RE: Demand20 Aug 2024 23:36
Rallad
They had £3.65 million in cash at the end of Dec 2023. They then raised £3million in February to support drilling operations. Giving them £6.65 million. On 8 February 2024, Baron announced the completion of the assignment of a 15% working interest in the Chuditch PSC to TIMOR GAP Chuditch Unipessoal Lda. ("TIMOR GAP"), the existing joint venture partner on the PSC and a wholly owned subsidiary of TIMOR GAP E.P. the Timor-Leste National Oil and Gas Company (the "Farm-Up").
Following completion of the Farm-Up, Baron has retained operatorship and holds a 60% working interest in the Chuditch PSC, while TIMOR GAP has a 40% interest. TIMOR GAP is responsible for paying 20% of all costs of the PSC, including the drilling of the planned Chuditch-2 appraisal well, with Baron responsible for the remaining 80%.
The Directors consider that the Farm-Up by TIMOR GAP has a value to Baron of approximately US$8.5 million made up of a reimbursement for back costs of c.US$1 million and in the offset of future spend which in 2024 is estimated to be around US$7.5 million.
A requirement of the PSC is to provide government regulator Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo ("ANP") with a security in the form of a bank guarantee. Previously, a bank guarantee to the value of US$1.0 million was provided. For PSC Contract Year Three, reflective of the increased work programme commitment, ANP has requested an increase in the total amount of the bank guarantee to US$2.5 million. As TIMOR GAP is responsible for 20% of costs in relation to the PSC, the Company's net share is US$2.0 million, a US$1.0 million increase for Baron.
The new bank guarantee has been issued by Banco Nacional de Comércio de Timor-Leste ("BNCTL"), a bank wholly owned by the government of Timor-Leste. The use of BNCTL is part of the Company's commitment to maximising local content inside Timor-Leste, but also indicative of its intent to broaden its business partnerships in-country.
The drill costs approximately $31million take away $8.5million of that will leave you to do the maths and currency price conversions.