San Leon Acquires 10% Interest In New Nigerian Oil Export System
San Leon, the independent oil and gas production, development and exploration company focused on Nigeria, has announced that it is investing US$15 million in Energy Link Infrastructure (Malta) Limited (ELI), the company which owns the Alternative Crude Oil Evacuation System (ACOES) project. As previously announced, the ACOES is being constructed to provide a dedicated oil export route from the OML 18 asset, comprising a new pipeline from OML 18 and a floating storage and offloading vessel (FSO). Once commissioned, the system is expected by Eroton to reduce the downtime and allocated pipeline losses currently associated with the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL), to below 10%. In addition, it is anticipated that the FSO project will improve overall well uptime.
The investment comprises a 10% equity interest in ELI together with a US$15 million shareholder loan at a coupon of 14% per annum over 4 years, and repayable quarterly following a one-year moratorium from the date of investment. Funds will be provided to ELI in two tranches with the first US$10 million tranche being made by San Leon this week. The second tranche of US$5 million is expected to be made in Q4 2020 following receipt from Midwestern Leon Petroleum Limited of the next repayment of Loan Notes that is due then.
The Board believes that the ACOES will have a significant effect on the operation of OML 18, primarily through the reduction of downtime and losses associated with the existing export route. ELI, through its Nigerian subsidiary, will earn fees for transporting and storing crude oil from OML 18 and potential third parties. As a shareholder in ELI, San Leon stands to benefit from what the Board considers can be a very profitable operation in the medium to long term.
Oisin Fanning, Chief Executive officer, commented:
“We are delighted to make this investment, which is in line with our strategy of investing in assets with near-term cash flow, where the initial investment is considered to be of limited risk and where there is material upside. The ACOES is expected to generate regular cash flow once commissioned in the coming quarters, whilst also providing the significant benefits to downtime and losses reduction for OML 18 which we have previously described.
“The structure of the transaction, which combines an equity investment in the project together with a loan, gives us the opportunity to generate a meaningful return from loan repayments in the coming years as well as looking forward to a longer-term dividend return from our shareholding in ELI. Following the recent maiden special dividend paid to San Leon shareholders, the Company anticipates that equity income from the ELI shareholding will contribute to further future dividends to San Leon shareholders.”