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Enwell Energy PLC

21 December 2023

21 December 2023

ENWELL ENERGY PLC

2022 AUDITED RESULTS

Enwell Energy plc ("Enwell Energy" or the "Company", and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), the AIM-quoted (AIM: ENW) oil and gas exploration and production group, today announces its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2022.

2022 Highlights

Operational

 
            --              Aggregate average daily production of 2,956 boepd (calculated 
                             on the days when the Group's fields were actually in production) 
                             (2021: 4,730 boepd) 
            --              SV-31 development well successfully completed and brought 
                             on production in Q2 2022 
            --              SC-4 appraisal well tested and produced hydrocarbons from 
                             its primary target reservoir in Q4 2022 
            --              GOL-107 development well successfully completed in Q4 
                             2023 and is undergoing long-term test production 
 

Financial

 
 --   Revenue of $133.4 million (2021: $121.4 million), up 10%, 
       primarily as a result of significantly higher gas prices 
 --   Gross profit of $85.9 million (2021: $73.9 million), up 
       16% 
 --   Operating profit of $75.8 million (2021: $66.2 million), 
       up 15%, predominantly as a result of significantly higher 
       gas prices 
 --   Net profit of $60.2 million (2021: $51.1 million), up 
       18% 
 --   Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $88.7 
       million as at 31 December 2022 (2021: $92.5 million), 
       and of $79.1 million as at 14 December 2023 
 --   Average realised gas, condensate and LPG prices in Ukraine 
       were significantly higher, particularly gas and LPG prices, 
       at $960/Mm3 (UAH30,341/Mm3), $73/bbl and $143/bbl respectively 
       (2021: $432/Mm3 (UAH11,677/Mm3) gas, $69/bbl condensate 
       and $80/bbl LPG) 
 --   Interim dividend of 15 pence per ordinary share, GBP48.1 
       million in aggregate, paid in June 2023 (2021: nil) 
 

Outlook

 
 --   The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has had 
       a significant impact on all aspects of life in Ukraine, 
       including the Group's business and operations, with all 
       field operations being suspended for safety reasons from 
       24 February to 15 March 2022, after which production operations 
       and some field activities resumed at the MEX-GOL and SV 
       fields, and subsequently at the VAS field and SC licence 
       area. The scale and duration of disruption to the Group's 
       business is currently unknown, and there remains significant 
       uncertainty about the outcome of the war in Ukraine 
 --   In April and May 2023, the Ukrainian authorities took 
       a number of regulatory actions against the Group, which 
       included the suspension of the VAS production licence 
       and SC exploration licence, and consequently all work 
       at these licences has been suspended 
 --   Subject to the resolution of the regulatory issues and 
       the Group's ability to operate safely, development work 
       planned for the remainder of 2023 and 2024 at the MEX-GOL 
       and SV fields includes planning the deepening of the MEX-109 
       well to explore a deeper horizon, investigating the hydraulic 
       fracturing of the SV-29 well, planning a workover of the 
       MEX-102 well to access a shallower horizon, investigating 
       the possible sidetracking of the MEX-119 well to access 
       additional reserves, installing additional compression 
       equipment and upgrading the flow-line network and other 
       field infrastructure 
 --   Further work on the VAS field and SC licence area will 
       remain suspended until there is a resolution of the regulatory 
       issues, including the lifting of the suspension orders 
 --   Currently, the Group retains approximately a quarter of 
       its cash outside Ukraine, which enhances the Group's ability 
       to navigate the current risk environment for the foreseeable 
       future, and provides a material buffer to any further 
       disruptions to the Group's operations 
 --   Development programme for the remainder of 2023 and 2024 
       expected to be funded from existing cash resources and 
       operational cash flow 
 

Sergii Glazunov, CEO, commented : "While 2022 was a strong operational year for Enwell Energy, these achievements are entirely overshadowed by the ongoing war in Ukraine, which is having a huge impact on all aspects of life and business in Ukraine. We were able to continue production at our MEX-GOL and SV fields, which is testament to the diligence and fortitude of our operational team, but unfortunately, regulatory action taken by the Ukrainian authorities has resulted in our VAS production licence and SC exploration licence being currently suspended."

The Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2022 will shortly be available on the Company's website and will be posted to shareholders on 27 December 2023, and a formal Notice of Annual General Meeting will follow later during January 2024.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation No. 596/2014, which forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended.

For further information, please contact:

 
 Enwell Energy plc                          Tel: 020 3427 
                                             3550 
 Chris Hopkinson, Chairman 
 Sergii Glazunov, Chief Executive Officer 
 Bruce Burrows, Finance Director 
 
 Strand Hanson Limited                      Tel: 020 7409 
                                             3494 
 Rory Murphy / Matthew Chandler 
 
 Zeus Capital Limited                       Tel: 020 7614 
                                             5900 
 Alexandra Campbell-Harris (Corporate 
  Finance) 
 Simon Johnson (Corporate Broking) 
 
 Citigate Dewe Rogerson                     Tel: 020 7638 
                                             9571 
 Ellen Wilton 
 

Dr Gehrig Schultz, BSc Geophysical Engineering, PhD Geophysics, Member of the European Association of Geophysical Engineers, Member of the Executive Coordinating Committee of the Continental European Energy Council, and a Non-Executive Director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this announcement in his capacity as a qualified person, as required under the AIM Rules for Companies.

