PTR.L Regulatory News (PTR)

28 September 2016

2016 Interim Results

PetroNeft (AIM: PTR) an oil & gas exploration and production company operating in the Tomsk Oblast, Russian Federation, and 50% owner and operator of Licences 61 and 67 is pleased to report its results for the 6 months ended 30 June 2016.

Highlights

• Current gross production from Licence 61 is about 3,200 bopd.

• Represents a 39% increase in production in 2016.

• New wells drilled at South Arbuzovskoye during period drove production growth.

David Golder, Chairman of PetroNeft Resources plc, commented:

"We have had a busy year so far, with good success in growing production by almost 40% and in enhancing our understanding of Licence 61.

Given that market conditions remain challenging with little sign of improvement in oil prices in the near term, our focus continues to be on growing production, managing costs and positioning the Company for any improvement in market conditions, while we are also investigating opportunities to benefit from current conditions by growing the company through acquisitions or business combinations focussed on producing assets in Russia. We look forward to updating shareholders of our results over the coming year."

For further information, contact:

The information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and verified by Mr. Dennis Francis, Director and Chief Executive Officer of PetroNeft, for the purposes of the Guidance Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange in June 2009. Mr. Francis holds a B.S. Degree in Geophysical Engineering and a M.S. Degree in Geology from the Colorado School of Mines. He has also graduated from the Harvard University Program for Management Development. He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. He has over 40 years' experience in oil and gas exploration and development.

Chairman's Statement

Dear Shareholder,

I am pleased to report on the activities of the Group for the six months to 30 June 2016 and provide an update on recent progress. 2016 has been a busy year with a significant work programme undertaken at Licence 61, together with our 50% partner Oil India. The 2016 campaign delivered considerable production growth from new wells at South Arbuzovskoye but some disappointment with the result of a delineation well at the Sibkrayevskoye oil field.

Production and Sales

Gross production at Licence 61 in the six months to 30 June 2016 averaged 2,366 bopd, a 36% increase compared to the same period in 2015 (1,744 bopd). We sold 421,714 (gross) barrels of oil in the six months to 30 June 2016 (H1 2015: 329,733 bbls) and achieved an average Russian Domestic oil price of $20.56 (H1 2015: $29.87). The fall in price is reflective of the continuing challenges being faced across the oil and gas industry.

Gross production at Licence 61 has grown by 39% in the year to date and is currently approximately 3,200 bopd. This growth came from the new wells at South Arbuzovskoye which came online in June and July 2016. Production is shown quarterly above and we intend to publish quarterly production statements from October 2016 onwards. The actual production for Q3-2016 will be announced in October 2016.

South Arbuzovskoye

The main drilling programme in 2016 was focussed on the southern lobe of Arbuzovskoye. In 2015 we had drilled the A-103 well from Pad 1 in the northern end and acquired some additional 2D seismic on the southern end. Both the well and the seismic gave us confidence in the potential of the southern lobe. The lessons learned from the horizontal drilling at Tungolskoye in 2015 also proved valuable in setting out the drilling programme in South Arbuzovskoye.

We drilled two vertical and two horizontal wells. Our pre-drill estimates were to achieve initial production of 125 bopd from the vertical wells and 600 bopd from the horizontal wells. The results far exceeded these estimates with the vertical wells (A213 & A-216) coming in at over 350 bopd and 175 bopd respectively and the horizontal wells (A-214 & A-215) coming in at over 800 bopd and 650 bopd respectively. With the exception of the A-216 well, the new wells at South Arbuzovskoye continue to perform ahead of expectations. The water cut at A-216 has risen higher than expected and we are examining ways to solve this issue.

Sibkrayevskoye

In 2015 we drilled the S-373 delineation well and carried out a major 2D seismic programme across the northern portion of Licence 61 including Sibkrayevskoye. Between late January and April 2016 the S-373 well was put on production and averaged 200 bopd during the period. This well, along with the previous wells, S-372 and S-370, forms the basis for the initial development of Sibkrayevskoye at Pad 1which is planned for 2017. We are currently arranging the necessary studies, permits and approvals to sanction Pad 1 development of Sibkrayevskoye later this year.

