Dana Gas net profit increases 41% to AED88mn in Q1 2021

SHARJAH / WAM

Dana Gas on Sunday announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31. Net profit was up by 41 percent in Q1 2021 reaching $24 million (AED88 million) as compared to $17 million (AED62 million) in Q1 2020.
The increase in net profit was the result of improved revenues from higher production in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), and a reduction in finance cost due to lower borrowings in Q1 2021 as compared to Q1 2020, the company said in a statement on Sunday.
Revenue was $106 million (AED389 million), 2 percent higher compared to $104 million (AED382 million) in Q1 2020. The improved performance was mainly due to a 9 percent production increase in
the KRI.
Realised price averaged $44/bbl for condensate and $33/boe for LPG compared
to $41/bbl and $30/boe
respectively in Q1 2020.
Dr Patrick Allman-Ward, CEO of Dana Gas, commented, “Dana Gas has delivered a strong quarter with robust operational performance, continuing the positive momentum from the previous period. In the KRI we are moving ahead with our expansion plans to significantly boost production from 440 MMscf/d to 690 MMscf/d by April 2023. This will contribute positively to our top and bottom line.
“We remain fully committed to managing our producing assets in Egypt for the benefit of all our stakeholders and focusing on evaluating the exciting potential of our offshore Block 6 Concession Area as quickly as possible.”
Group production in Q1 2021 averaged 64,900 boepd, a 2 percent increase as compared to 63,650 boepd in Q1 2020. The first quarter production increase was driven by the KRI, which grew by 9 percent to 35,300 boepd from 32,400 boepd, building on the significant production increase in Q4 2020 after the Khor Mor plant by-pass project was completed in July 2020. Production in Egypt declined by 5 percent to 29,050 boepd, which was more than offset by the increase in production in KRI.
In the KRI, Pearl Petroleum – the company consortium operated by Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum – fully resumed the expansion project at the Khor Mor field. The first gas train will add 250 million cubic feet per day of much-needed additional gas production to supply the local power stations.
The project construction work had been put on hold due to the Covid pandemic but is now on track for a new target start date of April 2023, after agreement to lift the force majeure. The KM250 expansion project involves a further investment by Pearl of $600 million to boost output by almost 60 percent.
Last month, Dana Gas announced its decision to retain and operate its onshore assets in Egypt alongside the highly prospective Block 6.
The company is currently evaluating its Block 6 Concession Area for drilling an exploration well as soon as possible
“We maintained our strong financial position, with increased production from the KRI and lower financing costs following the repayment of the company’s outstanding sukuk in Q4 2020. I am pleased that we maintained the dividend to shareholders, for the fourth consecutive year, despite adverse economic conditions,” Dana Gas CEO concluded.