 
 Glossary 
 
 AAPG       American Association of Petroleum Geologists 
 Arkona     LLC Arkona Gas-Energy 
 bbl        barrel 
 bbl/d      barrels per day 
 Bm(3)      thousands of millions of cubic metres 
 boe        barrels of oil equivalent 
 boepd      barrels of oil equivalent per day 
 Bscf       thousands of millions of scf 
 Company    Enwell Energy plc 
 D&M        DeGolyer and MacNaughton 
 EUR        Euro 
 Group      Enwell Energy plc and its subsidiaries 
 km         kilometre 
 km(2)      square kilometre 
 LPG        liquefied petroleum gas 
 MEX-GOL    Mekhediviska-Golotvshinska 
 m(3)       cubic metres 
 m(3)/d     cubic metres per day 
 Mboe       thousand barrels of oil equivalent 
 Mm(3)      thousand cubic metres 
 MMbbl      million barrels 
 MMboe      million barrels of oil equivalent 
 MMm(3)     million cubic metres 
 MMscf      million scf 
 MMscf/d    million scf per day 
 Mtonnes    thousand tonnes 
 %          per cent. 
 QCA Code   Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance 
             Code 2018 
 QHSE       quality, health, safety and environment 
 SC         Svystunivsko-Chervonolutskyi 
 scf        standard cubic feet measured at 20 degrees 
             Celsius and one atmosphere 
 SPE        Society of Petroleum Engineers 
 SPEE       Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers 
 SV         Svyrydivske 
 Tscf       trillion scf 
 $          United States Dollar 
 UAH        Ukrainian Hryvnia 
 VAS        Vasyschevskoye 
 VED        Vvdenska 
 WPC        World Petroleum Council 
 

Chairman's Statement

I present the 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements in circumstances that I wish were different. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 and the ongoing conflict has created a very challenging and worrying outlook for both the current and future situation in Ukraine, and I am greatly saddened by the terrible events occurring there.

The invasion has had a significant impact on all aspects of life in Ukraine, including the Group's business and operations, with all field operations being suspended for safety reasons from 24 February to 15 March 2022, after which production operations and some limited field activities resumed at the MEX-GOL and SV fields. Subsequently, in July 2022, drilling operations on the SC-4 well resumed on the SC licence area to complete the well, and in October 2022, production operations resumed at the VAS field. The overall scale and duration of disruption to the Group's business is currently unknown, and there remains significant uncertainty about the outcome of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Notwithstanding the disruption caused by the war, during 2022, the Group continued with some development activities at the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS gas and condensate fields and SC licence in north-eastern Ukraine. At the SV field, the SV-31 development well was completed and brought on production in May 2022. At the MEX-GOL field, the GOL-107 development well was completed in late October 2023, and after initial testing demonstrated gas flows from the well, albeit at lower than expected rates, the well has now been hooked up to the gas processing facilities for longer-term testing to establish its optimal operating parameters and to assess whether stimulation may improve production rates. Additionally, at the MEX-GOL field, planning has continued for the deepening of the MEX-109 well to explore a deeper horizon, a workover of the MEX-102 well to access a shallower horizon and investigating the possible sidetracking of the MEX-119 well to access additional reserves. At the SV-29 development well, additional horizons were perforated and tested but stabilised production was not established and, consequently, the possible hydraulic fracturing of the well is under consideration. Drilling of the SC-4 appraisal well on the SC licence area was completed and testing of this well demonstrated strong flow rates of gas and condensate, and planning for the installation of surface facilities and pipelines has been undertaken. At the VAS field, planning for the further development of the field continued.

Aggregate average daily production (calculated on the days when the fields were actually in production) from the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields during the year was 2,956 boepd, which is lower than the aggregate daily production rate of 4,730 boepd achieved during 2021 due to the disruption caused by the war and natural field decline.

Although production volumes were lower, the dramatic rise in gas prices during the year has meant that revenues were still strong at $133.4 million (2021: $121.4 million). The Group's net profit was also higher at $60.2 million (2021: $51.1 million), operating profit was $75.8 million (2021: $66.2 million), but cash generated from operations declined to $47.5 million (2021: $77.6 million), predominantly due to a build-up of receivables.

There is significant disruption to the fiscal and economic environment in Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict resulting in a contraction in the economy, an increase in the rate of inflation and a weakening of the Ukrainian Hryvnia against other currencies. Furthermore, it is likely that fiscal and economic uncertainties will continue in the future until an acceptable resolution of the war occurs.

The Ukrainian Government has implemented a number of reforms in the oil and gas sector in recent years, which include the deregulation of the gas supply market in late 2015, and subsequently, simplification of the regulatory procedures applicable to oil and gas exploration and production activities in Ukraine.

The deregulation of the gas supply market, supported by electronic gas trading platforms and improved pricing transparency, has meant that Ukrainian market prices for gas broadly correlated with imported gas prices. During 2022, gas prices increased significantly, reflecting a similar trend in European gas prices, substantially as a result of the disruption to worldwide oil and gas supplies caused by the conflict. Condensate and LPG prices were also higher by comparison to the previous year for the same reason.

Restructuring of Smart Holding Group

In January 2023, the Company was notified that there had been a restructuring of the ownership of the PJSC Smart-Holding Group, a member of which held a major shareholding in the Company, and which was ultimately controlled by Mr Vadym Novynskyi ("Mr Novynskyi"). Under this restructuring, which occurred with effect from 1 December 2022, Mr Novynskyi disposed of his major indirect shareholding interest in the Company to two trusts registered in Cyprus named the SMART Trust and the STEP Trust. Further information is contained in the Company's announcement dated 17 January 2023, and the TR-1 Forms published on 26 January 2023.

Regulatory Actions by Ukrainian Authorities and Suspension of VAS and SC Licences

In early December 2022, the Ukrainian Government imposed sanctions on Mr Novynskyi, as set out in the Company's announcement dated 9 December 2022.

As announced on 4 January 2023, new legislation, Law No. 2805-IX, relating to the natural resources sector was enacted in Ukraine, which came into force on 28 March 2023. This legislation is a substantial package of new procedures and reforms designed to improve the regulatory process relating to the exploration and development of natural resources in Ukraine. However, the legislation includes provisions that if the ultimate beneficial owner of a mineral or hydrocarbon licence becomes the subject of sanctions in Ukraine, then the State Geologic and Subsoil Survey of Ukraine (the "SGSS") may suspend or revoke that licence.

Following Law No. 2805-IX coming into force on 28 March 2023 , the Ukrainian authorities have taken a number of regulatory actions against certain of the Group's subsidiary companies in Ukraine.

