH Ireland - Nomad and Joint Broker             Tel: +44 (0) 20 7220 1666

 Antonio Bossi / Darshan Patel
 Zeus Capital - Joint Broker                     Tel: +44 (0) 20 3829 5000

 Simon Johnson
 Gneiss Energy Limited - Financial Adviser       Tel: +44 (0) 20 3983 9263

 Jon Fitzpatrick / Paul Weidman / Doug Rycroft
 CAMARCO                                           Tel: +44 (0) 20 3757 4980

 Billy Clegg / Hugo Liddy / Sam Morris

 

Notes to Editors

 

Challenger Energy is a Caribbean and Americas focused oil and gas company,
with a range of oil production, development, appraisal, and exploration assets
in the region. The Company's primary assets are located in Uruguay, where the
Company holds high impact offshore exploration licences, and in Trinidad and
Tobago, where the Company has a number of producing fields and earlier-stage
exploration / appraisal projects.

 

Challenger Energy is quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

 

https://www.cegplc.com (https://www.cegplc.com/)

 

ENDS

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT

 

Dear fellow Shareholders,

 

The dominant themes of the first half of 2023 were the technical work program
and farm-out process in relation to our AREA OFF-3 licence in Uruguay, ongoing
efforts to reshape and improve our oil production business in Trinidad and
Tobago, and the implications of these two activities on the financial position
of the Company, as reflected in the unaudited interim financial statements for
the half year ended 30 June 2023.

 

Exploration Acreage in Uruguay - primary focus and near-term value driver

 

Challenger Energy secured the AREA OFF-1 licence, offshore Uruguay, in May
2020. This was in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, when Uruguay was not yet
on the global industry's radar. At that time, this made us the sole licence
holder in Uruguay.

 

Since the start of 2022, however, Uruguay has rapidly emerged as a global
exploration "hotspot". This followed directly as a result of sizeable
discoveries made by two global supermajors (TotalEnergies and Shell) from
respective "wildcat" exploration wells drilled offshore Namibia. Those
successful Namibian wells greatly de-risked the presence of a high-quality,
oil-prone source rock and charge, not just in Namibia but on the other side of
the South Atlantic conjugate margin, and in particular in Uruguay's offshore
area, which is the geological "mirror" of where these Namibian discoveries
were made.

 

As a result, and immediately following these Namibian discoveries, the
industry view on Uruguay changed dramatically. Thus, in the first Uruguayan
bidding round after the Namibian discoveries (May 2022), three licences were
bid on and awarded to majors Shell and APA Corporation (formerly, Apache).
Then, in November 2022, a further two licences were bid on and awarded, one to
a consortium of Shell and APA, and the other to YPF, the Argentinian national
oil company. The new entrants offered significant work program to secure
their licences (as compared to the very modest work program we had bid to
secure AREA OFF-1), and a number of other energy majors also registered to bid
in the two Uruguayan open rounds held in 2022, but were unsuccessful.

 

These industry developments - globally significant discoveries offshore
Namibia, interest from several majors in Uruguayan offshore acreage, and a
resulting surge in Uruguayan licensing activity - validated our first-mover,
low-cost entry into Uruguay, and confirmed that we had secured highly
prospective frontier acreage, on advantageous terms, and with potential for
considerable near-term value uplift. We thus rapidly moved to prioritise our
Uruguay business through the first half of 2023, and achieved the following:

 

·      First, we undertook an accelerated work program on the Area OFF-1
block (over and above the minimum work obligations), with a view to generating
proprietary intellectual property and upgrading technical knowledge of the
area, specifically in light of the new conjugate margin discoveries. The
program of work included reprocessing of legacy 2D seismic data, advanced
attribute variation with offset (AVO) analysis, seabed geochemical and
satellite seep studies, full reinterpretation and remapping of all data, and
an initial volumetric assessment. This work was largely completed during the
period under review (January - June 2023), and was a resounding success, in
that we have identified three technically robust primary prospects in the AREA
OFF-1 licence area, that in aggregate represent a prospect inventory of
approximately 2 billion barrels (Pmean) and up to 5 billion barrels (P10) -
thus establishing that AREA OFF-1 is a material, world-class asset.

 

·      Second, in view of the fact that taking AREA OFF-1 forward to 3D
seismic acquisition and ultimately exploration well drilling, especially on an
expedited basis, will be a technically demanding and capital-intensive
undertaking, we resolved to seek an industry and funding partner. Thus,
through the first half of 2023, we began preparing for a farm-out process, and
commenced a formal, adviser-led process in June 2023. Since then, this process
has proceeded well, and we have seen a high level of interest form a wide
variety of industry participants. We remain confident that we will succeed in
our effort to secure an industry partner by the end of 2023.

 

·      Finally, we sought ways to expand our presence in Uruguay, given
our developing knowledge base and energy understanding, the excellent working
relationship established with ANCAP, and the attractive conditions in that
country for hydrocarbon industry activity. In furtherance of this objective,
in April 2023 we made an application for another shallow water offshore
exploration block in Uruguay, AREA OFF-3, and in June 2023, we were awarded
the block. AREA OFF-3 was the last available offshore acreage in Uruguay, and
were able to secure it on attractive terms. The block has existing 2D and 3D
seismic coverage, and based on initial assessment an estimated resource
potential of up to ~500 million barrels of oil equivalent ("mmboe") and up to
~9 trillion cubic feet gas ("TCF"), from multiple exploration plays. Formal
signing of the licence is expected by the end of 2023, and once formalised,
our Company will be the second largest acreage holder in Uruguay, with two
high-quality assets in what has fast become a global exploration focus area.

 

In summary, therefore, the first half of 2023 represented a period of exciting
progress for our operations in Uruguay. We undertook excellent technical work
on AREA OFF-1 that firmly established the block's prospectivity, we moved into
a formal farm-out process for that block which we hope to conclude in the
coming months, and we secured a second high quality block, AREA OFF-3, thus
cementing our long-term position in Uruguay.

 

Focused Production onshore Trinidad and Portfolio Rationalisation

 

In August 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of Columbus Energy
Resources Plc ("Columbus"), which significantly expanded the Company's
business through the addition of a portfolio of assets in Trinidad and Tobago
and Suriname, including oil fields in active production.

 

During 2021 and 2022, work focussed on the task of integrating and operating
those assets, "cleaning up" various legacy issues, and seeking to achieve
organic growth in production from the existing onshore fields. However, as I
observed in our last Annual Report, while we have been reasonably successful
on the first two items, we struggled to achieve our objective of organic
production growth.  This was because our oil fields are mature, and having
produced oil for many decades they are characterised by depressurised
reservoirs, where the rate at which the remaining resource is produced cannot
easily be increased. Thus, despite our efforts - which have ranged from
application of efficient mature oilfield management practices and field
improvements to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) initiatives and targeted
production enhancement activities - production growth has proved elusive.

