28th Oct 2014 07:00
Press Release | 28 October 2014 |
Urals Energy PCL
(''Urals Energy'' or the ''Company'')
Completion of tanker loading
Update on Petraco loan
Urals Energy PCL (AIM:UEN), the independent exploration and production company with operations in Russia, is pleased to announce that the planned annual tanker shipment for export from Arcticneft on Kolguyev Island has been completed successfully. The tanker left Kolguyev Island on 23 October 2014 with 26,093 tons of crude (an equivalent of 207,940 barrels).
The sharp fall in Brent oil prices in October 2014 and the continuing depreciation of the Russian Rouble have resulted in lower netback for export sales of oil from Russia. The average Brent price in the second half of October 2014 (the period of Arcticneft shipment) reached its lowest level for the year at US$86 per bbl (second half of October 2013: US$107 per bbl.).
Whilst marketing and transportation expenses were in line with last year, the Company's export netback has also been affected by export duty being set by reference to oil prices in September 2014.
The combined effect of these factors has been an approximate 30% decrease in the netback received by the Company on its export sales.
Petrosakh is only selling in the domestic oil market for which netback prices for oil products have been stable during the first nine months of the current year. The Company expects a seasonal increase of the product prices in the Sakhalin market for the remainder of the year. The Board believes that this will secure the Company's operating cash flows at a level sufficient to maintain operating and investment activity in 2014.
As announced on 6 June 2014, the Company entered into a secured short-term loan agreement with Petraco Oil Company Limited ("Petraco"). The re-payment date for the US$3.9 million received from Petraco under this agreement, as well as for prepayment received from Petraco for export duty settlement in the amount of US$9.8 million, is linked to the shipment of this tanker. This indebtedness is anticipated to be settled before the end of 2014 at which point Petraco's collateral over Arcticneft will be released and the Company will be entirely debt free.
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For further information, please contact:
Urals Energy Public Company Limited | |
Alexei Maximov, Chief Executive Officer | Tel: +7 495 795 0300 |
Sergey Uzornikov, Chief Financial Officer | www.uralsenergy.com |
Allenby Capital Limited Nominated Adviser and Broker | |
Nick Naylor | Tel: +44 (0) 20 3328 5656 |
Alex Price | www.allenbycapital.com |
Media enquiries:
Abchurch | |
Henry Harrison-Topham / Quincy Allan | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7398 7710 |
www.abchurch-group.com |
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