As announced on 12 April 2023, such regulatory actions included conducting a search at the Group's Yakhnyky office, from where the MEX-GOL and SV fields are operated, and placing certain physical assets of the Ukrainian branch (representative) office of Regal Petroleum Corporation Limited ("RPC") and LLC Arkona Gas-Energy ("Arkona") (which respectively hold the MEX-GOL and SV fields and the SC exploration licence) under seizure, thereby restricting any actions that would change registration of the property rights relating to such assets, although the use of such assets was not restricted and therefore the Company has been able to continue to operate and produce gas and condensate from the MEX-GOL and SV fields. In addition, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine (the "MoJ") made an Order cancelling the registration entry made on behalf of a subsidiary of the Company named LLC Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individuals-entrepreneurs and Civil Institutions of Ukraine (the "State Register") relating to the ultimate beneficial owners of such company, which were stated as being the trustees of the SMART Trust and STEP Trust as previously notified to the Company, thereby restoring the previous entry in the State Register, Mr Novynskyi. Furthermore, the SGSS issued an Order to RPC requiring that additional information be provided and/or violations be eliminated in the disclosures relating to the ultimate beneficial owners of the MEX-GOL and SV licences respectively.

On 2 May 2023, the MoJ made further Orders cancelling the registration entry made on behalf of three further Ukrainian subsidiaries of the Company named LLC Prom-Enerho Produkt ("PEP"), Arkona and LLC Well Investum ("Well Investum") respectively in the State Register relating to the ultimate beneficial owners of such companies, which again were stated as being the trustees of the SMART Trust and STEP Trust, thereby restoring the previous entry, Mr Novynskyi. PEP holds the VAS production licence, Arkona holds the SC exploration licence and Well Investum is a dormant company.

Following the issuance of the abovementioned Orders by the MoJ, Mr Novynskyi is registered in the State Register as the ultimate beneficial owner of each of PEP and Arkona, and is consequently recognised by the SGSS as the ultimate beneficial owner of each of the VAS production licence and SC exploration licence. As a result, on 4 May 2023, the SGSS issued orders suspending the VAS production licence and SC exploration licence for a period of 5 years effective from that date. Accordingly, the Company ceased all field and production operations on the VAS and SC licence areas.

New Auditor and Temporary Suspension from trading on AIM

In December 2022, as a result of the sanctions imposed on Mr Novynskyi, the Company's previous auditor resigned, but I am now pleased to welcome Zenith Audit Ltd as the Company's new auditor, with such appointment being finalised in September 2023. As the Company did not have an auditor prior to the appointment of Zenth Audit Ltd, it was not able to publish and post its audited 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements to shareholders by the requisite deadline of 30 June 2023 as required by Rule 19 of the AIM Rules for Companies. As a result, trading in the Company's ordinary shares on AIM was suspended with effect from 3 July 2023 pending the Company's compliance with such requirements. However, with the publication and posting to shareholders of this 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements, and upon the forthcoming publication of the Company's unaudited interim results for the six month period ended 30 June 2023, which is anticipated to occur shortly, it is currently expected that the suspension from trading will be lifted.

Board Changes

In August 2022, Dmitry Sazonenko stepped down from the Board, and Dr Gehrig Schultz joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director. Gehrig is a very experienced geoscientist, and provides valuable technical input in the oversight of the Company's operations.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Dmitry for his valued contribution during his tenure with the Company, and to welcome Gehrig to the Board.

Interim Dividend

On 15 June 2023, the Company paid an interim dividend of 15 pence per ordinary share, aggregating to approximately GBP48.1 million, which was the Company's maiden dividend payment to its shareholders.

Outlook

The ongoing war in Ukraine means that there is a devastating humanitarian situation in Ukraine, as well as extreme challenges to the fiscal, economic and business environment. This has been exacerbated in respect of the Group by the regulatory actions of the Ukrainian authorities, culminating in the suspension of the VAS and SC licences.

These circumstances mean that it is extremely difficult to plan future investment and operational activities at the Group's fields but, subject to resolution of the current regulatory issues with the Ukrainian authorities, and subject to it being safe to do so, the Group is planning to undertake further limited development activities during the remainder of 2023 and beyond in order to continue the development of its fields. However, in doing so, the Group is taking and will take all measures available to protect and safeguard its personnel and business, with the safety and wellbeing of its personnel and contractors being paramount. The Group retains a pproximately a quarter of its cash reserves outside Ukraine, and this provides a material buffer to any further disruptions to the Group's operations. This has enabled the Board to reach the opinion that the Group has sufficient resources to navigate the current risk environment for the foreseeable future.

In conclusion, on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all of our staff for the continued dedication and support they showed during the 2022 year, especially their remarkable fortitude since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Chris Hopkinson

Chairman

Chief Executive's Statement

Introduction

The war in Ukraine has materially disrupted the Group's development activity at its Ukrainian fields during 2022, with operations suspended for safety reasons at all fields immediately after the Russian invasion in February 2022. However, production operations and some field activities resumed at the MEX-GOL and SV fields in mid-March 2022, and this enabled the completion of the SV-31 development well, which came on production in May 2022. At the SV-29 development well, further intervals were perforated, but it was not possible to establish a stabilised flow rate, and the potential hydraulic fracturing of this well is now under consideration. In addition, upgrades to the gas processing facilities were completed. The GOL-107 development well was completed in late October 2023 and, after initial testing of the well demonstrated gas flows, albeit at lower than expected rates, the well has now been hooked up to the gas processing facilities to undergo longer-term testing to establish its optimal operating parameters and assess whether stimulation of the well may improve flow rates.

On the SC licence area, drilling of the SC-4 appraisal well was suspended for a period, but drilling resumed in July 2022, and the well was completed and successfully tested in October 2022. In addition, the interpretation of the 150 km(2) of 3D seismic, which was acquired over the 2021-2022 winter period, was completed.

At the VAS field, all operations were suspended until October 2022, when production operations resumed. In addition, planning for the further development of the field, as well as for a proposed new well to explore the VED prospect within the VAS licence area continued.

Overall production in 2022 was lower than the 2021 year due to the disruption to production operations caused by the war in Ukraine and natural field decline.

Quality, Health, Safety and Environment ("QHSE")

The Group is committed to maintaining the highest QHSE standards and the effective management of these areas is an intrinsic element of its overall business ethos. The Group's QHSE policies and performance are overseen by the Health, Safety and Environment Committee. Through strict enforcement of the Group's QHSE policies, together with regular management meetings, training and the appointment of dedicated safety professionals, the Group strives to ensure that the impact of its business activities on its staff, contractors and the environment is as low as is reasonably practicable. The Group reports safety and environmental performance in accordance with industry practice and guidelines.

