Final Results

Petrel Resources PLC 24 June 2004 PETREL RESOURCES PLC CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT In the period under review, Petrel has made significant progress toward the goal of becoming an Iraqi oil producer. We have submitted tenders to develop significant oil fields in the Kirkuk area of Northern Iraq and in the Hamrin area of Central Iraq. The final tender, to redevelop and refurbish the Subba and Luhais fields in Southern Iraq was submitted in June. Each project envisages oil production in excess of 100,000 barrels a day. We have continued to analyse available data on our Block 6 exploration project. Block 6 is a 10,000 sq km block in the Western Desert between Baghdad and Jordan. Petrel has an agreed work program with the Oil Ministry in Baghdad and awaits final approval to commence fieldwork. All of this has been achieved in the midst of almost total chaos and at significant personal risk to our directors, David Horgan and Guy Delbes, who travel to Baghdad on a frequent basis. Two senior geological consultants to Petrel, Munim Al-Rawi and David Naylor, have also visited Iraq a number of times during the period under review. Through the war and the aftermath we have maintained a strong technical presence in Baghdad. Let me put our operation in the context of developments in Iraq and the oil industry. IRAQ The outcome of the invasion of Iraq was predictable. There may be a greater longer-term geo-political strategy but Iraq and its people are paying a high price. Wrecking the infrastructure and dissolving the entire bureaucracy of soldiers, police and civil servants could only have one outcome - chaos. So it has turned out. Who was going to run the country? Who was going to fix the water, power, medical and transport systems? Recent months have seen the re-employment of bureaucrats. The process will continue. Experienced administrators, trained police and army personnel will bring some semblance of order. The lights will come back on, roads will re-open and hospitals will get supplies. The financial situation is, and will remain, in crisis. Oil revenue from 2 million barrels a day is not adequate to fund the current needs of the country, to repair and expand infrastructure, to service more than $100 US billion in external debt and to develop the only productive asset in the country - oil. The external debt will have to be written off and massive aid injected to kick start the rehabilitation process. Social and economic progress requires a stable political structure. It is hoped that the provisional government taking power in July can establish a constitution and a forum acceptable to the differing views in the country. Iraq is a beautiful country, the cradle of civilisation. The people are sophisticated, educated and cultured befitting a civilization with thousands of years of history. The country has a pivotal role to play in the development of world oil and in the political evolution of the Middle East. OIL In recent years even a casual observer of world oil would have noted the coming crunch in supply. Why is the world so surprised at high oil prices? If demand is strong and supply weak, prices rise. US and Chinese demand, the principal driving forces, are expected to continue to grow. World supply is tight. Difficulties in major producers such as Nigeria and Venezuela add to short-term pressures but the longer-term picture should be of concern to the Western world. Production has peaked and is already declining in most of the world's oil provinces yet demand continues to grow. New sources in the Caspian and Offshore West Africa are not sufficient to offset the decline. At $40 US a barrel a range of alternative supplies become profitable, shale oil, marginal fields in the North Sea, mothballed projects in the Gulf of Mexico, among other sources. None of these sources can compete with the economics of Middle East oil that has lifting costs of $1 a barrel. Therein lies the opportunity and the risk. Over time, Iraq can contribute up to 6 million extra barrels a day. Other Middle East countries can also expand production. But one attack on the big 4m barrel a day Saudi Arabian oil refinery can plunge the oil market into crisis and threaten the world economy. Petrel committed to Iraq in 1998. We have maintained this commitment through sanctions, the war, its aftermath and more importantly, we have remained steadfast in the face of shareholder and investor disbelief. This is now changing. Our share has been one of the best performing on AIM in the last 18 months - rising 10 fold in price. Financial institutions and multinational oil companies now request an audience. Our tenders have involvement from a number of large companies. Shareholders, investors and oil industry competitors realise that we are one of the few, if not the only Western oil company, to have maintained an ongoing dialogue with the Iraq Oil Ministry. Over the years we have not only developed a good working relationship with officials but we have also learned a great deal about Iraqi oil. Simply put, we believe that Iraq is the best oil province in the world. Known resources of 115 billion barrels are only a fraction of what might be there. Much of the country remains unexplored at surface and at depth. The three oil fields, for which we have prepared tenders, may contain in excess of 2 billion barrels. Each of the projects will have daily production in excess of 100,000 barrels with low operating costs. Capital