 

On the other hand, what we did observe is that notwithstanding field
maturity, our production performance is reasonably consistent and predictable.
And consequently, in late 2022 we reassessed our Trinidad operations and
decided to focus on areas where we have a competitive advantage. This meant
dividing our Trinidad portfolio in two parts, being "core" - consisting of the
Goudron and Inniss-Trinity fields in south-east Trinidad, which represented
about 85% of our production along with vast majority of resource allocation
(manpower, rigs and so on), and "non-core" - consisting of our assets in
central and south-west Trinidad, and our appraisal block in Suriname.

 

In relation to those assets considered "core", we continued our focus on
stabilising production, while at the same time looking for ways to increase
production from "new oil" opportunities in and around our core area of
operations in south-east Trinidad, with the following results during 1H 2023:

 

·      core production from the Goudron and Inniss-Trinity fields
averaged approximately 300 barrels of oil per day through the period, almost
exactly the same as in the same period in 2022, and

 

·      With a view to growing production in our primary geographical
area of focus, we bid for the Guayaguayare block, one of the largest onshore
exploration and production blocks in Trinidad (c. 306 km(2)). Our bid for this
block was premised on (i) the fact that it is strategically and operationally
synergistic with the Company's existing presence in south-east Trinidad, (ii)
we see good prospectivity in the block, it being amongst the largest remaining
underexplored / undrained contiguous onshore areas in Trinidad, and (iii) the
block contains approximately 65 historic wells, many of which the Company
believes can be reactivated and serviced from existing operations, thus
offering the opportunity for near-term production uplift at minimal
incremental cost. In May 2023 we were notified that the Government of Trinidad
has authorised the Trinidadian Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries to
enter into negotiations for the potential award of the licence to the Company
- these discussions are ongoing, and we will advise further on completion of
negotiations with MEEI.

 

In relation to those assets considered "non-core", we began a process to
either monetise or exit from the assets, and made considerable progress during
the first half of 2023. Thus, in Q1 2023 we completed the sale of South Erin
asset, and through the period we continued to advance discussions with the
Trinidadian Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries in relation to the
proposed sale of Cory Moruga asset, which we hope to be able to complete in
the coming months. We also continued to work on similar exit options for the
remaining non-core assets we hold and most recently, in August 2023, we exited
the Weg Naar Zee ("WNZ") block onshore Suriname. The rationalisation of our
portfolio is allowing us to focus fully on those assets of much higher
potential impact, that offer greater scale and opportunity for near-term value
creation from deployment of the same capital.

It is worth noting that our HSE&S performance in this period remained
exemplary with zero LTI or reportable incidents. Following extensive
preparatory work and audit, the Company achieved a two-year STOW-TT ("Safe to
Work in Trinidad & Tobago") certification in 3Q 2021, and through the
first half of 2023 we prepared for the recertification process and audit,
which has now commenced. STOW certification provides a standardised,
independent system for certifying operators and contractors with respect to
Health, Safety and Environmental delivery, which Heritage Petroleum Company
Limited (the state-owned entity) requires of all contractors/operators, and
is a central component of our "licence to operate" in Trinidad.

Therefore, in relation to our Trinidadian operations, the first half of 2023
represented a period of measured progress: core business production was
constant and consistent, we began the process of monetising or exiting form
non-core assets, we were able to advance new business opportunities in support
of growing core business production, and we maintained our excellent
performance track record when it comes to HSE&S. Overall, we continue to
believe that an opportunity exists to create a profitable and growing
production business in Trinidad, but to do this we need to be able to access
"new oil" - that is, either finding places within our existing fields that
have not been drained effectively and drilling new wells, or by getting new
licences, and we saw the first successes in this journey during the first half
of 2023.

 

Financial Review

 

The unaudited interim financial statements for the half year ended 30 June
2023 present details on the financial performance of the Company for the
period, to which I add the following commentary, so that shareholders may
better be able to contextualise the figures presented:

 

·      The Company sold approximately 58,000 barrels ("bbls") of oil
during 1H 2023 (1H 2022: approximately 60,900 bbls), equating to approximately
320 barrels of oil per day ("bopd") (1H 2022: 336 bopd). However, the Company
divested its South Erin field in February 2023, resulting in lower oil sales
during 1H 2023 as compared to 1H 2022. Oil sales from the Company's fields
excluding the South Erin field were approximately 56,000 bbls during 1H 2023 -
in comparison, 1H 2022 oil sales excluding the South Erin Field were
approximately 53,800 bbls. In other words, on a like-for-like basis, there was
a 4% increase in barrels of oil sold, reflecting operational efficiencies
achieved as a consequence of the Company's strategy to focus on core assets.

·      The Company's revenue for the period was $1.9 million (1H 2022:
$2.7 million). All revenue is attributable to oil sales in Trinidad, net of
Government-take and other deductions and therefore reflect the Company's cash
revenue entitlement from oil sales. This represents a decrease of 30% as
compared to the comparable period in 2022. Again, on a like for like basis
(i.e., excluding the South Erin field), 1H 2023 revenue was approximately $1.8
million compared to $2.3 million in 1H 2022 representing a decrease of
approximately 22% compared to 1H 2022. The reduction in revenue is largely
attributable to approximately 30% lower average realised oil prices in 1H 2023
(of $63.52 per barrel) as compared to $90.50 per barrel in 1H 2022. Oil prices
have since risen in 2H 2023, and we thus expect higher realised oil prices and
revenues during 2H 2023.

·      Through the period, the Company's Trinidad business operated on a
roughly "break-even" basis, in that total cash revenues met total cash costs,
which ranged between $275,000 - $325,000 per month, the variance depending on
field activity and the level of workovers, repairs and maintenance required in
response to field performance each month. In an accounting sense however,
certain non-cash charges (including depreciation, abandonment provisions and
accrued interest on outstanding taxes (which the Company does not expect to
crystalise in cash, in view of submissions made during Trinidadian Tax Amnesty
period to offset against refunds due to the Company) are reflected in the
income statement, which give rise to the reported operating loss.

·      Excluding Trinidad, the Company's net cash spend during 1H 2023
was approximately $2.3 million. Of this, approximately $1.2 million was in
relation to the Company's AREA OFF-1 licence in Uruguay ($0.5 million retained
as restricted cash collateral for the work program performance bond, and the
balance of $0.7 million spent on accelerated and expanded technical work
program as described earlier in this report). The remainder $1.1 million
largely reflects the Company's corporate overheads and miscellaneous expenses,
reflecting a corporate overhead run rate ranging between $175,000 and $200,000
per month.