I am pleased to report that during 2022, a total of 704,773 man-hours of staff and contractor time were recorded without a Lost Time Incident occurring. The total number of safe man-hours now stands at over 4,997,406 man-hours without a Lost Time Incident. No environmental incidents were recorded during the year.

Production

The average daily production of gas, condensate and LPG for the 351 days that the MEX-GOL and SV fields were producing and for the 147 days that the VAS field was producing, in each case, during the year ended 31 December 2022 is shown below:

 
   Field          Gas         Condensate        LPG         Aggregate 
                (MMscf/d)       (bbl/d)       (bbl/d)         boepd 
              2022    2021   2022    2021   2022   2021   2022    2021 
             ------  -----  ------  -----  -----  -----  ------  ------ 
 
   MEX-GOL 
   & SV       11.0    18.9    445    681    318    308    2,604   4,237 
             ------  -----  ------  -----  -----  -----  ------  ------ 
 
   VAS         1.8    2.6     18      26     -      -      352     493 
             ------  -----  ------  -----  -----  -----  ------  ------ 
 
   Total      12.8    21.5    463    707    318    308    2,956   4,730 
             ------  -----  ------  -----  -----  -----  ------  ------ 
 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 meant that for safety reasons, the Group suspended all field operations for the period from 24 February to 15 March 2022, after which production operations and some field activities resumed at the MEX-GOL and SV fields, while all operations remained suspended at the VAS field and SC licence area. Subsequently, in July 2022, drilling resumed at the SC-4 well on the SC licence area and this well was completed and successfully tested in October 2022. Production operations remained suspended at the VAS field since it is located near Kharkiv in north-eastern Ukraine, which has experienced significant military activity, but in October 2022, production operations finally resumed at this field. As a result of the disruptions to operations caused by the war, the Group's average daily production for the 2022 year has been materially adversely affected.

In addition, as announced on 4 May 2023, as a result of regulatory actions by the Ukrainian authorities, the VAS production licence and the SC exploration licence have been suspended for a period of five years.

Nevertheless, production is currently continuing at the MEX-GOL and SV fields at a rate of approximately 2,200 boepd.

Operations

In the period leading up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there was relative fiscal and economic stability in Ukraine, as well as reductions in the subsoil tax rates and improvements in the regulatory procedures in the oil and gas sector in Ukraine. However, the war has caused significant disruption to the fiscal and economic conditions in Ukraine since then. During 2022, the material increase in gas prices in Europe did, however, feed through to the Group's realised prices in Ukraine, and provided a significant boost to the Group's revenues and profitability during the period.

During 2022, the Group continued to refine its geological subsurface models of the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields, as well as the SC licence area, in order to enhance its strategy for the further development of such fields and licence area, including the timing and level of future capital investment required to exploit the hydrocarbon resources.

At the MEX-GOL and SV fields, the SV-31 development well was completed in May 2022, having been drilled to a final depth of 5,240 metres. At that time, one interval, at a drilled depth of 5,210 - 5,219 metres, within the V-22 Visean formation was perforated, and, following initial testing, the well was hooked up to the gas processing facilities. The well has produced strongly since then, and pursuant to the plans for this well, two additional intervals, at drilled depths of 5,187 - 5,189 and 5,120 - 5,123 metres, respectively within the V-22 and V-21 Visean formations, have also been perforated to access additional reserves. These additional intervals have also proved productive and materially boosted production rates from this well.

At the SV-29 development well, additional intervals, at drilled depths of 4,955 - 4,960 and 5,037 - 5,046 metres, within the V-19 and V-20 Visean formation respectively were perforated, but such intervals were not productive. This well was completed in August 2021, having been drilled to a final depth of 5,450 metres. Previously, two intervals, at drilled depths of 5,246 - 5,249 metres and 5,228 - 5,232 metres respectively, within the V-22 Visean formation, were perforated, and although some gas flows were achieved, a stabilised flow from these intervals was not established. In light of the intermittent gas flows in these intervals, the possible hydraulic fracturing of the well is now under consideration.

Drilling of the GOL-107 development well, targeting production from the V-20 and V-23 Visean formations, commenced in December 2022 and was completed in late October 2023, with the well having been drilled to a final depth of 5,190 metres. One interval, at a drilled depth of 5,140 - 5,143 metres, within the V-23 formation, was perforated and demonstrated gas flows, but at lower than anticipated rates. The well has now been hooked up to the gas processing facilities to undergo longer-term testing to establish its optimal operating parameters and assess whether stimulation of the well may improve flow rates. The well is currently producing at a flow rate of approximately 353 MMscf/d of gas and 11 bbl/d of condensate (73 boepd in aggregate).

The Group continued to operate each of the SV-2 and SV-12 wells under joint venture agreements with NJSC Ukrnafta, the majority State-owned oil and gas producer. Under the agreements, the gas and condensate produced from the respective wells is sold under an equal net profit sharing arrangement between the Group and NJSC Ukrnafta, with the Group accounting for the hydrocarbons produced and sold from the wells as revenue, and the net profit share due to NJSC Ukrnafta being treated as a lease expense in cost of sales. However, during Q4 2021, the SV-2 well experienced water ingress and consequently had to be taken off production. A workover of this well was undertaken to replace the production string and remove obstructions in the well, but this work was unsuccessful and further remedial work is now being considered.

In addition, in Q4 2021, the MEX-109 well also experienced water ingress and as a result was taken off production. A workover of the well was commenced, and steps were taken to seal the source of the water ingress, but the work was suspended as a result of the Russian invasion. However, the workover operations have now been completed, and the previously producing horizon has now been sealed to prevent water ingress into that horizon, so as to avoid possible disruption to another well which is producing from the same horizon. As a result, further production from such horizon in this well will not be possible, and the possible deepening of this well to explore deeper horizons is now being considered.

Finally, at the MEX-GOL and SV fields, the upgrades to the gas processing facilities have been completed. These works involved an upgrade of the LPG extraction circuit, an increase to the flow capacity of the facilities, and a significant increase to the liquids tank storage capacity, which are designed to improve overall plant efficiencies, improve the quality of liquids produced and boost recoveries of LPG, while reducing environmental emissions.