In 2016 we sought to ascertain the full potential of Sibkrayevskoye through the drilling of a 10 km step out well, S-374. The well was drilled in July and August 2016 but unfortunately did not encounter commercial oil and was plugged and abandoned. The result, while disappointing, should not affect the current 2P reserve significantly or impact our decision regarding the development of Pad 1 at Sibkrayevskoye which is 10 km to the north.

Review of PetroNeft loss for the period

The loss for the period was US$2.3m (2014: US$1.4m). The loss includes PetroNeft's share of the losses on the joint ventures relating to Licences 61 and 67 of US$2.4m and US$0.2m respectively (H1 2015: US$1.8m and US$0.2m). The loss relating to the Licence 61 joint venture is discussed in more detail below. Finance revenue of US$1.6m (H1 2015: US$1.5m) relates primarily to interest receivable on loans to the joint ventures.

Licence 61 joint venture - WorldAce Group

The metrics below are an extraction from the financial statements of the WorldAce Group which demonstrate the performance of Licence 61:

The detailed Income Statement and Balance Sheet of WorldAce Investments Limited is disclosed at note 7 to these condensed financial statements. Very low oil prices in late 2015 and the first quarter of 2016 have significantly reduced the margin. With the higher production and improved pricing being achieved in the second half of 2016 we should be able to improve the margin as many of our production costs are fixed.

In March 2016 Oil India agreed to provide 100% of the funding required to carry out the agreed work programmes at Licence 61 in 2016 and 2017. This work programme is expected to require gross funding of at least US$35 million, US$10m in 2016 and US$25m in 2017. The funding is to be provided by way of unsecured loans to the joint venture company WorldAce Investments Limited. The loan agreement for the 2016 requirement of US$10m was executed in March 2016 and the funding fully drawn by July 2016. It is expected that the loan agreement for the 2017 requirement will be executed on substantially similar terms in late 2016.

Licence 67

During 2015, we agreed an exploration programme for Licence 67 for the five years to 2020 with the Russian authorities; based on this, the first significant expenditure required will be in 2017 but we expect to be able to defer this expenditure to at least 2018. We view Licence 67 as having considerable long term potential and we are discussing forward plans with our joint venture partner Belgrave Naftogas (Arawak Energy).

Board Changes

As discussed in the Annual Report, in April 2016 Maxim Korobov, Anthony Sacca and David Sturt joined the Board as non-executive Directors. David Sanders, Gerry Fagan and Paul Dowling left the Board, however Mr. Dowling remains as CFO of the Company and is Company Secretary.

Business development

In May 2016 Pavel Tetyakov joined the Company as Vice President of Business Development to help bring a renewed focus on Business Development and we are actively pursuing a number of exciting options in this regard.

Outlook

 We have had a busy year so far, with good success in growing production and our longer term development and exploration plans for our portfolio, however market conditions remain challenging and there are few signs of sustained improvement in oil prices in the near term. We are now focussed on commencing the development of our largest field, Sibkrayevskoye in 2017 which, with the expected Oil India loan agreement to be signed, the Company is fully financed for. Our focus continues to be on growing production, managing costs and positioning the Company for any improvement in market conditions, while we are also investigating opportunities to benefit from current conditions by growing the company through acquisitions or business combinations focussed on producing assets in Russia. We look forward to updating shareholders of our results over the remainder of 2016.

David Golder

Non-Executive Chairman

Interim Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

For the 6 months ended 30 June 2016

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the 6 months ended 30 June 2016

Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

As at 30 June 2016

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

For the 6 months ended 30 June 2016

Interim Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

For the 6 months ended 30 June 2016

Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 6 months ended 30 June 2016

1. Corporate Information

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Group for the six months ended 30 June 2016 were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the Directors on 27 September 2016.

PetroNeft Resources plc ('the Company', or together with its subsidiaries, 'the Group') is a Company incorporated in Ireland. The Company is listed on the Alternative Investment Market ('AIM') of the London Stock Exchange and the Enterprise Securities Market ('ESM') of the Irish Stock Exchange. The address of the registered office and the business address in Ireland is 20 Holles Street, Dublin 2. The Company is domiciled in the Republic of Ireland.

The principal activities of the Group are oil and gas exploration, development and production.

 2. Accounting Policies

2.1 Basis of Preparation

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2016 have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all the information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the Group's annual financial statements as at 31 December 2015 which are available on the Group's website - www.petroneft.com.

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in US dollars ("US$").