Cash Position & Funding

 

In March 2022, in conjunction with completion of a comprehensive corporate
restructuring, the Company raised approximately US$10 million, which was at
that time "sized" for approximately 12 months of future operations. However,
as a result of prudent management of capital, a significant reduction in
corporate overheads, and the sale of identified non-core assets, the Company
did not require any additional external funding during the first half of 2023,
and ended the period with available cash of $1.6 million.

 

Subsequently, in August 2023, the Company established a £3.3 million
unsecured convertible loan note funding facility (the "Facility") to provide
financing flexibility for various initiatives being pursued by the Company as
well as to bridge working capital needs through to delivery of a number of
cash generative options in the near-term, including those that may result from
a successful Area OFF-1 farm-out process, and those anticipated from
completion of the sale of the Cory Moruga asset in Trinidad.

 

In addition, the Company has approximately $0.8 million in restricted cash,
being cash held as collateral in support of performance bonds for the various
assets - notably, this includes $0.5 million in support of minimum work
obligations for the Company's AREA OFF-1 licence offshore Uruguay which have
largely been satisfied.

 

Strategic Direction

 

In Uruguay, our early entry has transformed from being little more than
"option value" to being a near-term opportunity for substantial
value-creation. Looking ahead, the focus for the balance of 2023 in Uruguay is
unambiguously on securing a farm-out partner for the AREA OFF-1 block, such
that we can expedite future technical work program on the block and in
particular a 3D seismic acquisition - we see this as the path to significant
near-term value creation for shareholders.

 

In Trinidad the focus for the remainder of 2023 will be to continue the work
of the last two years: maintain current production, drive improved financial
performance, dispose of remaining non-core assets, and seek to strategically
access "new oil" opportunities so as to expand the production base and create
a bigger, more sustainable business.

 

As a significant shareholder myself - I now hold over 6% of the Company - I am
fully aligned with all shareholders, and I remain optimistic about the
prospects of Challenger Energy. We will continue to work diligently towards
delivering on our objectives, and I am confident that eventually the equity
market will pay attention and reward the value we are creating.

 

 

Eytan Uliel

Chief Executive Officer

29 September 2023

 

Financial Statements

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

                                                                                   Six months         ended 30 June 2023 (Unaudited)          Six months                       Year ended

                                                                                                                                              ended 30 June 2022 (Unaudited)   31 December 2022

                                                                                                                                                                               (Audited)
                                                                             Note  $000's                                                     $ 000's                          $ 000's
 Net petroleum revenue                                                             1,884                                                      2,680                            4,266
 Cost of sales*                                                                    (2,343)                                                    (2,522)                          (4,737)
 Gross profit/(loss)                                                               (459)                                                      158                              (471)

 Administrative expenses**                                                         (2,141)                                                    (4,720)                          (8,027)
 Impairment charges                                                                -                                                          -                                (2,201)
 Operating foreign exchange gains/ (losses)                                        (1,528)                                                    (1,378)                          6,458
 Operating loss                                                                    (4,128)                                                    (5,940)                          (4,241)

 Other income                                                                2     26                                                         8,567                            8,743
 Finance income/ (costs), net                                                2     (88)                                                       1,652                            1,675
 Profit/(loss) before taxation                                                     (4,190)                                                    4,279                            6,177

 Income tax expense                                                                -                                                          -                                (28)
 Profit/(loss) from continuing operations                                          (4,190)                                                    4,279                            6,149

 Discontinued operations
 Gain/loss after tax for the year from discontinued operations               7     1,934                                                      -                                (1,767)
 Profit/(loss) for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent           (2,256)                                                    4,279                            4,382
 company

 Other comprehensive income/(expense)
 Items to be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
 Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations                         958                                                        1,105                            (5,742)
 Other comprehensive income/(expense) for the period net of taxation               958                                                        1,105                            (5,742)
 Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the period attributable to equity        (1,298)                                                    5,384                            (1,360)
 holders of the parent company

 Earnings/(loss) per share (cents)
 Basic loss (earnings) per share
 -From continuing operations                                                       (0.04)                                                     0.07                             0.08
 -From discontinued operations                                                     0.02                                                       -                                (0.03)
 Total                                                                             (0.02)                                                     0.07                             0.05

 Diluted earnings (loss) per share
 -From continuing operations                                                       -                                                          0.06                             0.07
 -From discontinued operations                                                     -                                                          -                                (0.02)
 Total                                                                             -                                                          0.06                             0.05

 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these
financial statements.

*Cost of sales includes amortisation and depreciation of oil and gas assets of
$632,000 (2022 half year: $859,000; 2022 full year: $1,720,000)

** Administrative expenses include various non-cash items including
depreciation charges of $222,000 (2022 half year: $234,000; 2022 full year:
$542,000) and interest on taxes owed in Trinidad of $176,000 (2022 half year:
$528,000; 2022 full year: $908,000) which the Company does not expect to
crystalise in cash in view of submissions made during Trinidadian Tax Amnesty
for the offset of taxes owed against refunds due to the Group (see Note 8)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

 

                                                                          At             At             At

                                                                          30 June 2023   30 June 2022   31 December 2022

                                                                          (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)    (Audited)
                                                                    Note  $000's         $ 000's        $ 000's
 Assets
 Non-current assets
 Intangible exploration and evaluation assets                       4     95,231         94,389         94,660
 Goodwill                                                           4     4,610          4,610          4,610
 Tangible assets                                                    5     18,777         21,874         19,556
 Right of use assets                                                6     -              6              -
 Escrow and abandonment funds                                             1,575          1,601          1,532
 Deferred tax asset                                                       7,418          6,998          7,375
 Total non-current assets                                                 127,611        129,478        127,733
 Current assets
 Trade and other receivables                                              2,755          5,428          2,721
 Inventories                                                              221            270            165
 Restricted cash                                                          827            434            824
 Cash and cash equivalents                                                1,645          5,308          2,453
 Total current assets                                                     5,448          11,440         6,163
 Assets held for sale                                               7     1,114          -              2,591
 Total assets                                                             134,173        140,918        136,487
 Liabilities
 Current liabilities
 Trade and other payables                                           8     (8,300)        (11,985)       (8,099)
 Lease liabilities                                                        -              (27)           (22)
 Borrowings                                                               -              (77)           -
 Total current liabilities                                                (8,300)        (12,089)       (8,121)
 Non-current liabilities
 Borrowings                                                               -              (147)          -
 Provisions                                                               (5,657)        (6,164)        (5,545)
 Deferred tax liability                                                   (7,459)        (7,009)        (7,415)
 Total non-current liabilities                                            (13,116)       (13,320)       (12,960)
 Liabilities directly associated with the assets held for sale      7     (4,364)        -              (6,449)
 Total liabilities                                                        (25,780)       (25,409)       (27,530)
 Net assets                                                               108,393        115,509        108,957
 Shareholders' equity
 Called-up share capital                                            9     2,540          2,540          2,540
 Share premium reserve                                              9     180,240        180,272        180,240
 Share based payments reserve                                             5,635          5,411          5,635
 Retained deficit                                                         (98,521)       (97,102)       (96,999)
 Foreign exchange reserve                                                 (4,785)        1,104          (5,743)
 Convertible debt option reserve                                          -              -              -
 Other reserves                                                           23,284         23,284         23,284
 Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company                       115,509        108,957