On the SC licence area, after a period of suspension, drilling operations resumed at the SC-4 well in July 2022 and the well was drilled to its final depth of 5,585 metres. The well is primarily an appraisal well, targeting production from the V-22 horizon, as well as exploring the V-16 and V-21 horizons, in the Visean formation. The well was successfully tested, demonstrating stabilised flow rates of 3 MMscf/d of gas and 3 bbl/d of condensate (535 boepd in aggregate), and planning for the installation of gas processing and other surface facilities has been undertaken. In addition , the interpretation of the 1 50 km(2) of 3D seismic, that was acquired over the 2021 - 22 winter, was completed.

At the VAS field, production operations resumed in October 2022, and planning for the further development of the field, as well as for a proposed new well to explore the VED prospect within the VAS licence area, has continued.

Outlook

The ongoing war in Ukraine has caused significant disruption to the country as a whole and to the Group's business activities, and until there is a satisfactory resolution to the conflict, the disruption and uncertainty are likely to continue. However, subject to resolution of the current regulatory issues with the Ukrainian authorities and it being safe to do so, during the remainder of 2023 and 2024, the Group plans to continue the development of its fields to the extent it is possible to do so.

At the MEX-GOL and SV fields, the development programme includes planning the deepening of the MEX-109 well to explore a deeper horizon in the Visean formation, investigating the hydraulic fracturing of the SV-29 well, planning a workover of the MEX-102 well to access a shallower horizon, investigating the possible sidetracking of the MEX-119 well to access additional reserves, installing additional compression equipment and upgrading and maintaining the flow-line network and pipelines and other field infrastructure, as well as planning for the further development of the fields.

Further work on the VAS and SC licence areas will remain suspended until there is a resolution of the regulatory issues, including the lifting of the suspension orders made in respect of those licences.

Finally, I would like to add my thanks to all of our staff for the continued hard work and dedication they have shown over the course of 2022, and to especially recognise their continuing efforts and professionalism in the face of the extremely challenging current situation in Ukraine.

Sergii Glazunov

Chief Executive Officer

Overview of Assets

We operate four fields in the Dnieper-Donets basin in north-eastern Ukraine. Our fields have high potential for growth and longevity for future production - a strong foundation for success.

MEX-GOL and SV fields

The MEX-GOL and SV fields are held under two adjacent production licences, but are operated as one integrated asset, and have significant gas and condensate reserves and potential resources of unconventional gas.

Production Licences

We hold a 100% working interest in, and are the operator of, the MEX-GOL and SV fields. The production licences for the fields were granted to the Group in July 2004 with an initial duration of 20 years, and the duration of these licences have recently been extended to 2044 in order to fully develop the remaining reserves. The economic life of these fields extend to 2038 and 2042 respectively pursuant to the most recent reserves and resources assessment by DeGolyer and MacNaughton ("D&M") as at 31 December 2017.

The two licences, located in Ukraine's Poltava region, are adjacent and extend over a combined area of 253 km(2), approximately 200 km east of Kyiv.

Geology

Geologically, the fields are located towards the middle of the Dnieper-Donets sedimentary basin which extends across the major part of north-eastern Ukraine. The vast majority of Ukrainian gas and condensate production comes from this basin. The reservoirs comprise a series of gently dipping Carboniferous sandstones of Visean age inter-bedded with shales at around 4,700 metres below the surface, with a gross thickness of between 800 and 1,000 metres.

Analysis suggests that the origin of these deposits ranges from fluvial to deltaic, and much of the trapping at these fields is stratigraphic. Below these reservoirs is a thick sequence of shale above deeper, similar, sandstones at a depth of around 5,800 metres. These sands are of Tournasian age and offer additional gas potential. Deeper sandstones of Devonian age have also been penetrated in the fields.

Reserves

The development of the fields began in 1995 by the Ukrainian State company Chernihivnaftogasgeologiya ("CNGG"), and shortly after this time, the Group entered a joint venture with CNGG in respect of the exploration and development of these fields.

The fields have been mapped with 3D seismic, and a geological subsurface model has been developed and refined using data derived from high-level reprocessing of such 3D seismic and new wells drilled on the fields.

The assessment undertaken by D&M as at 31 December 2017 estimated proved plus probable (2P) reserves attributable to the fields of 50.0 MMboe, with 3C contingent resources of 25.3 MMboe.

VAS field

The VAS field is a smaller field with interesting potential. The field has assessed proved plus probable reserves in excess of 3 MMboe and substantial contingent and prospective resources, as well as potential resources of unconventional gas.

Production Licence

We hold a 100% working interest in, and are the operator of, the VAS field. The production licence for the field was granted in August 2012 with a duration of 20 years. The economic life of the field extends to 2032 pursuant to the most recent reserves and resources assessment by D&M as at 31 December 2018.

The licence extends over an area of 33.2 km(2) and is located 17 km south-east of Kharkiv, in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. The field was discovered in 1981, and the first well on the licence area was drilled in 2004.

Geology

Geologically, the field is located towards the middle of the Dnieper-Donets sedimentary basin in north-east Ukraine. The field is trapped in an anticlinal structure broken into several faulted blocks, which are gently dipping to the north, stretching from the north-east to south-west along a main bounding fault. The gas is located in Carboniferous sandstones of Bashkirian, Serpukhovian and Visean age.

The productive reservoirs are at depths between 3,370 and 3,700 metres.

Reserves

The field has been mapped with 3D seismic, and a geological subsurface model has been developed and refined using data derived from such 3D seismic and new wells drilled on the field.

The assessment undertaken by D&M as at 31 December 2018 estimated proved plus probable (2P) reserves of 3.1 MMboe, with 3C contingent resources of 0.6 MMboe, and prospective resources of 7.7 MMboe in the VED area of the field. The next well planned on the field is designed to explore the VED area of the field.

SC Licence

The SC licence area is located near to and has similar characteristics to the SV field, and is prospective for gas and condensate.

Exploration Licence

We hold a 100% working interest in, and are the operator of, the SC licence. The licence was granted in May 2017 with a duration of 20 years.

The licence extends over an area of 97 km(2) , and is located in the Poltava region in north-eastern Ukraine, approximately 15 km east of the SV field.

