Lagos, Nigeria – Oando PLC (referred to as “Oando” or the “Group”), Nigeria’s leading indigenous energy group listed on both the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchange, today announced audited results for the twelve months period ended December 31, 2018.
Commenting on the results Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando PLC said:
“Our 2018 results demonstrate the solid foundation we have built across volatile commodity price cycles, and our ability to deliver profitability despite a challenging local operating environment. Over the last few years, we have developed a reliable platform for future growth through the execution of a corporate strategy designed to streamline our operations, reduce our debt and optimize our asset portfolio. Our asset base is delivering strong free cash flows as evidenced by a 70% reduction in our Upstream Borrowings since the closure of our landmark acquisition of ConocoPhillips’s Nigerian asset in 2014. We remain confident in our ability to deliver significant value to shareholders in the years ahead as well as resuming our dividend payments”.
RESULTS HIGHLIGHTS
Strong top and bottom line performance
- Turnover increased by 37%, N679.5 billion compared to N497.4 billion (FYE 2017), driven by higher commodity prices and higher oil production.
- Gross Profit increased by 9%, N96.3 billion compared to N88.1 billion (FYE 2017)
- Profit-After-Tax increased by 46%, N28.8 billion compared to N19.8 billion (FYE 2017)
Optimized balance sheet
- Total Group Borrowings decreased by 11%, N210.9 billion compared to N237.4 billion (FYE 2017) while Long Term Group Borrowings decreased by 23%, N76.8 billion compared to N 99.6 billion (FYE 2017).
OPERATIONS REVIEW
Upstream:
Production for the twelve months ended 31 December 2018:
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, production was in line with prior year at 40,023boe/day, compared with 40,188boe/day in the same period of 2017. Oil production in particular increased by 10% from 15,492bbls/day in 2017 to 16,967bbls/day in 2018.
Working interest 2P Reserves, as assessed by an independent reserves evaluator, stood at 479.8mmboe as at December 31, 2018 compared to 470.7mmboe in the comparative prior year period. This represents an increase in overall 2P reserves of 2% year on year in line with the Group’s reserve replacement ratio.
Capital expenditure of $104.9 million (N38.0 billion) were incurred in the twelve months of 2018 compared to $55.0 million (N17.1 billion) in same period in 2017. This consists of $109.2 million (N39.5 billion) at OMLs 60 to 63, $0.5 million (N181 million) at Qua Ibo, $5.7 million (N2.1 billion) write-back at OML 56, and $0.9 million (N325.8 million) on other exploration assets.
Downstream:
Traded volumes for the twelve months ended 31 December 2018
In 2018, Oando Trading traded over 14 million barrels of crude oil under various contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well as delivering 739,876 MT of refined products, acting as a key source of liquidity to the Oando Group. Oando Trading continues to solidify its relationships with leading international and local banks, maintaining a sizeable and well diversified structured Trade Finance facilities required to support future growth.
FINANCE REVIEW
Revenue
Revenue for the period was N679.5 billion, an increase of 37% compared to the same period in 2017 (N497.4 billion). This was primarily driven by an increase in commodity prices and higher oil production.
In the twelve months to December 31, 2018, gross sales price for oil increased by 33% to $69.44/bbl from $52.10/bbl in the same period in 2017. Sale price for natural gas increased by 27%, whilst NGL declined by 4%.
Gross Profit
Gross Profit for the period was N96.3 billion, an increase of 9% compared to the same period in 2017 (N88.1 billion). The increase is primarily driven by higher revenue as a result of higher commodity prices and higher oil production.
Profit-After-Tax
Profit-After-Tax for the period was N28.8 billion, an increase of 46% compared to the same period in 2017 (N19.8 billion). This was primarily driven by higher revenue as well as income tax credits.
Borrowings
Total Group Borrowings for the period stood at N210.9 billion, an 11% decrease from FYE 2017 (N237.4 billion) whilst in our upstream specifically, our borrowings reduced by 21% to $255.6 million compared to $324.6 million in FYE 2017. Since FYE 2014, the Group has reduced its debt by 55% from N473.3 billion while our upstream borrowings have reduced by approximately 70% from $801.6 million in 2014 to $260 million (FYE 2018).
LOOK AHEAD
Brent averaged $62 per barrel in the first quarter of 2019, with room for a further upside supported by OPEC’s 1.2 million b/d cut. Our upstream business will continue to pursue production growth initiatives through strategic alliances, whilst ensuring operational efficiency and fiscal prudence.
Our Trading business will continue to solidify its position in Nigeria and carry out growth initiatives, whilst exploring opportunities for expansion across Africa.
The Group as a whole remains focused on driving profitability via growth in our upstream business and achieving further reduction of borrowings to ensure value accretion to shareholders.
Ends.