                                                                          108,393

 

 The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these
 financial statements.

 These Interim Financial Statements were approved and authorised for issue by
 the Board of Directors on 29 September 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

 Eytan Uliel  Simon Potter
 Director     Director

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

                                                                Six months           Six months                       Year ended

                                                                Ended 30 June 2023   ended 30 June 2022 (Unaudited)   31 December 2022

                                                                (Unaudited)                                           (Audited)
                                                                $000's               $ 000's                          $ 000's
 Cash flows from operating activities
 Profit/(loss) before taxation                                  (4,190)              4,279                            6,177
 (Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables             (77)                 (539)                            658
 (Decrease) in trade and other payables                         201                  (1,188)                          (2,176)
 (Increase) in inventories                                      (56)                 (11)                             (13)
 Impairment of tangible and intangible assets                   -                    -                                2,201
 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment                  841                  1,077                            1,784
 Depreciation of right of use asset                             -                    9                                14
 Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment              -                    10                               78
 Amortisation                                                   13                   16                               27
 Share settled payments                                         -                    1,113                            1,266
 Other income                                                   (26)                 (8,567)                          (8,743)
 Finance income/ (costs), net                                   88                   (1,652)                          (1,675)
 Share based payments                                           -                    99                               323
 Income tax received/(paid)                                     -                    -                                -
 Foreign exchange (gain)/loss on operating activities           1,528                1,378                            (6,458)
 Net cash outflow from operating activities                     (1,678)              (3,976)                          (6,537)

 Cash flows from investing activities
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment                      (37)                 (212)                            (626)
 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment            -                    5                                57
 Payments for exploration and evaluation assets                 (583)                -                                (282)
 (Increase)/Decrease in restricted cash                         (2)                  125                              (354)
 Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries, net of                     1,194                -                                -

 cash sold
 Other income received                                          26                   -                                18
 Net cash outflow from investing activities                     598                  (82)                             (1,187)

 Cash flows from financing activities
 Issue of ordinary share capital                                -                    8,508                            9,114
 Share issue costs                                              -                    -                                -
 Principal elements of lease payments                           (22)                 (9)                              (14)
 Finance costs                                                  (9)                  (265)                            (46)
 Repayment of borrowings                                        -                    (144)                            (181)
 Net cash inflow from financing activities                      (31)                 8,090                            8,873

 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                      (1,111)              4,032                            1,149
 Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents  303                  (279)                            (252)
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period               2,453                1,555                            1,555
 Cash and cash equivalents included in disposal group           -                    -                                1
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                     1,645                5,308                            2,453

 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these
financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

 

 

 

                                                                    Called up share capital  Share premium reserve  Share based payments reserve  Retained deficit  Foreign exchange reserve  Convertible debt option reserve  Other reserves  Total Equity
                                                                    $ 000's                  $ 000's                $ 000's                       $ 000's           $ 000's                   $ 000's                          $ 000's         $ 000's
 Group
 At 1 January 2023                                                  2,540                    180,240                5,635                         (96,999)          (5,743)                   -                                23,284          108,957
 Loss for the period                                                -                        -                      -                             (2,256)           -                         -                                -               (2,256)
 Currency translation differences                                   -                        -                      -                             734               958                       -                                -               1,692
 Total comprehensive expense                                        -                        -                      -                             (1,522)           958                       -                                -               (564)
 Total contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company  -                        -                      -                             -                                           -                                -               -

                                                                                                                                                                    -
 Balance at 30 June 2023                                            2,540                    180,240                5,635                         (98,521)          (4,785)                   -                                23,284          108,393

 

 

 

                                                                    Called up share capital  Share premium reserve  Share based payments reserve  Retained deficit  Foreign exchange reserve  Convertible debt option reserve  Other reserves  Total Equity
                                                                    $ 000's                  $ 000's                $ 000's                       $ 000's           $ 000's                   $ 000's                          $ 000's         $ 000's
 Group
 At 1 January 2022                                                  218                      171,734                5,312                         (101,381)         (1)                       114                              23,284          99,280
 Loss for the period                                                -                        -                      -                             4,279             -                         -                                -               4,279
 Currency translation differences                                   -                        -                      -                             -                 1,105                     -                                -               1,105
 Total comprehensive expense                                        -                        -                      -                             4,279             1,105                     -                                -               5,384
 Issue of ordinary shares                                           2,322                    8,538                  -                             -                 -                         -                                -               10,860
 Realisation of conversion feature                                  -                        -                      -                             -                 -                         (114)                            -               (114)
 Share based payments                                               -                        -                      99                            -                 -                         -                                -               99
 Total contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company  2,322                    8,538                  99                            -                                           (114)                            -               10,845

                                                                                                                                                                    -
 Balance at 30 June 2022                                            2,540                    180,272                5,411                         (97,102)          1,104                     -                                23,284          115,509

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (CONTINUED)

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

 

 

                                                                    Called up share capital  Share premium reserve  Share based payments reserve  Retained deficit  Foreign exchange reserve  Convertible debt option reserve  Other reserves  Total Equity
                                                                    $ 000's                  $ 000's                $ 000's                       $ 000's           $ 000's                   $ 000's                          $ 000's         $ 000's
 Group
 As at 31 December 2020                                             123                      152,717                5,228                         (77,684)          147                       396                              23,284          104,211