Geology

Geologically, the field is located towards the middle of the Dnieper-Donets sedimentary basin which extends across the major part of north-eastern Ukraine. The vast majority of Ukrainian gas and condensate production comes from this basin. The reservoirs comprise a series of gently dipping Carboniferous sandstones of Visean age inter-bedded with shales at depth between 4,600 and 6,000 metres.

Resources

The licence is prospective for gas and condensate, and has been the subject of exploration since the 1980s, with five wells having been drilled on the licence since then, although none of these wells are currently on production.

The assessment undertaken by D&M as at 1 January 2021 estimated proved plus probable (2P) reserves of 12.1 MMboe, with 3C contingent resources of 15.0 MMboe.

Overview of Reserves

 
       MEX-GOL and SV fields 
  1. 
 

The Group's estimates of the remaining Reserves and Resources at the MEX-GOL and SV fields are derived from an assessment undertaken by D&M, as at 31 December 2017 (the "MEX-GOL-SV Report"), which was announced on 31 July 2018. During the period from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2022, the Group has produced 6.14 MMboe from these fields.

The MEX-GOL-SV Report estimated the remaining Reserves as at 31 December 2017 in the MEX-GOL and SV fields as follows:

 
                     Proved        Proved + Probable   Proved + Probable 
                      (1P)                (2P)          + Possible (3P) 
                121.9 Bscf / 3.5   218.3 Bscf / 6.2    256.5 Bscf / 7.3 
   Gas                Bm(3)              Bm(3)               Bm(3) 
               -----------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
                4.3 MMbbl / 514     7.9 MMbbl / 943    9.2 MMbbl / 1,098 
   Condensate        Mtonne              Mtonne              Mtonne 
               -----------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
                2.8 MMbbl / 233     5.0 MMbbl / 418     5.8 MMbbl / 491 
   LPG               Mtonne              Mtonne              Mtonne 
               -----------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
                   27.8 MMboe         50.0 MMboe          58.6 MMboe 
   Total 
               -----------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
 

The MEX-GOL-SV Report estimated the Contingent Resources as at 31 December 2017 in the MEX-GOL and SV fields as follows:

 
                Contingent Resources   Contingent Resources   Contingent Resources 
                        (1C)                   (2C)                   (3C) 
                  14.7 Bscf / 0.42       38.3 Bscf / 1.08      105.9 Bscf / 3.00 
   Gas                  Bm(3)                  Bm(3)                  Bm(3) 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
                  1.17 MMbbl / 144       2.8 MMbbl / 343        6.6 MMbbl / 812 
   Condensate          Mtonne                 Mtonne                 Mtonne 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
                     3.8 MMboe              9.6 MMboe              25.3 MMboe 
   Total 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
 
       VAS field 
  2. 
 

The Group's estimates of the remaining Reserves and Resources at the VAS field and the Prospective Resources at the VED prospect are derived from an assessment undertaken by D&M as at 31 December 2018 (the "VAS Report"), which was announced on 21 August 2019. During the period from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2022, 0.76 MMboe were produced from the field.

The VAS Report estimated the remaining Reserves as at 31 December 2018 in the VAS field as follows:

 
                       Proved           Proved + Probable     Proved + Probable 
                        (1P)                   (2P)            + Possible (3P) 
                 9,114 MMscf / 258        15,098 MMscf /       18,816 MMscf / 
   Gas                 MMm(3)               427 MMm(3)            533 MMm(3) 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  ------------------ 
                205 Mbbl / 25 Mtonne   346 Mbbl / 42 Mtonne     401 Mbbl / 48 
   Condensate                                                       Mtonne 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  ------------------ 
                    1.895 MMboe            3.145 MMboe           3.890 MMboe 
   Total 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  ------------------ 
 

The VAS Report estimated the Contingent Resources as at 31 December 2018 in the VAS field as follows:

 
                Contingent Resources   Contingent Resources   Contingent Resources 
                        (1C)                   (2C)                   (3C) 
                         -                      -                2,912 MMscf / 
   Gas                                                              83 MMm(3) 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
                         -                      -              74 Mbbl / 9 Mtonne 
   Condensate 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 

The VAS Report estimated the Prospective Resources as at 31 December 2018 in the VED prospect as follows:

 
           Low (1U)         Best (2U)         High (3U)           Mean 
         23,721 MMscf     38,079 MMscf      62,293 MMscf      41,291 MMscf 
   Gas    / 672 MMm(3)    / 1,078 MMm(3)    / 1,764 MMm(3)    / 1,169 MMm(3) 
        --------------  ----------------  ----------------  ---------------- 
 
 
       SC Licence 
  3. 
 

The Group's estimates of the remaining Reserves and Contingent R esources at the SC Licence are derived from an assessment undertaken by D&M as at 1 January 2021 (the "SC Report"), which was announced on 2 June 2021.

The SC Report estimated the remaining Reserves as at 1 January 2021 in the SC licence area as follows:

 
                       Proved           Proved + Probable      Proved + Probable 
                        (1P)                   (2P)              + Possible (3P) 
                 17.20 Bscf / 0.49      65.16 Bscf / 1.85      85.03 Bscf / 2.41 
   Gas                  Bm(3)                  Bm(3)                  Bm(3) 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
                145 Mbbl / 16 Mtonne   548 Mbbl / 61 Mtonne   716 Mbbl / 80 Mtonne 
   Condensate 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
                     3.2 MMboe              12.1 MMboe             15.7 MMboe 
   Total 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 

The SC Report estimated the Contingent Resources as at 1 January 2021 in the SC licence area as follows:

 
                Contingent Resources   Contingent Resources   Contingent Resources 
                        (1C)                   (2C)                   (3C) 
                  8.56 Bscf / 0.24      14.18 Bscf / 0.40      81.16 Bscf / 2.30 
   Gas                  Bm(3)                  Bm(3)                  Bm(3) 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
                 72 Mbbl / 8 Mtonne    119 Mbbl / 13 Mtonne   682 Mbbl / 75 Mtonne 
   Condensate 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
                     1.6 MMboe              2.6 MMboe              15.0 MMboe 
   Total 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 

Finance Review

Despite the significant disruption caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine early in the year, and almost entirely as a result of the significant increase in global gas prices, the Group's financial performance in the 2022 year showed an improvement on 2021, with a net profit for the period of $60.2 million being an approximate 18% increase on the 2021 year (2021: $51.1 million).

