Seplat Optimistic Of Oil Industry Turnaround Despite Falling Prices

Seplat Petroleum Development Co Plc, yesterday said it was optimistic about the oil industry’s future outlook despite the weak market prices.

The firm reported a 6.5 percent fall in 2019 revenue to USD697.8 million due to both lower production and commodity prices.

However, pre-tax profit increased by 13 percent to USD270.3 million, with Seplat saying its low-cost production profile meant it can remain profitable even at low oil prices.

Seplat is paying a final dividend of USD0.05 per share for 2019 as against USD0.15 in 2018.

Production in 2019 fell 6.8 percent to 46,498 barrels of oil equivalent per day, with the average realised oil price down 8.2 percent at USD64.40 per barrel and the gas price 3.4 percent lower at USD2.84 per million square feet.

The Covid-19 outbreak has sent oil prices plummeting, heading below the USD30 per barrel mark. Brent was at USD25.96 per barrel yesterday at midday.

Looking ahead, Seplat has steadied production between 47,000 barrels and 57,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

“The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2020, as well as pressure on oil prices in March, have placed a premium on solid financial management that focuses upon low-cost production, robust cash management, a strong balance sheet and focused investment in high-return projects for sustainable future growth,” said Seplat.

“The business is hedged against low oil prices and a significant proportion of our revenue now comes from gas, which offers further protection from oil price volatility. The company has low production costs and can remain profitable even at lower oil prices.

“We have significant cash resources available and will manage our finances prudently in 2020, expecting now to invest just USD100 million of capital expenditure – USD50 million spent in first-quarter 2020 – with a target of three new wells across our portfolio. We will also continue to focus on our investments in gas and the completion of the ANOH project remains a major priority,” it continued.

ANOH is a gas processing plant Seplat is building alongside Nigeria’s National Gas Co.