 Loss for the year                                                  -                        -                      -                             (23,697)          -                         -                                -               (23,697)
 Currency translation differences                                   -                        -                      -                             -                 (148)                     -                                -               (148)
 Total comprehensive expense                                        -                        -                      -                             (23,697)          (148)                     -                                -               (23,845)
 Share capital issued                                               95                       19,017                 -                             -                 -                         -                                -               19,112
 Recognition of conversion feature                                  -                        -                      -                             -                 -                         505                              -               505
 Realisation of conversion feature                                  -                        -                      -                             -                 -                         (787)                            -               (787)
 Share based payments                                               -                        -                      84                            -                 -                         -                                -               84
 Total contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company  95                       19,017                 84                            -                 -                         (282)                            -               18,914
 As at 31 December 2021                                             218                      171,734                5,312                         (101,381)         (1)                       114                              23,284          99,280
 Profit for the year                                                -                        -                      -                             4,382             -                         -                                -               4,382
 Currency translation differences                                   -                        -                      -                             -                 (5,742)                   -                                -               (5,742)
 Total comprehensive Income                                         -                        -                      -                             4,382             (5,742)                   -                                -               (1,360)
 Share capital issued                                               2,322                    8,506                  -                             -                 -                         -                                -               10,828
 Realisation of conversion feature                                  -                        -                      -                             -                 -                         (114)                            -               (114)
 Shared based payments                                              -                        -                      323                           -                 -                         -                                -               323
 Total contribution by and distributions to owners of the Company   2,322                    8,506                  323                           -                 -                         (114)                            -               11,037
 At as 31 December 2022                                             2,540                    180,240                5,635                         (96,999)          (5,743)                   -                                23,284          108,957

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE INTERIM PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

 

 1   Basis of preparation
     The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis,
     except for the measurement of certain assets and financial instruments at fair
     value as described in the accounting policies below.

     The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, refer to
     the Going Concern section below for more details.

     The financial statements are presented in United States dollars ($) and all
     values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars ($'000) unless otherwise
     stated.

     Basis of consolidation
     The financial statements incorporate the results of the Company and its
     subsidiaries (the "Group") using the acquisition method. Control is achieved
     where the Company is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its
     involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns
     through its power over the entity.

     Inter-company transactions and balances between Group companies are eliminated
     in full.

     Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of
     subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used in line with those used by
     the Group.
     Going Concern

     The Group had incurred a comprehensive loss of $1.3 million for the half year
     ended 30 June 2023 and the Group's current liabilities exceeded current assets
     by approximately $2.9 million as of 30 June 2023. At 30 June 2023 the CEG
     Group had approximately $1.6 million in unrestricted cash funding and
     approximately a further $0.8 million in restricted cash holdings in support of
     performance guarantees for the various licences including the minimum work
     obligations in Uruguay ($0.5 million) for which the work has been
     substantially completed as at the date of this report.

     On 30 August 2023 the Group announced establishment of a £3.3 million
     convertible loan note funding facility of which £0.55 million has initially
     been drawn down, with future drawdown of the remainder at the Group's option,
     subject to certain drawdown conditions. This facility provides the Group with
     cash resources to cover the funding requirements of the Group and bridge any
     funding gaps over the course of the next 12 months.

     In addition, The Group has several high-probability sources of cash inflows
     expected over the next 12 months to enable the Group to continue as a going
     concern for the foreseeable future. These include:

     1.        Contracted proceeds from sale of Cory Moruga licence in
     Trinidad.

     In December 2022, the Group announced the sale of Cory Moruga licence onshore
     Trinidad and Tobago for a consideration of up to US$3 million of which US$1
     million is payable upon completion, US$1 million in six months from completion
     and a further US$1 million contingent upon Cory Moruga field achieving 100
     barrels of oil per day production. Cory Moruga licence is presently a dormant
     licence with previously discovered and tested oil resource. The sale is fully
     documented and not subject to any conditions to completion other than consent
     from the Trinidadian Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries ("MEEI"), which
     remains outstanding. The Group, in conjunction with the acquirer, have been in
     discussions with MEEI and anticipates consent being obtained and completion of
     the sale transaction by the end of 2023. A successful completion would result
     in the Group receiving US$2 million in cash consideration within six months
     from completion.

     2.        Potential inflows from successful farm-out of the AREA OFF-1
     licence in Uruguay.

     The Group has been in discussions with various industry participants in
     relation to potential farm-out / partnership options for the AREA OFF-1
     licence in Uruguay. In June 2023, a formal adviser-led process was commenced
     with the objective of securing an industry partner to farm-out the AREA OFF-1
     licence by the end of 2023. In the event of a successful farm-out, the Group
     expects certain upfront cash consideration, consistent with typical
     transactions of this nature in the international oil and gas industry. The
     Group is confident that a farm-out transaction can be successfully achieved in
     this timeframe, because (i) multiple high-quality energy majors are presently
     engaged in the farm-out process, undertaking due diligence as at the date of
     this report; (ii) the Group's technical work to-date has resulted in
     identification and definition of three prospects with an estimated recoverable
     resource of approximately 2 billion barrels (Pmean) and up to 5 billion
     barrels in an upside case (P10) establishing that AREA OFF-1 is a high-quality
     asset of scale, material to any player in the global industry, and (iii) the
     Directors consider successful completion of the farm-out process to be highly
     probable in light of the recent industry developments - namely significant
     offshore discoveries in Namibia (Uruguay is considered to be geological mirror
     of the offshore Namibia basins), and substantial industry interest in offshore
     Uruguay acreage in the past 12 months, evidenced by licencing activity in the
     recent Uruguayan licencing rounds that has resulted in all available acreage
     now having been awarded to industry majors (Shell, APA Corporation and YPF)
     along with several other interested global oil majors not securing any
     acreage.

     3.        Sale of other non-core assets

     The Group is also in discussions in relation to the potential sale of other
     non-core assets in its portfolio. A successful completion of any transaction
     of this nature would result in the Group receiving cash consideration, thus
     increasing its available cash resources.

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE INTERIM PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2023
(CONTINUED)

 

 1  Basis of preparation (continued)

Going Concern (continued)

In addition to the above, the Director notes that the Group is a publicly
listed company on a recognised stock exchange, thus affording the ability to
raise capital equity, debt and/or hybrid financing alternatives as and when
the need arises. The Group has a robust track record in this regard, having
raised in excess of US$100 million in equity and alternative financing in the
past five years. Based on the Group's attractive asset portfolio and history
of capital raising, the Directors are of the view that if required (i.e., in
the event sources of cash inflows discussed above do not materialise as and
when expected) the Group will be able to source fresh capital on short notice.
As such, the Director has prepared the financial statements on a going concern
basis and consider it to be reasonable.