Revenue for the year, derived from the sale of the Group's Ukrainian gas, condensate and LPG production, was up at $133.4 million (2021: $121.4 million). Most notably, within this total, the revenue from gas sales alone was up approximately 14% at $109.5 million (2021: $95.8 million).

Aggregate production for the year (calculated on the days when the Group's fields were actually in production) was down approximately 37.5% at 2,956 boepd (2021: 4,730 boepd) due to the disruption to operations as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

During 2022, global, and particularly European, commodity prices increased, and these increases also occurred in Ukraine, and underpinned the 122% rise in average gas price realisations in the period at $960/Mm(3) (UAH30,341/Mm(3) ), with condensate and LPG average sales prices also up by 6% and 79% at $73/bbl and $143/bbl respectively (2021: $432/Mm(3) (UAH11,677/Mm(3) ), $69/bbl and $80/bbl respectively).

During the period from 1 January 2023 to 14 December 2023, the average realised gas, condensate and LPG prices were $395/Mm(3) (UAH14,426/Mm(3) ), $71/bbl and $100/bbl respectively.

Gross profit for the year was higher at $85.9 million (2021: $73.9 million).

Cost of sales for the year was unchanged at $47.5 million (2021: $47.4 million). The decline in production drove a decline in depreciation, but such decline was offset by increased commodity prices which drove up the revenue-related costs of taxes and well rental.

Cash generated from operations fell 39% to $47.5 million (2021: $77.7 million), most significantly as a consequence of the increase in trade and other receivables to $65.8 million (2021: $13.1 million).

The subsoil tax rates applicable to gas production were stable during the first two months of 2022 at 29% for gas produced from deposits at depths shallower than 5,000 metres and 14% for gas produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres, except in respect of gas produced from new wells drilled after 1 January 2018, where the subsoil tax rates were reduced from 29% to 12% for gas produced from deposits at depths shallower than 5,000 metres and from 14% to 6% for gas produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres for the period between 2018 and 2022. The subsoil tax rates for condensate were 31% for condensate produced from deposits shallower than 5,000 metres and 16% for condensate produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres.

However, with effect from 1 March 2022, changes to the subsoil production tax rates applicable to gas production were introduced. These changes modified the applicable tax rates based on gas prices, extended the incentive rates for new wells for a further 10 years and made improvements to the regulatory environment. The legislation which introduced these changes also included provisions that these rates will not be increased for 10 years.

The new subsoil production tax rates applicable to gas production are as follows:

 
 (i)                when gas prices are up to $150/Mm3, the rate for wells 
                     drilled prior to 1 January 2018 ("old wells") is 14.5% 
                     for gas produced from deposits at depths shallower than 
                     5,000 metres and 7% for gas produced from deposits deeper 
                     than 5,000 metres, and for wells drilled after 1 January 
                     2018 ("new wells") is 6% for gas produced from deposits 
                     at depths shallower than 5,000 metres and 3% for gas 
                     produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres; 
 (ii)    when gas prices are between $150/Mm(3) and $400/Mm(3) 
          , the rate for old wells is 29% for gas produced from 
          deposits at depths shallower than 5,000 metres and 14% 
          for gas produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres, 
          and for new wells is 12% for gas produced from deposits 
          at depths shallower than 5,000 metres and 6% for gas 
          produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres; 
 (iii)   when gas prices are more than $400/Mm(3) , for the first 
          $400/Mm(3) , the rate for old wells is 29% for gas produced 
          from deposits at depths shallower than 5,000 metres and 
          14% for gas produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 
          metres, and for new wells is 12% for gas produced from 
          deposits at depths shallower than 5,000 metres and 6% 
          for gas produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres, 
          and for the difference between $400/Mm(3) and the actual 
          price, the rate for old wells is 65% for gas produced 
          from deposits at depths shallower than 5,000 metres and 
          31% for gas produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 
          metres, and for new wells is 36% for gas produced from 
          deposits at depths shallower than 5,000 metres and 18% 
          for gas produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres. 
 

The tax rates applicable to condensate production were unchanged and so remain at 31% for condensate produced from deposits shallower than 5,000 metres and 16% for condensate produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres, for both old and new wells.

As a direct result of the war in Ukraine, including the significant decline in domestic consumption disrupting the previous supply, demand and pricing dynamics, there has been a divergence between domestic and European gas pricing, and accordingly, the methodology (linked to European prices) used to determine the reference gas price for the subsoil tax rates has had a significantly detrimental effect for domestic gas producers. In order to address this issue, the Ukrainian Parliament, in September 2022, passed legislation which modified such methodology to ensure that it operates as originally intended (with such reference price being aligned with domestic prices). This methodology had an implementation date of 1 August 2022.

In addition, the excise tax on LPG sales was suspended between 24 February 2022 and 30 September 2022, but was then reinstated, and the VAT rate applicable to condensate and LPG sales was reduced to 7% (from 20%) with effect from 18 March 2022.

Finally, in early 2022, the Ukrainian Government imposed temporary and partial gas price regulation to support the production of certain food products through the supply of gas at regulated prices to the producers of such products. Under this scheme, all independent gas producers in Ukraine were required to sell up to 20% of their natural gas production for the period until 30 April 2022 at a price set as the cost of sales of the relevant gas producer (based on established accounting rules) for such gas, plus a margin of 24%, plus existing subsoil production taxes (the "Regulated Price"). This gas was then sold to specified producers of designated socially important food products at the Regulated Price, so as to reduce the energy costs of such producers during the period through to 30 April 2022. The designated products were certain types of flour, milk (with up to 2.5% fat), bread, eggs, chicken and sunflower oil, for sale in the Ukrainian domestic market. This temporary scheme has now concluded. Further details are set out in the Company's announcement dated 17 January 2022.

Administrative expenses for the year were 19% lower at $6.8 million (2021: $8.4 million), primarily as a result of: a 18% decrease in payroll and related taxes, and no performance related payments being made in 2022.

Other expenses in the year increased as a result of the charitable donation of $6.5 million (2021: $0.1 million) for financial support to the Ukrainian humanitarian relief effort .

