VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Africa Energy
Corp. (TSXV: AFE) (Nasdaq First North: AEC) ("Africa Energy" or
the "Company"), an oil and gas company with exploration assets
offshore South Africa and
Namibia, announces financial and
operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. View PDF version.
Garrett Soden, the Company's
President and CEO, commented: "We are very enthusiastic about the
potential value of Block 11B/12B, both from
the proposed development of the Paddavissie Fairway and from the
large exploration upside remaining across the block. We look
forward to TotalEnergies concluding gas price negotiations with the
government and applying for a production license by next September.
On Block 2B, we expect Azinam to fund
the escrow account and contract a rig by the end of the year,
according to the terms of our farmout agreement, in order to drill
the Gazania well before the license expires next November."
OUTLOOK
On Block 11B/12B, the Company and its joint venture partners
are contemplating an early production system ("EPS") for a phased
development of the Paddavissie Fairway. The joint venture is
currently performing development studies and preparing a field
development plan and an environmental application with the
intention of agreeing gas terms and submitting an application for a
Production Right before the Exploration Right expires in
September 2022. The EPS would provide
first gas and condensate production from the Luiperd discovery and
would accelerate the Block 11B/12B development
timeline by utilizing existing nearby infrastructure on the
adjacent block in order to supply gas to existing customers in
Mossel Bay. The EPS is expected to significantly decrease the
required capital expenditures to reach first production on Block
11B/12B. The Company expects that a full development
of the Paddavissie Fairway would follow the EPS as the gas market
expands in South Africa. We are
encouraged by the ongoing analysis of the seismic data that has
identified additional prospectivity in the Paddavissie Fairway and
to the east, confirming the large exploration upside remaining
across the block. The development of Block 11B/12B will have
positive implications for the South African economy and will be
critical in facilitating the country's energy transition beyond
coal with a domestic natural gas supply.
On Block 2B, the Company and its
joint venture partners tendered for a semi-submersible rig and
completed a seabed survey in preparation for drilling the Gazania-1
well. The operator, Azinam Limited ("Azinam"), finalized the well
plan and is currently conducting negotiations with various rig
contractors to optimize the well budget and drill the Gazania-1
well before the Exploration Right expires in November 2022.
HIGHLIGHTS
- At September 30, 2021, the
Company had $11.8 million in cash and
no debt.
- The Block 11B/12B1 joint venture is conducting a
full prospect analysis from the fully-processed 2D seismic dataset
acquired by Shearwater over the eastern part of the block (7,033
linear kilometers) that was received in September 2020. The initial technical analysis
has identified multiple prospects and leads with potential direct
hydrocarbon indicators within the Kloofpadda Play Trend that are
currently being matured for potential future exploration
drilling.
- The Block 11B/12B joint venture received the final
fully-processed merged 3D data that integrates the PGS and Polarcus
surveys over the Paddavissie Fairway in the first quarter of 2021
(2,305 square kilometers from PGS and 570 square kilometers from
Polarcus). The improved quality of the fully-processed 3D volume,
resulting in higher resolution, is expected to further reduce
exploration risk. The final 3D volume has been integrated with the
drilling and testing results to facilitate development studies. The
initial technical analysis has identified multiple additional
prospects within the greater Paddavissie Fairway with amplitudes
conforming to structure that improve the potential
development.
__________________________
|
1 Africa Energy owns 49% of the
common shares and 100% of the Class B shares of Main Street 1549
Proprietary Limited, which has a 10% participating interest in the
Exploration Right for Block 11B/12B offshore South
Africa.
|
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited; thousands of US dollars, except per share
amounts)
|
Three
|
Three
|
Nine
|
Nine
|
|
Months
|
Months
|
Months
|
Months
|
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
|
Sept.
30,
|
Sept.
30,
|
Sept.
30,
|
Sept.
