Interim Results

RNS Number : 5767R
TomCo Energy PLC
30 June 2020
 

30 June 2020

 

TomCo Energy plc

("TomCo" or the "Company" or the "Group")

 

Unaudited interim results for the six-month period ended 31 March 2020

 

TomCo Energy plc (AIM: TOM), the oil exploration and development company focused on using innovative technology to unlock unconventional hydrocarbon resources, announces its unaudited interim results for the six-month period ended 31 March 2020.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

· Engagement with Valkor LLC ("Valkor") to produce a Pre-FEED study to demonstrate the economic viability of Petroteq Energy Inc's ("Petroteq") oil sands separation process.

· Post period end, entered into a joint venture agreement with Valkor for the establishment of Greenfield Energy LLC ("Greenfield") to develop, subject to funding, the Petroteq test plant into a pre-commercial plant, to seek to verify the design for a commercial scale (10,000 bopd) plant.

· Board re-organisation with Andrew Jones stepping down and Stephen West joining as Non-Executive Chairman.

 

John Potter, TomCo's Chief Executive Officer, said: "The establishment of the JV with Valkor to form Greenfield, post the period end, is a major step in us seeking to prove the commercial scale potential of Petroteq's oil sands separation process.  Valkor has developed a detailed understanding of the process requirements and the Board is confident that, subject to funding, the upgrades to the Petroteq test plant and the resulting FEED will confirm our expectations that a commercial scale plant is financially viable."

 

Enquiries:

 

For further information, please visit www.tomcoenergy.com or contact:

 

TomCo Energy plc    +44 (0)20 3823 3635

John Potter (CEO)

Stephen West (Chairman)

 

Strand Hanson (Nominated Adviser)     +44 (0)20 7409 3494

James Harris / Richard Tulloch / Jack Botros

 

Turner Pope (Broker)      +44 (0)20 3657 0050

Andy Thacker / Zoe Alexander

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014.

 

 

 

DIRECTORS' REPORT

 

Operational

With the continuing global disruption to travel from Covid-19, the Group's operations on its Holliday A Block, including in respect of TurboShale's RF technology, have been postponed for the rest of 2020.  A decision on the next steps of the TurboShale technology development will be made towards the end of 2020.

 

The Company has continued to explore other opportunities for its oil shale leases within the Uinta Basin, Utah, (the "Leases") which resulted in the Company being introduced to Valkor LLC ("Valkor"), an international engineering, procurement, construction and installation and field operations company, with operations in the US, South America and Africa both on and offshore and the owner and operator of gas and oil fields in Trinidad, USA, Turkey and the Ukraine, in September 2019.

 

In December 2019, the Company entered into a memorandum of understanding ("MoU") with Valkor, alongside a placing to raise £925,000 (gross), to explore the potential to develop a joint venture ("JV") for the development of a commercial scale oil sands separation plant on one of the Company's existing leases using Petroteq Energy Inc's ("Petroteq") closed loop system for use in the recovery of oil from oil sands (the "Oil Sands Technology").  The Company believes that Valkor has a good understanding of the Oil Sands Technology, having assisted Petroteq with the design improvements for its closed loop system for use in the recovery of oil from oil sands.

 

Subsequent to entering into the MoU, the Company undertook a study of the potential to deploy the Oil Sands Technology at a suitable location across its Leases.  The desktop study of the Leases determined that, while oil sands were present at depth, more suitable sites with near surface oil sands were identified in the vicinity of the Leases and these will be the focus of the parties going forward.

 

On 19 March 2020, the Company and Valkor announced that they had agreed to enter into a binding exclusivity agreement ("Exclusivity Agreement") to continue discussions regarding forming a JV to, inter alia, explore the potential to deploy the Oil Sands Technology at a suitable location.  The parties also agreed to undertake a Pre-FEED study, to be undertaken by Valkor and verified by a third party, to demonstrate the economic viability of the Oil Sands Technology, with a gross budget of US$250,000 to be funded equally by the parties and if the results of the study were sufficiently favourable, the Company expected to form a JV with Valkor.

 

Following the period end and receipt of the draft Pre-FEED study, which provided sufficient comfort to the TomCo Board to form a JV, the Company was pleased to enter into a joint venture agreement with Valkor (the "JV Agreement") in June 2020, to establish Greenfield Energy LLC ("Greenfield"), that will seek to pursue the development of a plant utilising the Oil Sands Technology at a location yet to be determined in Utah, USA.

 

Under the terms of the JV Agreement, Greenfield will be equally owned by TomCo and Valkor, with the Company providing funding to Greenfield, subject to having such funds available and being satisfied as to the use of such funds, of up to US$1.5 million, to enable Greenfield to be able to complete, inter alia, the required upgrades to Petroteq's existing oil sands plant at Asphalt Ridge, Utah (the "POSP"), and to undertake the proposed test programme as detailed below, together with funding TomCo's contribution to the FEED.  Pursuant to the JV Agreement, Valkor will provide, to Greenfield, the services for the completion of the pre-FEED and the FEED up to a value of US$375,000, along with their management and operating experience and any other information and other valuable resources owned by and/or controlled by Valkor.  Accordingly, until such time as TomCo has secured sufficient funding to finance its contribution to Greenfield, Greenfield will not be in a position to materially advance operations at the POSP, which includes making the required upgrades and being able to undertake the proposed work programme, or complete the FEED.

 

Under the JV Agreement, Valkor has granted a licence to Greenfield, for the use on all future plants that are majority owned and operated by Greenfield in Utah, to its existing Intellectual Property ("IP") and knowhow for the processing of oil sands into heavy fuel oil.  All modifications and improvements to the IP developed by Greenfield, including in relation to the upgrade of the POSP, will belong to Greenfield, which the Board of TomCo believes will allow Greenfield to develop its own oil sands plant, subject, inter alia, to identifying a suitable location.  Greenfield will seek to identify and secure suitable locations in Utah for a commercial scale (up to 10,000 barrels of oil per day ("bopd")) oil sands plant.

 

In respect of the POSP, Valkor has entered into an agreement with Petroteq (the "Work Order"), for Valkor to take over the management and operations of the POSP.  Pursuant to the JV Agreement, the Work Order will be assigned to Greenfield, and Valkor, as part of its contribution to Greenfield, will undertake the works described in the Work Order, and Greenfield will, subject to funding being provided by TomCo, undertake certain upgrades to the POSP and run associated tests to demonstrate the POSP's commerciality.

 

In addition, Valkor has entered into a new lease, effective from 1 July 2020, for a primary term of 12 months, with the landlord of the POSP site, which will allow Valkor access to the land to be able to operate the POSP to undertake the necessary upgrades and tests as well as to mine for feedstock for the POSP.  Pursuant to the lease, in addition to a monthly rent, the landlord will be entitled to certain royalty payments in respect of any commercial produce from the POSP and/or associated operations.  Valkor has granted Greenfield the right to occupy the site to complete the upgrade works and operations of the POSP proposed under the Work Order.

 

The proposed upgrade to the POSP will, subject to agreement being reached with Quadrise Fuels International plc ("Quadrise"), include a commercial trial of Quadrise's MSAR® Technology at the POSP.

 

Quadrise has confirmed that it has agreed in principle with Valkor to the deployment of MSAR® trial equipment for the commercial trial at the POSP for a price of up to US$150,000, which has been taken into account in Greenfield's budget for the proposed work programme.  Quadrise has confirmed that it will continue to work in good faith to finalise the process design and a trial agreement for commercial trial with Valkor, including the terms of the scope and timing of the trial.

 

In parallel with the commercial trial, Quadrise and Valkor continue to cooperate in good faith to agree the commercial terms of a conditional MSAR® licence and commercial supply agreement for the production of MSAR® fuel in respect of the development of a commercial MSAR® plant of up to 10,000 bopd.  Quadrise has agreed with Valkor that any licence ultimately granted to Valkor under the terms of their memorandum of understanding, will be limited to the deployment of the MSAR® Technology in Utah, USA, in connection with the processing of sweet heavy or paraffinic crude oil and will be capable of being assigned to Valkor group joint ventures, including Greenfield, in the future.

 

A conditional licence will only be finalised upon and following, inter alia, satisfactory results of the commercial trial, the agreement between the parties as to commercial terms for the development of a commercial MSAR® plant of up to 10,000 bopd and the entry of binding agreements.

 

The Company announced a £1.5 million placing alongside the JV Agreement, which was subsequently terminated as announced on 19 June 2020.  As set out above, in order to advance Greenfield and the planned upgrade and works programme at the POSP, TomCo will need to raise further funds.

 

Board changes

Andrew Jones stepped down as Executive Chairman in March 2020 to pursue other opportunities and I was pleased to step into the role of Non-Executive Chairman.  On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Andrew for his hard work as Executive Chairman over the last five years and the integral role he played in the development of the Company and wish him all the best with his future endeavours.

 

Following my appointment as a Non-executive Director in February 2020, I subsequently became Non-executive Chairman following Andrew stepping down.

 

Funding

During the period we raised £925,000 (gross) via a placing in December 2019, through the issue of 142,307,692 new ordinary shares at a price of 0.65 pence per share, with the net proceeds being used to provide general working capital and to undertake the engineering studies in respect of the oil sands opportunity.

 

As at 29 June 2020, TomCo had approximately £340,000 of cash available to it.  Prior to the cost of any works to be undertaken under the JV Agreement and associated upgrades to the POSP, which are yet to be agreed, the Board believes the Group has sufficient funds through to the end of 2020, when it will need to raise further funding in order to meet its liabilities and commitments as they fall due as well as to provide additional working capital for the Group.

 

The Company continues to require  further funding in order to fund, inter alia, its contribution of US$1.5 million to Greenfield pursuant to the JV Agreement.  Until such funds have been secured, Greenfield will not be in a position to materially advance operations at the POSP, which includes making the required upgrades and being able to undertake the proposed work programme.

 

We thank shareholders for their continued support, and we look forward to keeping shareholders updated on progress as we work towards securing funds to be able to advance the upgrades to the POSP and associated tests pursuant to the JV Agreement and Work Order.

 

Stephen West

Non-Executive Chairman

 

 

 

Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income

For the six-month period ended 31 March 2020

 

 

 

Unaudited

Six months ended

31 March

Unaudited

Six months ended

31 March

Audited

Year ended

30 September

 

 

2020

2019

2019

 

Notes

£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue

 

-

-

-

Cost of sales

 

-

-

-

Gross profit/(loss)

 

-

-

-

Administrative expenses

3

(377)

(519)

(778)

Operating loss

 

(377)

(519)

(778)

Finance income/(costs)

 

1

(5)

(4)

Loss on ordinary activities before taxation

 

(376)

(524)

(782)

Taxation

 

-

-

-

Loss from continuing operations

 

(376)

(524)

(782)

 

 

 

 

 

Loss for the period/year attributable to:

 

 

 

 

Equity shareholders of the parent

 

(355)

(459)

(749)

Non-controlling interests

 

(21)

(65)

(33)

 

 

(376)

(524)

(782)

 

 

 

 

 

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

 

 

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

 

(107)

(24)

408

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

 

 

Fair value gain on non-derivative equity instrument

 

-

2

2

Other comprehensive income for the year attributable to:

 

 

Equity shareholders of the parent

 

(108)

(22)

417

Non-controlling interests

 

1

-

(7)

Other comprehensive income

 

 

(107)

 

(22)

410

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss attributable to:

 

 

 

 

Equity shareholders of the parent

 

(463)

(481)

(332)

Non-controlling interests

 

(20)

(65)

(40)

 

 

(483)

(546)

(372)

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share attributable to the equity shareholders of the parent

 

 

Basic & Diluted Loss per share (pence)

4

(0.16)

(0.56)

(0.73)

 

 

 

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position

As at 31 March 2020

 

 

 

Unaudited

Six months

ended

31 March

Unaudited

Six months

ended

31 March

Audited

Year ended

30 September

 

 

2020

2019

2019

 

Note

£'000

£'000

£'000

Assets

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

5

9,221

8,218

9,222

Property, plant and equipment

 

425

313

431

Other receivables

 

27

23

27

 

 

9,673

8,554

9,680

Current assets

 

 

 

 

Trade and other receivables

 

92

656

97

Cash and cash equivalents

 

751

245

639

 

 

843

901

736

Total Assets

 

10,516

9,455

10,416

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

 

(353)

(349)

(615)

 

 

(353)

(349)

(615)

Net current assets

 

490

552

121

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

(353)

(349)

(615)

 

 

 

 

 

Total Net Assets

 

10,163

9,106

9,801

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders' equity

 

 

 

 

Share capital

 

-

-

-

Share premium

 

28,784

27,778

28,247

Warrant reserve

 

354

81

65

Translation reserve

 

530

207

638

Retained deficit

 

(19,348)

(18,798)

(19,012)

Equity attributable to owners of the parent

 

10,320

9,268

9,938

Non-controlling interests

 

(157)

(162)

(137)

Total Equity

 

10,163

9,106

9,801

 

The financial information was approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 30 June 2020 and was signed on its behalf by:

 

J Potter 

Director 

 

 

 

Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the six months ended 31 March 2020

 

 

Note

Share

capital

Share

premium

Warrant

reserve

Translation

reserve

Total

Non-controlling

interest

Total

equity

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

At 30 September 2018 (audited)

 

-

26,542

43

223

(18,393)

8,415

(97)

8,318

Loss for the period

 

-

-

-

-

(459)

(459)

(65)

(524)

Comprehensive income for the period

 

-

-

-

(24)

2

(22)

-

(22)

Total comprehensive loss for the period

 

-

-

-

(24)

(457)

(481)

(65)

(546)

Issue of shares (net of costs)

 

-

1,236

38

-

-

1,274

-

1,274

Share-based payment charge

 

 

-

-

-

60

60

-

60

Reclassification

 

 

-

-

8

(8)

-

-

-

At 31 March 2019 (unaudited)

 

-

27,778

81

207

(18,798)

9,268

(162)

9,106

Loss for the period

 

-

-

-

-

(290)

(290)

32

(258)

Comprehensive income for the period

 

-

-

-

439

-

439

(7)

432

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

-

-

-

439

(290)

149

25

174

Issue of shares (net of costs)

 

-

402

21

-

423

-

423

Exercise of warrants

 

-

67

(37)

-

65

-

65

Share-based payment charge

 

-

-

-

-

33

-

33

Reclassification

 

-

-

-

(8)

-

-

-

At 30 September 2019 (audited)

 

-

28,247

65

638

(19,012)

9,938

(137)

9,801

Loss for the period

 

-

-

-

-

(355)

(355)

(21)

(376)

Comprehensive loss for the period

 

-

-

-

(108)

-

(108)

1

(107)

Total comprehensive loss for the period

 

-

-

-

(108)

(355)

(463)

(20)

(483)

Issue of shares (net of costs)

 

-

537

327

-

864

-

864

Expiry of warrants

 

 

 

(42)

 

-

-

-

Share-based payment credit

 

-

-

4

-

(23)

(19)

-

(19)

At 31 March 2020 (unaudited)

 

-

28,784

354

530

(19,348)

10,320

(157)

10,163

 

The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within owners' equity:

 

Reserve

Descriptions and purpose

Share capital

Amount subscribed for share capital at nominal value, together with transfers to share premium upon redenomination of the shares to nil par value.

Share premium

Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value, together with transfers from share capital upon redenomination of the shares to nil par value.

Warrant reserve

Amounts credited to equity in respect of warrants to acquire ordinary shares in the Company.

Translation reserve

Amounts debited or credited to equity arising from translating the results of subsidiary entities whose functional currency is not sterling.

Retained deficit

Cumulative net gains and losses recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Non-Controlling Interests

Amounts attributable to the non-controlling interest in TurboShale Inc.

 

 

 

Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows

For the period ended 31 March 2020

 

 

 

Unaudited

Six months ended 31 March 2020

Unaudited

Six months ended 31 March 2019

Audited

Year ended

30 September

2019

 

Note

£'000

£'000

£'000

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

Loss after tax

 

(376)

(524)

(782)

Finance (income)/costs

 

(1)

5

4

Amortisation of intangible fixed assets

 

3

4

6

Share-based payment (credit)/charge

 

(19)

60

93

Costs settled by the issue of shares

 

-

-

5

Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables

 

5

(8)

(55)

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables

 

(239)

30

232

Cash used in operations

 

(627)

(433)

(497)

Interest received/(paid)

 

1

(5)

(4)

Net cash outflows from operating activities

 

(626)

(438)

(501)

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

Investment in intangibles

6

(124)

(148)

(642)

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

-

-

(95)

Sale of investments

 

-

104

104

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(124)

(44)

(633)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

Issue of share capital (net of issue costs)

7

864

614

1,658

Loans repaid

 

-

(150)

(150)

Net cash generated from financing activities

 

864

464

1,508

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

114

(18)

374

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of financial period

 

639

262

262

Foreign currency translation differences

 

(2)

1

3

Cash and cash equivalents at end of financial period

 

751

245

639

 

 

 

UNAUDITED NOTES FORMING PART OF THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended 31 March 2020

 

1.  Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Preparation

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of TomCo Energy plc ("TomCo" or the "Company") for the six months ended 31 March 2020, comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group").

 

The unaudited condensed interim financial information for the Group has been prepared using the recognition and measurement requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS and IFRIC interpretations) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") as adopted for use in the EU, with the exception of IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting that is not mandatory for companies quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.  The unaudited condensed interim financial information has been prepared using the accounting policies which will be applied in the Group's statutory financial information for the year ending 30 September 2020.

 

There were no new standards, interpretations and amendments to published standards effective in the period which had a significant impact on the Group.

 

IFRS 16-Leases

In applying IFRS 16 for the first time, the Group has elected not to recognise a lease liability and right of use asset for leases whose term ends within 12 months of the date of initial application, which is 1 October 2019.  The Group has no leases within the scope of IFRS 16 that are not short-term leases at the date of initial application, and therefore IFRS 16 has had no impact on the Group's financial information.

 

Going concern

As at 29 June 2020, TomCo had approximately £340,000 of cash available to it. Prior to the cost of any works to be undertaken under the JV Agreement and associated upgrades to the POSP, which are yet to be agreed, the Board believes the Group has sufficient funds through to the end of 2020, excluding further funding required for Greenfield (see below), when it will need to raise further funding in order to meet its liabilities and commitments as they fall due as well as to provide additional working capital for the Group.

 

In addition, the Company continues to require further funding in order to fund, inter alia, its contribution of up to US$1.5 million to Greenfield pursuant to the JV Agreement.  Until such funds have been secured, Greenfield will not be in a position to materially advance operations at the POSP, which includes making the required upgrades and being able to undertake the proposed work programme.

 

The Directors note that COVID-19 has had a significant negative impact on the global economy and oil prices have fallen significantly, which may mean it is harder to secure additional funding than it has historically been.  Notwithstanding this, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that they will be able to secure additional funding, sufficient to meet operating expenditure beyond December 2020 and to provide further funds to explore the opportunity to advance Greenfield, as set out above, or to further advance TurboShale's RF technology.

 

However, these conditions are necessarily considered to represent a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt over the Group's ability to continue as a going concern.  Whilst acknowledging this material uncertainty, the Directors remain confident of being able to raise additional funds as and when required and therefore the Directors consider it appropriate to prepare this interim financial information on a going concern basis.  The interim financial information does not include any adjustments that would result if the Group was unable to continue as a going concern.

 

 

 

2.  Financial reporting period

 

The unaudited condensed interim financial information incorporates comparative figures for the unaudited six-month interim period to 31 March 2019 and the audited financial year for the year ended 30 September 2019.  The six-month financial information to 31 March 2020 is neither audited nor reviewed.  In the opinion of the Directors the unaudited condensed interim financial information for the period presents fairly the financial position, results from operations and cash flows for the period in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

 

The financial information contained in this unaudited interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined by the Isle of Man Companies Act 2006.  It does not include all disclosures that would otherwise be required in a complete set of financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the 2019 Annual Report.  The comparatives for the full year ended 30 September 2019 are not the Group's full statutory accounts for that year.  The auditors' report on those accounts was unqualified but did include a material uncertainty paragraph in respect of going concern.

 

3.  Operating Loss

 

 

Unaudited

Six months

ended

31 March

Unaudited

Six months

ended

31 March

Audited

Year

ended

30 September

 

2020

2019

2019

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

The following items have been charged in arriving at operating loss:

Directors' remuneration

264

101

220

Share-based payment (credit)/charges for directors

(19)

60

93

Auditors' remuneration

15

15

31

Operating leases for land and buildings-short term assets

19

17

37

 

Directors' remuneration for the period ended 31 March 2020 includes £150,000 of compensation and ex gratia payments to Andrew Jones, which was settled post the period end.  Of the credit to profit and loss for share-based payments, approximately £35,000 arises from the reversal of charges previously recognised for unvested options awarded to Mr Jones that have now lapsed, and the replacement of the lapsed options with a similar number of warrants exercisable on similar terms.

 

4.  Loss per share

 

Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the losses attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.  Reconciliations of the losses and weighted average number of shares used in the calculations are set out below.