 

 2    Other income and Finance income
      Other income and Finance income predominantly comprise discounts secured from

    the Group's historical creditors and a secured financier, as part of
      negotiated settlements agreed pursuant to the Group's restructuring and
      recapitalisation exercise.

 3    Turnover and segmental analysis
      Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed
      by the Board of Directors that are used to make strategic decisions. The Board
      has determined there is a single operating segment: oil and gas exploration,
      development and production. However, there are four geographical segments:
      Trinidad & Tobago & Suriname including a single operating segment and
      a separate disposal group for the period ended 30 June 2023 (refer to note 7),
      The Bahamas (operating), Uruguay (operating) and The Isle of Man, UK, Spain,
      Saint Lucia, Cyprus, Netherlands & USA (all non-operating).

      The segment including Trinidad & Tobago has been reported as the Group's
      direct oil and gas producing and revenue generating operating segment. The
      Bahamas segment includes the Bahamian exploration licences on which drilling
      activities were conducted in 2020 and 2021. The Uruguay segment includes the
      exploration licences and appraisal works which have commenced in 2022. The
      non-operating segment including the Isle of Man (the Group's parent), which
      provides management service to the Group and entities in Saint Lucia, Cyprus,
      Spain, the Netherlands, and the U.S.A. all of which are non-operating in that
      they either hold investments, or are dormant. Their results are consolidated
      and reported on together as a single segment. As part of an ongoing group wide
      rationalisation plan there is an ongoing process to wind up a number of
      companies in the Group in Spain, Cyprus and the USA.

 

 Six months to 30 June 2023                                     Trinidad & Suriname Operating      Trinidad &                                               Total

                                                                                                   St Lucia         Bahamas     Uruguay     Non-Operating

                                                                                                   Disposal group   Operating   Operating   Entities (*)
                                                                $'000                              $'000            $'000       $'000       $'000           $'000
 Operating profit/(loss) by geographical area
 Net petroleum revenue (**)                                     1,884                              -                -           -           -               1,884
 Operating profit/(loss)                                        (2,319)                            -                (32)        (3)         (1,774)         (4,128)
 Other income                                                   5                                  -                21          -           -               26
 Finance (costs) / income, net                                  (85)                               -                -           -           (3)             (88)
 Profit/(loss) before taxation                                  (2,399)                            -                (11)        (3)         (1,777)         (4,190)
 Other information

 Loss after tax for the year from discontinued operations

                                                                -                                  1,934            -           -           -               1,934
 Depreciation, amortisation and impairment                      (828)                              -                (1)         -           (24)            (853)
 Capital additions                                              32                                 -                -           583         5               620
 Segment assets
 Tangible and intangible assets                                 18,734                             -                93,964      798         5,122           118,618
 Deferred tax asset                                             7,418                              -                -           -           -               7,418
 Escrow and abandonment funds                                   1,575                              -                -           -           -               1,575
 Trade and other receivables                                    2,192                              -                500         -           63              2,755
 Inventories                                                    221                                -                -           -           -               221
 Restricted cash                                                301                                -                -           -           526             827
 Cash                                                           638                                -                2           -           1,005           1,645
 Assets held for sale                                           -                                  1,114            -           -           -               1,114
 Consolidated total assets                                      31,079                             1,114            94,466      798         6,716           134,173
 Segment liabilities
 Trade and other payables                                       (6,385)                            -                (1,051)     -           (864)           (8,300)
 Deferred tax liability                                         (7,459)                            -                -           -           -               (7,459)
 Lease liabilities                                              -                                  -                -           -           -               -
 Provisions                                                     (3,224)                            -                -           -           (2,433)         (5,657)
 Liabilities directly associated with the assets held for sale

                                                                -                                  (4,364)          -           -           -               (4,364)
 Consolidated total liabilities                                 (17,068)                           (4,364)          (1,051)     -           (3,297)         (25,780)

 

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE INTERIM PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2023
(CONTINUED)

 

 3  Turnover and segmental analysis (continued)

 

 Six months to 30 June 2022                    Operating                Operating                  Total

                                                                                   Non-Operating

                                                                                   Entities (*)
                                               Trinidad & Suriname      Bahamas
                                               $'000                    $'000      $'000           $'000
 Operating profit/(loss) by geographical area
 Net petroleum revenue (**)                    2,680                    -          -               2,680

 Operating profit/(loss)                       (1,316)                  (127)      (4,497)         (5,940)
 Other income                                  1,937                    -          6,630           8,567
 Finance (charges)                             (86)                     -          (189)           (275)
 Finance income                                1                        -          1,926           1,927
 Profit/(loss) before taxation                 536                      (127)      3,870           4,279
 Other information
 Depreciation, amortisation and impairment     1,079                    5          18              1,102
 Capital additions                             203                      -          8               211
 Segment assets
 Tangible and intangible assets                22,196                   93,971     4,712           120,879
 Deferred tax asset                            6,998                    -          -               6,998
 Abandonment fund                              1,601                    -          -               1,601
 Trade and other receivables                   3,860                    516        1,052           5,428
 Inventories                                   270                      -          -               270
 Restricted cash                               380                      -          54              434
 Cash                                          986                      4          4,318           5,308
 Consolidated total assets                     36,291                   94,491     10,136          140,918
 Segment liabilities
 Trade and other payables                      (9,704)                  (1,049)    (1,232)         (11,985)
 Borrowings                                    (224)                    -          -               (224)
 Deferred tax liability                        (7,009)                  -          -               (7,009)
 Lease liabilities                             -                        (21)       (6)             (27)
 Provisions                                    (3,825)                  -          (2,339)         (6,164)
 Consolidated total liabilities                (20,762)                 (1,070)    (3,577)         (25,409)

 

 

 

 

(*) Intercompany balances and transactions between Group entities have been
eliminated.

(**) Sales revenues were derived from a single customer within each of these
operating countries.

