Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas
Eco Atlantic has announced its results for the three and six month periods ended 30 September 2023.
Highlights:
Financials (as at 30 September 2023)
· The Company had cash and cash equivalents of US$3.85 million and no debt.
· The Company had total assets of US$51.0 million, total liabilities of US$1.71 million and total equity of US$49.30 million.
Operations:
Guyana
· On 10 August 2023, the Company signed a Sale Purchase Agreement for its wholly owned subsidiary, Eco Guyana Oil and Gas (Barbados) Limited to acquire a 60% Operated Interest in Orinduik Block, offshore Guyana, through the acquisition of Tullow Guyana B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tullow Oil Plc. in exchange for a combination of upfront cash and contingent consideration (the “Transaction”).
Post-period end:
· On 15 November 2023, Eco announced that the Company had received Government approval for the transfer of 60% Working Interest and Operatorship in the offshore Orinduik Block in Guyana from the Minister of Natural Resources, Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
· On 21 November 2023, the Company announced completion of the Transaction, upon which Eco became the designated Operator of the Orinduik Block and increase its aggregate Participating Interest to 75%, held via Eco Orinduik B.V. (60%) and Eco (Atlantic) Guyana Inc (15%). TOQAP Guyana B.V continues to hold a Participating Interest of 25%.
· A formal farm-out process for the Orinduik Block has commenced and the Company expects to provide further updates in due course.
South Africa
Block 3B/4B
· On 17 July 2023, the Company issued 1,200,000 shares to the Lunn Family Trust in place of the US$500,000 cash consideration due in respect of the acquisition of the 6.25% interest in Block3B/4B from the Lunn Family Trust as previously announced on 27 June 2022.
· On 11 July 2023, the Company signed a legally binding Letter of Intent with Africa Oil to farm out a 6.25% Participating Interest in Block 3B/4B, offshore South Africa for up to US$10.5 million in cash. On 14 August 2023, the parties signed the final Assignment and Transfer agreement. Additional US$2.5m cash consideration is expected to be received upon Government of SA approval of the transfer, with the initial consideration of US$2.5m already having been received.
· Government of SA approval and therefore the $2.5m cash payment from Africa Oil are expected to be received by year end 2023.
· The JV partners continue to progress a farm-out, in conjunction with preparations for a two well drilling campaign on the Block. Further updates will be made as appropriate.
Block 2B
· Eco has applied for a Production Right Application to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa, for Block 2B, and continues to assess opportunities available to deliver value from this licence for the benefit of stakeholders.
Namibia
· Following media reports that significant multi-well drilling campaigns are about to be undertaken offshore Namibia, Eco continues to receive third party interest in its strategic acreage position offshore Namibia.
· The Company continues to assess farm out opportunities with its four licences in the region as it considers options for progressing exploration and commercial activity on its acreage.
Board Changes:
· Post period end, on October 9, 2023, the Company announced the appointment of Miss Alice Carroll and Miss Selma Usiku as executive and non-executive directors respectively of the Company with immediate effect, with Helmut Angula retiring from the Board.
Gil Holzman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Atlantic, commented:
“We have made progress on all fronts across our exploration portfolio in 2023. The most notable development was the acquisition of a 60% Working Interest in the Orinduik Block, offshore Guyana, from a subsidiary of Tullow Oil Plc. This transaction made Eco the Operator of the licence and brings our total stake in the Block to 75%. We have already commenced with a farm-out process and opened a data room, receiving early interest from a number of multi-national oil and gas companies.
“Also, offshore South Africa, we continue to progress plans for a two-well campaign on Block 3B/4B in parallel to continuing farm-out discussions with various large industry partners. In Namibia, we continue to receive incoming interest with regard to our highly strategic acreage position, which has increased following recent media reports of multi-well drilling campaigns being lined up.
“In closing, the last two quarters of 2023 have been a highly active period for us, and we look forward to sharing further updates on the ongoing farm out workstreams and drilling plans with our stakeholders as and when we are in a position to do so.”
These are historic figures and show nothing that we haven’t already heard of before, specifically the numbers are of no significance for Eco Atlantic.
I am much more excited by the recent news from the company and there is clearly much going on. Obviously the fact that they have managed to get Tullow’s stake in Guyana off them is exciting and I expect a farm-down here before long.
Also I am excited about activity offshore South Africa and block 3B/4B which to me looks to have potentially huge upside. Finally in Namibia which is increasingly becoming one of the world’s highly sought after post codes eco appear to have an enviable hand in this card game.
All in all Eco are extremely well placed with their excellent portfolio and I expect the next few months to show that the share price is extremely undervalued.
Bullish