2.2 Significant Accounting Policies

The accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements are consistent with those followed in the preparation of the Group's annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015.

3. Segment information

At present the Group has one reportable operating segment, which is oil exploration and production through its joint venture undertakings. As a result, there are no further disclosures required in respect of the Group's reporting segment.

The risk and returns of the Group's operations are primarily determined by the nature of the activities that the Group engages in, rather than the geographical location of these operations. This is reflected by the Group's organisational structure and the Group's internal financial reporting systems.

Management monitors and evaluates the operating results for the purpose of making decisions consistently with how it determines operating profit or loss in the consolidated financial statements.

Geographical segments

Although the joint venture undertakings WorldAce Investments Limited and Russian BD Holdings B.V. are domiciled in Cyprus and the Netherlands, the underlying businesses and assets are in Russia. Substantially all of the Group's sales and capital expenditures are in Russia.

Assets are allocated based on where the assets are located:

7. Equity-accounted Investment in Joint Venture - WorldAce Investments Limited

PetroNeft Resources plc has a 50% interest in WorldAce Investments Limited, a jointly controlled entity which holds 100% of LLC Stimul-T, an entity involved in oil and gas exploration and the registered holder of Licence 61. The interest in this joint venture is accounted for using the equity accounting method. WorldAce Investments Limited is incorporated in Cyprus and carries out its activities, through LLC Stimul-T, in Russia.

The balance sheet position of WorldAce Investments Limited shows net liabilities of US$23,500,706 following a loss in the period of US$4,815,562 together with a positive currency translation adjustment of US$10,085,675. PetroNeft's 50% share is included above and results in a negative carrying value of US$7,032,591. Therefore, the share of net assets is reduced to Nil and, in accordance with IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures, the amount of US$7,032,591 is deducted from other assets associated with the joint venture on the Balance Sheet which are the loans receivable from WorldAce Investments (see Note 9).

7. Equity-accounted Investment in Joint Venture - WorldAce Investments Limited (continued)

Additional financial information in respect of PetroNeft's 50% interest in the equity-accounted joint venture entity is disclosed below:

The currency translation adjustment results from the revaluation of the Russian Rouble during the period. All Russian Rouble carrying values in Stimul-T, the 100% subsidiary of WorldAce are converted to US Dollars at each period end. The resulting gain or loss is recognised through other comprehensive income and transferred to the currency translation reserve. The Russian Rouble appreciated significantly against the US Dollar during the period from RUB73.30:US$1 at 31 December 2015 to RUB64.05:US$1 at 30 June 2016.

7. Equity-accounted Investment in Joint Venture - WorldAce Investments Limited (continued)

8. Equity-accounted Investment in Joint Venture - Russian BD Holdings B.V.

PetroNeft Resources plc has a 50% interest in Russian BD Holdings B.V., a jointly controlled entity which holds 100% of LLC Lineynoye, an entity involved in oil and gas exploration and the registered holder of Licence 67. The interest in this joint venture is accounted for using the equity accounting method. Russian BD Holdings B.V. is incorporated in the Netherlands and carries out its activities in Russia.

The balance sheet position of Russian BD Holdings B.V. shows net liabilities of US$1,169,530 following a loss in the year of US$345,354 together with a currency translation adjustment (gain) of US$849,404. PetroNeft's 50% share is included above and results in a negative carrying value of US$584,765. Therefore, the share of net assets is reduced to Nil and, in accordance with IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures, the amount of US$584,765 is deducted from other assets associated with the joint venture on the Balance Sheet which are the loans receivable from Russian BD Holdings B.V. (Note 9).

8. Equity-accounted Investment in Joint Venture - Russian BD Holdings B.V. (continued)

Additional financial information in respect of PetroNeft's 50% interest in the equity-accounted joint venture entity is disclosed below:

The Company has granted a loan facility to its joint venture undertaking WorldAce Investments Limited of up to US$45 million. This loan facility is US$ denominated and unsecured. Interest currently accrues on the loan at USD LIBOR plus 6.0% but the Company has agreed not to seek payment of interest until H2 2017 at the earliest. The loan is set to mature on 31 December 2022. The loan from the Company to Russian BD Holdings is repayable on demand. Interest currently accrues on the loan at LIBOR plus 6.0% per annum.