30,
|
|
2021
|
2020
|
2021
|
2020
|
Operating
expenses
|
555
|
1,138
|
3,634
|
3,553
|
Net loss
|
(582)
|
(1,098)
|
(3,623)
|
(3,558)
|
Net loss per share
(basic and diluted)
|
(0.00)
|
(0.00)
|
(0.00)
|
(0.00)
|
Weighted average
number of shares outstanding (basic and diluted)
|
1,395,923
|
798,067
|
1,395,597
|
779,309
|
Number of shares
outstanding
|
1,395,923
|
883,940
|
1,395,923
|
883,940
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows provided
by (used in) operations
|
(708)
|
(698)
|
(3,504)
|
(2,363)
|
Cash flows provided
by (used in) investing
|
(1,232)
|
(14,455)
|
(4,372)
|
(13,106)
|
Cash flows provided
by (used in) financing
|
(8)
|
27,811
|
27
|
52,295
|
Total change in cash
and cash equivalents
|
(1,980)
|
12,679
|
(7,860)
|
36,698
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in share
capital
|
-
|
28,536
|
90
|
53,467
|
Change in contributed
surplus
|
42
|
(526)
|
202
|
(144)
|
Change in
deficit
|
582
|
1,098
|
3,623
|
3,558
|
Total change in
equity
|
(540)
|
26,912
|
(3,331)
|
49,765
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2021
|
|
2020
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
11,783
|
|
19,643
|
Total
assets
|
|
240,501
|
|
244,034
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
1,594
|
|
1,796
|
Total equity
attributable to common shareholders
|
|
238,907
|
|
242,238
|
Net working
capital
|
|
10,551
|
|
18,193
|
The financial information in this table was selected from the
Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three
and nine months ended September 30,
2021 (the "Financial Statements"), which are available on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company's website at
www.africaenergycorp.com.
EARNINGS TREND AND FINANCIAL POSITION
(Unaudited; US dollars)
Operating expenses decreased by $0.6
million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to the same period
in 2020 due mainly to a reduction in professional fees, stock
exchange and filing fees related to the transactions to increase
the Company's effective interest in Block 11B/12B in the
third quarter of 2020.
Operating expenses increased by $0.1
million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to the same period
in 2020 due mainly to bonuses paid to employees in the first
quarter of 2021, almost fully offset by a reduction of stock-based
compensation and a reduction in professional fees. The reduction in
stock-based compensation was the result of no options being granted
to date in 2021. Professional fees were higher than usual in 2020
as a result of the transactions to increase the Company's effective
interest in Block 11B/12B in the third quarter of 2020.
At September 30, 2021, the Company
had cash of $11.8 million and working
capital of $10.6 million compared to
cash of $19.6 million and working
capital of $18.2 million at
December 31, 2020. The decrease in
cash and working capital can be attributed to cash-based operating
expenditures and investments in Main Street 1549 required to fund
Block 11B/12B expenditures.
NEXT EARNINGS REPORT RELEASE
The Company plans to report results for the year ended
December 31, 2021, on March 24, 2022.
About Africa Energy Corp.
Africa Energy Corp. is a Canadian oil and gas company with
exploration assets offshore South
Africa and Namibia. The
Company is listed in Toronto on
TSX Venture Exchange (ticker "AFE") and in Stockholm on Nasdaq First North Growth Market
(ticker "AEC"). Africa Energy is part of the Lundin Group of
Companies.
Important information
This is information that Africa Energy is obliged to make
public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information
was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact
persons set out above on November 9,
2021, at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The Company's certified advisor on Nasdaq First North Growth
Market is Pareto Securities AB, +46 8 402 5000,
certifiedadviser.se@paretosec.com.
Forward looking statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute
forward-looking information. These statements relate to future
events or the Company's future performance, business prospects and
opportunities, which are based on assumptions of
management.
The use of any of the words "will", "expected", "planned" and
similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not
historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking
information and are based on the Company's current belief or
assumptions as to the outcome and timing of certain future events.
These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
relating to, among other things, changes in oil prices, results of
exploration and development activities, including results, timing
and costs of seismic and drilling activity in the Company's area of
operations and, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in
title, availability of funds required to participate in the
exploration activities, or of financing on reasonable terms,
availability of materials and equipment on satisfactory terms,
outcome of commercial negotiations with government and other
regulatory authorities, timeliness of government or other
regulatory approvals, actual performance of facilities,
availability of third party service providers, equipment and
processes relative to specifications and expectations and
unanticipated environmental impacts on operations. Actual future
results may differ materially. Various assumptions or factors are
typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or
projections set out in forward-looking information. Those
assumptions and factors are based on information currently
available to the Company. The forward-looking information contained
in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is
not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the
risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors
should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The
foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking
information.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Africa Energy Corp.