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Ithaca Energy gets quote rights on Eni's UK properties, profit slips

Ithaca Energy has actually been provided a fourweek exclusivity duration by Italy's Eni, to make an offer for UK expedition and production properties that might broaden its output enormously, the Londonlisted business stated on Wednesday.

Purchasing those properties, consisting of those of Eni's just recently obtained Neptune Energy, could include a further 40,000-45,000. barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) to Ithaca's output,. taking the total to more than 100,000 boe/d.

In return, Ithaca would issue brand-new shares to Eni, which will. end up being a major investor by holding some 38% to 39% of the. enlarged share capital of Ithaca.

Although the discussions are at a sophisticated stage, there. can be no certainty that a Prospective Mix will happen,. Ithaca said.

The transaction becomes part of Eni's broader technique focused on. establishing companies focused on a geographical location or a. particular activity and share the financial investment efforts with a. partner.

Under a similar reasoning, in 2022 Eni teamed up with BP. to develop Azule Energy, which integrates the 2 groups' upstream. businesses in Angola.

Individually, Ithaca's full-year profit dropped to $215.6. million from $1.03 billion, due to problems associated with its. oil and gas jobs and a much heavier tax expense.

Ithaca, owned by Tel Aviv-listed Delek Group,. incurred a $557.9 million pretax problems charge on its. Greater Stella Area and Alba tasks and was charged a $333.4. million costs under Britain's Energy Revenue Levy (EPL).

Shares in Ithaca Energy increased about 2.5% after the 2. statements.

Interim President Iain Lewis, who stepped up from CFO. when Alan Bruce stepped down in January, will have to contend. with another year of the windfall tax after British finance. minister Jeremy Hunt this month extended the EPL by a year to. 2029.

The extension ... highlights the continued fiscal. uncertainty our sector faces, Lewis stated.

Ithaca is targeting 2024 production in between 56,000 and. 61,000 boe/d this year, before increasing once again towards 80,000 boe/d. by 2027. The company produced about 70,239 boe/d in 2023.

The lower predicted 2024 output is because of delayed or. cancelled projects at a number of its oil and gas fields, the. business said, with the EPL straight resulting in lower near-term. investment.

Still, Ithaca intends to double the net capital investment on. its Rosebank oil advancement this year, to in between $190 and $230. million from $97 million in 2023, as it eyes beginning oil. production there by 2026/27.

The British government offered Ithaca and 80%- stake-owning. partner Equinor the go-ahead in September 2023 to. develop Rosebank, the aging North Sea basin's biggest brand-new. job in years.

Ithaca's decline in yearly earnings was capped by trading. gains of $266 million which assisted it to understand a gas rate of. $ 111/boe after hedging compared to $76/boe before hedging.

(source: Reuters)