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE INTERIM PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2023
(CONTINUED)

 

 4   Intangible assets - Group
                                                 Goodwill  Exploration & evaluation assets
                                                 $ 000's   $ 000's
     Cost
     As at 1 January 2022                        7,045     96,832
     Additions                                   -         282
     Reclassifications                           -         2,924
     As at 31 December 2022                      7,045     100,038
     Additions                                   -         583
     Foreign exchange difference on translation  -         3
     As at 30 June 2023                          7,045     100,624

     Accumulated amortisation and impairment
     As at 1 January 2022                        2,435     2,427
     Amortisation                                -         27
     Reclassifications                           -         2,924
     As at 31 December 2022                      2,435     5,378
     Amortisation                                -         13
     Foreign exchange difference on translation  -         2
     As at 30 June 2023                          2,345     5,393

     Net book value
     As at 30 June 2023                          4,610     95,231
     As at 31 December 2022                      4,610     94,660
     As at 31 December 2021                      4,610     94,405

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE INTERIM PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2023
(CONTINUED)

 5  Tangible assets
                                                    Oil and gas assets  Property, plant and equipment (*)  Decommissioning costs  Total
                                                    $ 000's             $ 000's                            $ 000's                $ 000's
    Cost or Valuation
    As at 1 January 2022                            28,303              2,013                              2,225                  32,541
    Additions                                       128                 498                                1,307                  1,933
    Disposals                                       (133)               (400)                              -                      (533)
    Assets held for sale                            (7,013)             -                                  (844)                  (7,857)
    Reclassifications                               15,563              5,404                              226                    21,193
    Foreign exchange difference on translation      -                   (146)                              -                      (146)
    As at 31 December 2022                          36,848              7,369                              2,914                  47,131
    Additions                                       9                   28                                 -                      37
    Reclassifications                               -                   (201)                              -                      (201)
    Foreign exchange difference on translation      15                  36                                 2                      53
    As at 30 June 2023                              36,872              7,232                              2,916                  47,020

    Accumulated depreciation and Impairment
    At 1 January 2022                               7,294               751                                1,748                  9,793
    Depreciation                                    1,720               285                                230                    2,335
    Disposals                                       (88)                (286)                              -                      (374)
    Impairment                                      2,201               -                                  88                     2,289
    Assets held for sale                            (6,679)             -                                  (738)                  (7,417)
    Reclassifications                               15,563              5,404                              226                    21,193
    Foreign exchange difference on translation      -                   (145)                              1                      (144)
    At 31 December 2022                             20,011              6,009                              1,555                  27,575
    Depreciation                                    632                 149                                60                     841
    Reclassifications                               -                   (201)                              -                      (201)
    Foreign exchange difference on translation      (6)                 34                                 -                      28
    As at 30 June 2023                              20,637              5,991                              1,615                  28,243

    Net book value
    As at 30 June 2023                              16,235              1,241                              1,301                  18,777
    As at 31 December 2022                          16,837              1,360                              1,359                  19,556
    As at 31 December 2021                          21,009              1,262                              477                    22,748

 

(*) Property, plant and equipment includes leasehold improvements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE INTERIM PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2023
(CONTINUED)

 

 6   Right of use assets
                                                 Group leased properties  Group motor vehicles  Total Group
                                                 $ 000's                  $ 000's               $ 000's
     Cost
     As at 1 January 2022                        484                      32                    516

     Disposals                                   (406)                    -                     (406)
     Reclassifications                           60                       -                     60
     As at 31 December 2022                      138                      32                    170
     Reclassifications                           (59)                     -                     (59)
     Foreign exchange difference on translation  -                        -                     -
     As at 30 June 2023                          79                       32                    111

     Accumulated depreciation
     As at 1 January 2022                        470                      32                    502
     Depreciation                                14                       -                     14
     Disposals                                   (406)                    -                     (406)
     Reclassifications                           60                       -                     60
     As at 31 December 2022                      138                      32                    170
     Reclassifications                           (59)                     -                     (59)
     Foreign exchange difference on translation  -                        -                     -
     As at 30 June 2023                          79                       32                    111

     Net book value
     As at 30 June 2023                          -                        -                     -
     As at 31 December 2022                      -                        -                     -
     As at 31 December 2021                      14                       -                     14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 (CONTINUED)

 

 7  Discontinued operations

 

 At balance sheet date the following asset sale is considered to be active and
 highly probable of taking place:

 Sale of T-Rex (Cory Moruga asset):

 On 20 December 2022 the Company announced that it had entered into a binding
 heads of terms with Predator Oil & Gas Holdings Plc, providing for the
 conditional sale of the Company's interest in the non-producing Cory Moruga
 licence in Trinidad though the sale of 100% of the share capital in T-Rex
 Resources (Trinidad) Limited (TREX), with retention of 25% future back-in
 right (at the Company's option) based on the outcomes of future drilling / EOR
 activity and associated future production.

 Subsequently, on 8 March 2023 confirmed that the confirmatory due diligence
 process was finalised and both parties had entered into fully termed long form
 legal documentation.

 The completion of the Transaction is conditional on consent of
 the Trinidadian Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries ("MEEI") to a
 revised work programme for the Cory Moruga licence and restructuring of
 certain licence terms. The parties have agreed to work together to secure the
 required consents and agreements with MEEI and thus achieve completion of the
 Transaction as soon as reasonably practicable.

 Accordingly, T-Rex Resources (Trinidad) Limited continues to form a separate
 disposal group and has been classified as assets held of sale at 30 June 2023.

 The results for this disposal group are presented below:

Income statement                           $ 000's
 Administration expenses                    (262)
 Operating foreign exchange gains/(losses)  (2)
 Finance costs                              (6)
                       (270)

 

 The major classes of assets and liabilities of the combined disposal group
 classified as held for sale at 31 December are presented below:

Assets                       $ 000's
 Trade and other receivables  1,114
                1,114
 Liabilities
 Trade and other payables     (3,162)
 Provisions                   (1,202)
                (4,364)

 

The major classes of assets and liabilities of the combined disposal group
classified as held for sale at 31 December are presented below:

 

 Assets                       $ 000's
 Trade and other receivables  1,114
                              1,114
 Liabilities
 Trade and other payables     (3,162)
 Provisions                   (1,202)
                              (4,364)

 

Sale of CREX:

 

During the reporting period an asset sale took place resulting in the loss of
control over CREX.

 

On 14 February 2023 the Company announced publicly (via RNS) it had entered
into and completed a transaction for the sale of its St Lucia domiciled
subsidiary company, Caribbean Rex Limited (CREX) which included its
associated assets and subsidiary entities. This includes (via interposed
subsidiaries) CEG South Erin Trinidad Limited ("CSETL" a Trinidadian company
that is party to a farm-out agreement for, and is the operator of, the South
Erin field, onshore Trinidad) and West Indian Energy Group Limited (a
Trinidadian service company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 (CONTINUED)

 

 7  Discontinued operations (continued)

 

Consideration was received in cash during the period. At the date of the
disposal the carrying amounts of CREX net assets were as follows:

 

 Assets                                                   $ 000's
 Cash and cash equivalents                                6
 Restricted cash                                          89
 Trade and other receivables                              115
 Property, plant and equipment and decommissioning costs  402
 Abandonment fund                                         106
 Deferred Tax Asset                                       201
 Total assets                                             919
 Liabilities
 Trade and other payables                                 (989)
 Provisions                                               (808)
 Borrowings                                               (181)
 Deferred tax liability                                   (201)
 Total liabilities                                        (2,179)
 Total net liability                                      (1,260)
 Total consideration received in cash                     1,200
 Less cash and cash equivalents disposed of               (6)
 Net cash received                                        1,194
 Gain on disposal*                                        2,454

 

 

 Reconciliation to gain from discontinued operations:

 Gain on disposal (as above)                                                     2,454

 Less losses resulting from T-Rex Resources (Trinidad) Limited for the period    (270)
 Less losses resulting from CREX and subsidiaries for the period up to disposal  (250)
 date
 Gain after tax for the year from discontinued operations                        1,934

 

 

*The gain on disposal is included in the loss for the year from discontinued
operations in the consolidated statement of profit or loss.

