Published:
Addax Petroleum Announces Update on Discussions with the Kurdistan Regional Government
CALGARY,Canada, February 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
- Amendments to the Production Sharing Contract for the Taq Taq License
Area
Addax Petroleum Corporation ("Addax Petroleum" or the "Corporation")
(TSX:AXC and LSE:AXC) today confirms that it has signed an agreement with the
Kurdistan Regional Government ("KRG") amending the production sharing
contract it holds together with Genel Enerji in respect of the Taq Taq
license area in the Kurdistan Region ofIraq (the "Taq Taq PSC"). The Taq Taq
license area includes the Taq Taq field and the Kewa Chirmila prospect. The
purpose of the amendments is to bring the Taq Taq PSC into conformity with
the Oil and Gas Law of the Kurdistan Region -Iraq (the "Oil and Gas Law")
and Model PSC, including the royalty, cost recovery and profit share
components.
Commenting today, Addax Petroleum's President and Chief Executive
Officer, Jean Claude Gandur, said: "We are pleased to be working closely and
in a spirit of cooperation with our partners at the KRG to arrive at a result
that is beneficial to all parties. The new terms of our Taq Taq PSC are now
in line with the recently enacted legislation and our stakeholders will be
pleased to know that our economic and operational interest is materially
unchanged. The results from our appraisal campaign at Taq Taq to date have
been extremely positive and we are encouraged by the exploration potential we
are uncovering through seismic surveys. We look forward to continued strong
relations with the KRG as we seek to implement a full field development
program with the potential of first oil as early as next year."
The review and renegotiations were conducted between the KRG, Genel
Enerji and Addax Petroleum in accordance with Article 54 of the Oil and Gas
Law which required review of the Taq Taq PSC by the Regional Council for the
Oil and Gas Affairs of the Kurdistan Region -Iraq (the "Regional Council"),
taking into consideration the prevailing conditions when the Taq Taq PSC was
originally entered into.
The most significant changes to the terms of the Taq Taq PSC include i)
the combination of previously separate terms for the Taq Taq and Kewa
Chirmila areas, including the synchronization of the government back-in
rights at up to 20 per cent, ii) a reduction in the maximum Cost Oil
recoverable in a given year, which is partially offset by an effective
increase through an interim period that accelerates the recovery of the
initial capital investment by the Contractor, and iii) the introduction of a
"R factor" in the Profit Oil calculation, which adjusts the financial returns
to the Contractor and Government based on relative level of cumulative
capital spending and cumulative revenue. The ultimate financial impact of the
amendments to the terms of the Taq Taq PSC is dependent on operational
outcomes, including reserve, production and cost levels. However, the
Corporation believes that under most of the likely scenarios and considering
the further exploration potential of the PSC area, the amendments do not
result in a material change to the financial or operational interests of
Addax Petroleum.
About Addax Petroleum
Addax Petroleum is an international oil and gas exploration and
production company with a strategic focus on WestAfrica and theMiddle East.
Addax Petroleum is one of the largest independent oil producers in West
Africa and has increased its crude oil production from an average of 8,800
bbl/d for 1998 to an average of approximately 126,000 bbl/d for 2007. Further
information about Addax Petroleum is available at
http://www.addaxpetroleum.com or at http://www.sedar.com.
Legal Notice - Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking
statements under applicable securities legislation. Such statements are
generally identifiable by the terminology used, such as "anticipate",
"believe", "intend", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "budget", "outlook",
"may", "will", "should", "could" , "would" or other similar wording.
Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, reference to
business strategy and goals, future capital and other expenditures, reserves
and resources estimates, drilling plans, construction and repair activities,
the submission of development plans, seismic activity, production levels and
the sources of growth thereof, project development schedules and results,
results of exploration activities and dates by which certain areas may be
developed or may come on-stream, royalties payable, financing and capital
activities, contingent liabilities, environmental matters, and government
approvals. By its very nature, such forward-looking information requires
Addax Petroleum to make assumptions that may not materialize or that may not
be accurate. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown
risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results,
levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such information. Such factors include, but are not limited to:
imprecision of reserves and resources estimates; ultimate recovery of
reserves; prices of oil and natural gas; general economic, market and
business conditions; industry capacity; competitive action by other
companies; fluctuations in oil prices; refining and marketing margins; the
ability to produce and transport crude oil and natural gas to markets; the
ability to market and sell natural gas under its production sharing
contracts; the effects of weather and climate conditions; the results of
exploration and development drilling and related activities; fluctuations in
interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; the ability of suppliers
to meet commitments; actions by governmental authorities, including increases
in taxes; decisions or approvals of administrative tribunals; changes in
environmental and other regulations; risks attendant with oil and gas
operations, both domestic and international; international political events;
expected rates of return; and other factors, many of which are beyond the
control of Addax Petroleum. More specifically, production may be affected by
such factors as exploration success, start-up timing and success, facility
reliability, reservoir performance and natural decline rates, water handling,
and drilling progress. Capital expenditures may be affected by cost pressures
associated with new capital projects, including labour and material supply,
project management, drilling rig rates and availability, and seismic costs.
These factors are discussed in greater detail in filings made by Addax
Petroleum with the Canadian provincial securities commissions.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors
affecting forward-looking information is not exhaustive. Furthermore, the
forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the
date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, Addax
Petroleum does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise
any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information
contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary
statement.
SOURCE Addax Petroleum Corporation
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