costs are roughly $2,000 US per daily barrel. Our current proposals are to act as a contractor. We will develop and operate the projects in return for a cost plus fee. Our remit has recently been extended to seek out the capital to undertake the projects. Over the coming months we anticipate detailed discussions on the technical and financial aspects of each tender. Iraq badly needs revenue to reconstruct. The only source is oil. Our three projects could be in production within 24 months. The sovereign government taking control from July 1st 2004 will have the authority to undertake oil field development as well as to grant exploration concessions. Petrel is well placed to be an early beneficiary of the new regime. OTHER PROJECTS While Petrel is acutely focused on Iraq, we have kept a weather eye on other areas. We continue to maintain an interest in Sudanese oil. Sudan is a large country. The main political problem is being slowly resolved, though this initiative sparked new problems in Darfur. Our interest has moved from a block in the East to a large concession in the North-West. Our activities in Iraq have not gone unnoticed in the Arab world. We are at an early stage in looking at oil /gas projects in other Middle East Countries. FINANCE We have adequate finance to continue in our present manner but one successful tender or the finalisation of the Western Desert exploration contract will see an immediate increase in work and expenditure. We believe that financing success in Iraq will not be a problem. FUTURE After years in the desert, literally and metaphorically, our time is coming. The world needs more oil, Iraq has the oil. Political and social stability in Iraq now look possible. In the past 5 years we have invested substantial financial and human capital into maintaining a presence in the country. A growing oil industry will be the engine of Iraqi development. I fully expect Petrel to participate in this development. John J. Teeling Chairman 23 June 2004 CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT for the year ended 31 December 2003 2003 2002 € € Administrative expenses (244,638) (238,080) LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE INTEREST (244,638) (238,080) Interest income 573 - LOSS FOR THE YEAR BEFORE TAXATION (244,065) (238,080) Taxation - - LOSS FOR THE YEAR AFTER TAXATION (244,065) (238,080) Profit and loss account : opening - (deficit) (1,856,424) (1,618,344) Profit and loss account : closing - (deficit) (2,100,489) (1,856,424) Loss per share - basic (0.48c) (0.54c) Loss per share - fully diluted (0.48c) (0.54c) All gains and losses are dealt with through the profit and loss account. Results derive from continuing operations. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 23 June 2004 and signed on its behalf by: John Teeling David Horgan DIRECTORS CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET as at 31 December 2003 2003 2002 € € FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 3,011 5,426 Intangible assets 1,373,863 1,081,085 Financial assets - - 1,376,874 1,086,511 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 50,281 27,260 Cash at bank 958,308 6,645 1,008,589 33,905 CREDITORS : (Amounts falling due within one year) (183,140) (152,826) NET CURRENT ASSETS/ (LIABILITIES) 825,449 (118,921) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT ASSETS 2,202,323 967,590 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called-up share capital 727,690 601,055 Capital conversion reserve fund 7,694 7,694 Share premium 3,567,428 2,215,265 Profit and loss account - (deficit) (2,100,489) (1,856,424) EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 2,202,323 967,590 The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 23 June 2004 and signed on its behalf by: John Teeling David Horgan DIRECTORS CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT as at 31 December 2003 2003 2002 € € NET CASH OUTFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES (68,811) (406,812) RETURNS ON INVESTMENT AND SERVICING OF FINANCE Interest received 573 - NET CASH INFLOW FROM RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS AND SERVICING OF FINANCE 573 - TAXATION Corporation tax paid - - CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENT Payments to acquire intangible fixed assets (292,778) (168,273) Payment to acquire tangible fixed asset - (1,264) NET CASH OUTFLOW BEFORE FINANCING (361,016) (576,349) FINANCING Issue of ordinary share capital 1,390,263 569,232 Share issue expenses (77,584) - NET CASH INFLOW FROM FINANCING 1,312,679 569,232 INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH 951,663 (7,117) Notes: The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's financial statements for the years ended 31 December 2003 or 2002. The financial information for 2002 is derived from the financial statements for 2002 which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors have reported on the 2002 statements; their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The financial statements for 2003 have been audited and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting. The auditors have reported on the 2003 statements; their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. A copy of the Company's annual report and accounts for 2003 will be mailed to shareholders shortly and will also be available for collection from the Company's registered office. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings