Vår Energi is on track for growth and value creation and delivers strong financial results in a quarter with record high production.
'We are pleased to deliver a record high production of 299 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (kboepd) for the quarter. As one of the world’s fastest growing E&Ps, our commitment to increase production to around 400 kboepd by end 2025 remains firm. Strong financial performance continues to provide attractive and predictable shareholder returns. The quarter was further characterised by good operational performance and the completion of the Neptune Energi Norge acquisition in January. We expect the two organisations to be fully integrated within the second quarter, enabling the realisation of synergies of around USD 500 million post tax over time.
Our key development projects, Johan Castberg and Balder X, continue to progress, with targeted start-up’s maintained as previously communicated. Also, our exploration efforts continue to generate positive results, with the discovery of Ringhorne North in the Balder Area, a potential tie-back to existing infrastructure.
The recent inclusion of Vår Energi in the Oslo Stock Exchange ESG Index is a motivating recognition and adds weight to our commitment to take a leading ESG position.' Nick Walker, the CEO of Vår Energi
Strong financial performance
- Total income in the quarter was USD 1956 million, an increase of USD 257 million from last quarter
- Achieved realised gas price of USD 67 per boe, USD 14 per boe above spot price
- Unit production cost better than guidance with USD 12 per boe in the quarter
- Solid cash flow from operations of USD 1009 million
- Vår Energi included in the Oslo Stock Exchange ESG index: OBX ESG
Continued attractive and predictable dividends
- Dividend of USD 270 million (NOK 1.192 per share) for the first quarter will be distributed 8 May
- Dividend guidance of USD 270 million for the second quarter of 2024, with a dividend distribution of approximately 30% of CFFO after tax for the full year
- Solid balance sheet following Neptune acquisition with leverage ratio of 0.7x
Good operational performance
- Production of 299 kboepd, an increase of 33% from previous quarter
- Breidablikk at plateau in first quarter
- Neptune Energy Norge acquisition closed 31 January 2024, and consolidated from 1 January 2024
Progressing towards ~400 kboepd by end-2025 and unlocking future value
- Johan Castberg and Balder X projects making progress towards completion, targeted start-up’s maintained in fourth quarter 2024
- 7 of 8 sanctioned projects with start-up’s by end-2025 are more than 50% complete
- Discovery at Ringhorne North in the Balder Area
Click here for Vår Energi Q1 2024 Presentation
Source: Vår Energi