 

The net cash flows incurred by the combined disposal group are, as follows:

                              $ 000's
 Operating                    289
 Investing                    1,191
 Financing                    (9)
 Net cash (outflow) / inflow  1,471

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE INTERIM PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2023
(CONTINUED)

 

 8  Trade and other payables

 

     The trade and other payables (including accruals) include dues, amounting to
     approximately $2.5 million in aggregate, that are considered to be of a
     routine working capital nature, and that are being settled in the ordinary
     course of business and / or under certain agreed payment plans. The remainder
     of trade and other payables include:

     i)         approximately $3.2 million is in respect of taxes in
     Trinidad and Tobago that the Group expects to settle by way of offset against
     tax refunds due to the Group in Trinidad and Tobago ($1.4 million, included
     under 'Trade and other receivables'). The balance amount relates to a notional
     estimate of penalties that apply in accordance with the tax laws in Trinidad
     and Tobago - as at the date of this report these are notional estimates only
     and have not been levied or assessed, and the Group does not expect that they
     will be levied or assessed and that ultimately no cash payment will be
     required as the Group had claimed the benefit of a tax amnesty during the 2021
     tax amnesty period implemented by the Trinidad and Tobago tax authorities,
     with the final resolution of this matter remaining pending; and

     ii)             approximately $2.6 million is in respect of
     various other dues comprising, i) $0.5 million is in respect of potential
     insurance "top-up" exposure, due to the ultimate cost of the Perseverance-1
     well in The Bahamas exceeding the initial estimated cost - however, as at the
     date of this report, the matter remains pending resolution with the insurers,
     ii) $0.6 million is in respect of accrued licence fee which the Group expects
     to offset against $0.5 million refundable advances (included in trade and
     other receivables) resulting in no material incremental cash exposure to the
     Group, iii) $0.4 million in advances towards a work programme undertaken by a
     third-party for which a settlement agreement has been reached as part of the
     sale of Cory Moruga asset (pending completion) resulting in no cash exposure
     to the Group, and iv) $1.1 million in relation to legacy accruals recognised
     in the financial statements which the Group does not expect to crystalise for
     a foreseeable future and expects to be written-back following lapse of the
     relevant statute of limitation period.

 

 9   Share capital - Group & Company
     Called up, allotted, issued and fully paid ordinary shares of 0.0002p each  Number of shares  Nominal value  Share premium
                                                                                                   $ 000's        $ 000's

     At 1 January 2022                                                           796,522,914       218            171,734
     Shares issued at average price of 0.1p per share                            691,401,490       185            739
     Shares issued at average price of 0.1p per share                            3,480,645,475     919            3,366
     Shares issued at average price of 0.1p per share                            4,651,629,600     1,218          4,433
      At 31 December 2022                                                        9,620,199,479     2,540          180,240
     At 1 January 2023                                                           9,620,199,479     2,540          180,240
     At 30 June 2023                                                             9,620,199,479     2,540          180,240
                                                                                 Number of shares  Nominal value  Share premium
                                                                                                   $ 000's        $ 000's

     At 31 December 2021                                                         796,522,914       218            171,734
     As 31 December 2022                                                         9,620,199,279     2,450          180,240
     At 30 June 2023                                                             9,620,199,479     2,540          180,240

 

 At the end of the period, the number of shares in issue comprised 9,620
 million ordinary shares (2022: 9,620million).

 During the prior period, transaction costs for issued share capital totalled
 $748,777, these amounts were allocated to share premium.

 The total authorised number of ordinary shares at 30 June 2023 was
 50,000,000,000 shares with a par value of 0.02 pence per share (2022:
 50,000,000,000 shares of 0.02 pence per share).  All issued shares of 0.02
 pence are fully paid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE INTERIM PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2023
(CONTINUED)

 

 

 10  Share based payments reserve

Options and warrants

 

Share options have been granted to Directors, selected employees and
consultants to the Company.

The Group had no legal or constructive obligation to repurchase or settle any
options in cash.  Movements in the number of share options and warrants
outstanding during the year are as follows:

 

                                   Average exercise price per share  No. Options & Warrants
     At 1 January 2023             0.24p                             1,388,473,911
     Expired                       -                                 -
     Cancelled                     0.19p                             (136,000,000)
     Granted                       -                                 -
     Exercised                     -                                 -
     As at 30 June 2023            0.25p                             1,252,473,911
     Exercisable at end of period  -                                 -

 

The fair value of the warrants and options granted in the period was estimated
using the Black Scholes model.

 

 11  Events after reporting date

     On 30 August 2023 the Company announced:

     i)      the establishment of a £3.3 million convertible loan note
     funding facility of which £0.55 million has initially been drawn down, with
     future drawdown of the remainder at the Group's option;

     ii)     a mutually agreed extension to the long stop date for the
     completion of the sale of T-Rex Resources (Trinidad) Limited (Cory Moruga
     asset) to 30 November 2023 to allow the parties to continue ongoing
     discussions with the Trinidadian Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries
     ("MEEI") with a view to securing MEEI's consent required for the completion of
     the transaction; and

     iii)    the relinquishment of the Group's Weg Naar Zee block onshore
     Suriname by way of an agreement with Hydrocarbon Institute, the Surinamese
     hydrocarbons industry regulator ("SHI"), to terminate the Suriname Weg Naar
     Zee Production Sharing Contract ("WNZ PSC") between Columbus Energy Resources
     South America B.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and Staatsolie
     Maatschappij Suriname N.V., the Surinamese state-owned oil & gas company
     ("Staatsolie").

 

 12  Other Information

     The comparative financial information set out in this report does not
     constitute the Group's statutory accounts for the period ended 31 December
     2022 but is derived from those accounts.

     A copy of this interim statement is available on the Company's website:
     www.cegplc.com (http://www.cegplc.com)

 

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