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AfrOil                                      NEWS IN BRIEF                                              AfrOil



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       PERFORMANCE                         multitude of industrial users.       Tanzania on how to best address these goals
                                              The Mnazi Bay JV Partners continue to   Katherine Roe, CEO of Wentworth, said: “I
       Wentworth Resources                 progress the 2022 work programme, which is  am delighted that Wentworth has made such a
                                           focused on ensuring reliable gas production  strong start to the year with production, support-
       announces operational               through diligent field maintenance. The Opera-  ing our full year guidance and providing the con-
                                           tor will conduct essential maintenance during a  fidence to announce a further dividend increase
       update ahead of AGM                 two-day shut down planned for late June.  and maintain our attractive yield, one of the
                                              The health and safety of the employees at  highest in the independent E&P sector. Mnazi
       Wentworth, the independent, Tanzania-focused  Mnazi Bay remains of paramount importance  Bay continues to provide Tanzania with approx-
       natural gas production company, has announced  as is evidenced with our continued efforts to  imately half of the country’s natural gas demand
       an operational update ahead of its Annual Gen-  ensure robust health and safety standards. As  and our contribution to the country’s growth will
       eral Meeting (AGM) to be held today.  of May 31, 2022, the Mnazi Bay operations have  be further enhanced by our recently announced
         Following record production achieved in  reported zero lost time incidents for a period of  acquisition of a 25% stake in the nearby Ruvuma
       2021, Wentworth and its joint venture partners  five years and 301 days. Evaluation of the Mnazi  gas development project. Ruvuma is a transfor-
       continued to realise strong production rates  Bay licence area for additional exploration and  mational transaction for Wentworth and repre-
       throughout 2022, recording an average produc-  production potential is ongoing.  sents an attractively priced, low risk entry into
       tion rate of 92 mcf per day year to date. The five   Financial: Declared a final dividend in respect  a high growth opportunity which cements our
       producing wells in the Mnazi Bay field and the  of FY 2021 of GBP0.0116 pence per share  position as a leading supplier of domestic gas to
       associated joint venture operated facilities con-  ($2.6mn); a total dividend distribution in respect  Tanzania.”
       tinued to perform well and without issues. Fur-  of 2021 of GBP0.017 per share ($4.0mn), repre-  Wentworth Resources, June 22 2022
       thermore, the reductions in natural gas demand  senting an increase from 2020 ($3.8mn) and a
       typically seen during the wetter months, April  yield of approximately 7.1% (based on current
       and May, were less severe and shorter, compared  market capitalisation). Debt free with cash on   POLICY
       to previous years. The Company’s production  hand of $26mn.
       guidance for the year, provided in January 2022,   TPDC receivables: $2.4mn, representing one   IFC, local energy firm
       remains unchanged at 75-85 mcf per day.  month of gas sales (fully current). TANESCO
         The Government of Tanzania remains pos-  receivables: $753,000, representing six months   Sodigaz deepen partnership
       itive in their recent announcements regarding  of gas sales ($615,000, representing five months
       their willingness to progress and promote pro-  of gas sales in arrears).  to supply clean, reliable
       jects of national interest and it is expected that   Corporate: Actively progressing the Compa-
       these positive actions will continue to promote  ny’s strategy to diversify the asset portfolio with   energy in Burkina Faso
       further growth potential for the Tanzanian  high quality growth opportunities as demon-
       economy.                            strated with the recent Ruvuma acquisition.  With the aim of boosting access to cleaner and
         With the Company’s recent agreement to  Strict commitment to maintain sustainable  more reliable energy in Burkina Faso, includ-
       acquire Scirocco Energy Plc’s 25% interest in the  progressive capital returns. Continued focus on  ing for rural households, International Finance
       Ruvuma PSA, Wentworth is pleased to report  growth within Tanzania and the broader region  Corp. (IFC), an arm of the World Bank, has
       that work on the 338 square km 3D seismic, over  by capitalising on a strong operational track  announced a local currency financing package
       the discovery and potential development area, is  record and in-depth local knowledge.  for Sodigaz, one of the country’s leading energy
       progressing positively and is intended to provide   Maintenance of a highly skilled Board and  companies.
       data critical to the development of the field and  management team. Progressively engaged with   IFC’s support will help Sodigaz increase the
       to optimise further drilling locations. The opera-  shareholders by providing regular updates and  distribution of LPG to underserved rural house-
       tor, ARA Petroleum Tanzania, has indicated that  management access.      holds across Burkina Faso and bring solar energy
       the Chikumbi-1 well will be drilled following the   Sustainability: In light of the COP26 confer-  to a 1,000-unit affordable housing project near
       completion of the seismic programme and that  ence in 2021, Tanzania announced its commit-  the capital, Ouagadougou, contributing to better
       first gas from the project is possible by late 2024,  ment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%  health outcomes and supporting the country’s
       following the award of a 25-year development  by 2030. In doing so, the Government cemented  transition to cleaner energy.
       licence and construction of a pipeline connect-  its commitment to decreasing its already limited   The €12.4mn financing package announced
       ing the field to the Madimba gas processing facil-  emissions output and reinforcing incentives for  on June 16 consists of a local currency loan up
       ity which is located within the Mnazi Bay licence  low-carbon energy sources such as natural gas.  to the equivalent of €8.4mn in CFA francs from
       area. The Company looks forward to updating  Natural gas will play a critical role in meeting  IFC’s own account and a parallel loan equivalent
       the market as operations on this transforma-  a reduction in emissions with reliable baseload  to €4mn in CFA francs mobilised from a partner
       tional new project progress.        electricity helping to further replace carbon-in-  commercial bank. The investment will support
         Operational Highlights and Outlook: Aver-  tensive off-grid fuel sources such as heavy fuel  the expansion of Sodigaz’s LPG distribution
       age daily production year to date is 92.2 mcf per  oil and diesel.       infrastructure in rural and urban areas and the
       day (gross), compared with 79.9 mcf per day   Ongoing ESG strategy remains a priority fol-  construction of a 1.54 MWp (megawatt-peak)
       (gross) during the same period in 2021. Record  lowing the publication of Wentworth’s second  solar plant.
       quarterly average daily production of 98.5 mcf  Sustainability Report for 2021; it addresses how   Only about 20% of the population of Bur-
       per day (gross) achieved in Q1-2022. Wentworth  Wentworth proactively manages its impacts by  kina Faso is connected to the grid (around 65%
       and Mnazi Bay JV Partners supply approxi-  upholding relevant international standards and  in urban areas and less than 5% in rural areas),
       mately 50% of natural gas demand in Tanzania,  adopting a responsible approach to doing busi-  limiting social and economic development, with
       which is primarily used for essential baseload  ness in Tanzania; the Company is progressing  much of the population of 21m reliant on wood
       electricity but is also expanding to include a  its initiatives with Vitol and the Government of  and charcoal for cooking.



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