 

 

Losses

Weighted average number of shares

Per share amount

Six months ended 31March2020

£'000

 

Pence

Basic and Diluted EPS

 

 

 

Losses attributable to ordinary shareholders on continuing operations

(355)

221,025,507

(0.16)

 

Losses

Weighted average number of shares

Per share amount

Six months ended 31March2019

£'000

 

Pence

Basic and Diluted EPS

 

 

 

Losses attributable to ordinary shareholders on continuing operations

(459)

82,243,757

(0.56)

 

Losses

Weighted average number of shares

Per share amount

Year ended 30 September 2019

£'000

 

Pence

Basic and Diluted EPS

 

 

 

Losses attributable to ordinary shareholders on continuing operations

(749)

102,524,614

(0.73)

 

5.  Intangible assets

 

 

Oil & Gas Exploration and development licences

Oil & Gas Patents and patent applications

Total

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

Cost, net of impairment and amortisation

 

 

At 1 October 2017 and 31 March 2018 (unaudited)

7,627

23

7,650

Additions

193

11

204

Translation differences and amortisation

227

(6)

221

At 30 September 2018 (audited)

8,047

28

8,075

Additions

148

-

148

Translation differences and amortisation

(2)

(3)

(5)

At 31 March 2019 (unaudited)

8,193

25

8,218

Additions

495

(1)

494

Translation differences and amortisation

512

(2)

510

At 30 September 2019 (audited)

9,200

22

9,222

Additions

124

-

124

Translation differences and amortisation

(122)

(3)

(125)

At 31 March 2020 (unaudited)

9,202

19

9,221

 

 

 

 

Net book value

 

 

 

At 31 March 2020 (unaudited)

9,202

19

9,221

At 30 September 2019 (audited)

9,200

22

9,222

At 31 March 2019 (unaudited)

8,193

25

8,218

 

The exploration and development licences comprise nine Utah oil shale leases covering approximately 15,488 acres. In respect of leases ML 49570 and ML 49571, independent natural resources consultants SRK Consulting (Australasia) Pty Ltd, part of the internationally recognised SRK Group, reported in March 2019 best estimate Contingent Resources (2C) of, in aggregate, 131.3 million barrels ("MM bbl") of oil assessed under Petroleum Resources Management System ("PRMS") guidelines, plus a best estimate Prospective Resource (2U) of, in aggregate, 442.8 MM bbl oil across the Leases.  This included the Holliday A Block, where the Field Test has been undertaken, with 2C Contingent Resources of 57.3 MM bbl of oil and 2U Prospective Resources of 84.7 MM bbl of oil.  The Directors continue to consider the Holliday A Block to be prospective and are seeking methods of extracting the shale oil through development of TurboShale's RF technologies.  The claim areas and the Group's interest in them is:

 

Asset

Per cent

Interest

Licence

Status

Expiry Date

Licence Area (Acres)

ML 49570

100

Prospect

31/12/2024

1,638.84

ML 49571

100

Prospect

31/12/2024

1,280.00

ML 48801

100

Prospect

01/10/2021

1,918.50

ML 48802

100

Prospect

01/10/2021

1,920.00

ML 48803

100

Prospect

01/10/2021

1,920.00

ML 48806

100

Prospect

01/12/2023

1,880.00

ML 49236

100

Prospect

01/12/2023

2,624.21

ML 49237

100

Prospect

01/12/2023

1,666.67

ML 50151

100

Prospect

30/11/2025

640.00

 

In performing an assessment of the carrying value of the exploration licences at the reporting date, the Directors concluded that it was not appropriate to book an impairment given the measured resource, the licence term and the continued plans to explore and develop the block, including the new technologies which TurboShale is seeking to develop.

 

The outcome of ongoing exploration, and therefore whether the carrying value of the exploration licences will ultimately be recovered, is inherently uncertain and is dependent upon successful development of commercially viable extraction technology.  If the required additional funding was not to be made available to the Group or commercially viable extraction technologies cannot be developed, the carrying value of the asset might need to be impaired.

 

During the 2018/2019 financial year, the field test was carried out.

 

6.  Share Capital

 

 

31 March

31 March

30 September

 

2020

2019

2019

 

unaudited

unaudited

audited

 

Number of shares

Number of shares

Number of shares

Issued and fully paid

 

 

 

Number of ordinary shares of no par value

275,759,235

117,612,452

133,451,543

 

7.  Warrants

 

 

31 March

31 March

30 September

 

2020

2019

2019

 

unaudited

unaudited

audited

Outstanding (number)

82,341,515

3,035,091

967,429

Exercisable (number)

82,341,515

3,035,091

967,429

Weighted average exercise price (pence)

1.5

2.7

4.4

 

8.  Post balance sheet events

 

Joint venture

 

The Group established a joint venture company, Greenfield Energy LLC, in partnership with Valkor LLC to pursue the development of an oil sands plant.

 

Share options

 

New options over 14 million shares were granted to the Directors at an exercise price of 0.6p per share.  The options are exercisable for five years from the date of vesting, with 50% vesting on or after 30 November 2020 and 50% vesting on or after 31 May 2021.


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