The tax charge for the year was steady at $1 3 . 1 million (2021: $15.5 million charge), and comprised a current tax charge of $ 14.3 million (2021: $13.3 million charge) and a deferred tax credit of $1.2 million (2021: charge $ 2 . 2 million charge).

A deferred tax asset relating to the Group's provision for decommissioning as at 31 December 2022 of $0.5 million (2021: $0.5 million) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences of the Group's provision for decommissioning at the MEX-GOL and SV fields, and its tax base. A deferred tax liability relating to the Group's development and production assets at the MEX-GOL and SV fields as at 31 December 2022 of $3.7 million (2021: $5.7 million) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences between the carrying value of the Group's development and production asset at the MEX-GOL and SV fields, and its tax base.

A deferred tax asset relating to the Group's provision for decommissioning as at 31 December 2022 of $0.3 million (2021: $0.3 million) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences on the Group's provision on decommissioning at the VAS field, and its tax base. A deferred tax liability relating to the Group's development and production assets at the VAS field as at 31 December 2022 of $ 0 .0 2 million (2021: deferred tax asset of $0.5 million) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences between the carrying value of the Group's development and production asset at the VAS field, and its tax base.

Capital investment of $12.9 million reflects the investment in the Group's oil and gas development and production assets during the year (2021: $24.3 million), primarily relating to the drilling of the SV-31 and GOL-107 wells. This significant $11.4 million reduction in capital investment is a function of the deferral of certain aspect of the Group's development plans necessitated by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

A review of any indicators of impairment of the carrying value of the Group's assets was undertaken at the year end and this review did conclude that the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the suspension of the VAS production licence had resulted in such an indicator. Impairment reviews were therefore conducted on the carrying value of the Group's assets and resulted in a recognition of an impairment loss of $4.3 million (2021: nil).

With the material increase in commodity prices during the year, and necessary payment term accommodations that needed to be agreed with the Group's largest indirect off-taker pursuant to a contract facilitated by the Group's related party, LLC Smart Energy, trade receivables were up materially at $44.0 million (2021: $5.0 million). The year-end trade receivables were all paid post period end.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments held as at 31 December 2022 were slightly lower at $88.7 million (2021: $92.5 million), the decrease being predominantly a result of the $52.8 million increase in trade and other receivables. Cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and trade and other receivables combined totalled $154.5 million (2021: $105.6 million), a 46% increase. The Group's cash and cash equivalents balance as at 14 December 2023 was $79.1 million, held as to $58.5 million equivalent in Ukrainian Hryvnia and the balance of $20.6 million equivalent predominantly in US Dollars, Euros and Pounds Sterling.

During 2022, the Ukrainian Hryvnia was relatively stable against the US Dollar, weakening from UAH27.3/$1.00 on 31 December 2021 to UAH36.6/$1.00 on 31 December 2022. The impact of this was $38.1 million of foreign exchange loss (2021: $1.6 million of foreign exchange gain). Increases and decreases in the value of the Ukrainian Hryvnia against the US Dollar affect the carrying value of the Group's assets. However, in July 2022, the National Bank of Ukraine devalued the Ukrainian Hryvnia by 25% against the US Dollar in order to protect its foreign exchange reserves as the ongoing war continues to materially affect the Ukrainian economy. The official exchange rate of the Ukrainian Hryvnia to the US Dollar on 14 December 2023 is UAH37.0/$1.00. This devaluation is not expected to have a material net impact on the Group, as its production and sales are dictated by (but not directly linked to) international commodity prices, which are expected to materially offset general cost increases that will result from such devaluation.

Cash from operations has funded the capital investment during the year, and the Group's current cash position and positive operating cash flow are the sources from which the Group plans to fund the development programmes for its assets over the remainder of 2022 and beyond. This is coupled with the fact that the Group is currently debt-free, and therefore has no debt covenants that may otherwise impede its ability to implement contingency plans if domestic and/or global circumstances dictate. This flexibility and ability to monitor and manage development plans and liquidity is a cornerstone of our planning, and underpins our assessments of the future. With monetary resources at the end of the year of $88.7 million ($81.5 million of which was held outside Ukraine), and annual running costs of less than $ 8 million, the Group remains in a very strong position, notwithstanding the impact of the current conflict in Ukraine, as well as any local or global shocks that may occur to the industry and/or the Group.

On 15 June 2023, the Company paid an interim dividend of 15 pence per ordinary share, approximately GBP48.1 million in aggregate, which was the Company's maiden dividend payment to its shareholders.

Bruce Burrows

Finance Director

Principal Risks and How We Manage Them

The Group has a risk evaluation methodology in place to assist in the review of the risks across all material aspects of its business. This methodology highlights external, operational and technical, financial and corporate risks and assesses the level of risk and potential consequences. It is periodically presented to the Audit Committee and the Board for review, to bring to their attention potential risks and, where possible, propose mitigating actions. Key risks recognised and mitigation factors are detailed below:-

 
 Risk                                             Mitigation 
 External risks 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 War in Ukraine 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded              The Group has assets in the areas 
  Ukraine and there is currently                   of conflict in the east of Ukraine, 
  a serious and ongoing war within                 and the war has disrupted its operations 
  Ukraine. This war is having a huge               in those areas. The Group has been 
  impact on Ukraine and its population,            only undertaking limited field and 
  with significant destruction of                  production operations at the MEX-GOL, 
  infrastructure and buildings in                  SV and VAS fields and SC licence 
  the areas of conflict, as well                   area. At the fields, inventories 
  as damage in other areas of Ukraine.             of hydrocarbons are being maintained 
  The war is resulting in significant              at minimum levels. At the sites 
  casualties and has caused a huge                 where operations are suspended, 
  humanitarian catastrophe and refugee             there are no staff permanently on 
  influx into neighbouring countries.              site, except for necessary security 
  The war is also impacting the fiscal             staff. Where possible, all other 
  and economic environment in Ukraine,             staff work remotely and have been 
  as well as the financial stability               supplied with all necessary devices 
  and banking system in Ukraine,                   and software to facilitate remote 
  including restrictions on the transfer           working. Additionally, the Group 
  of funds outside Ukraine. The war                aims to maintain a significant proportion 
  is an escalation of the previous                 of its cash resources outside Ukraine. 
  regional conflict risk faced by                  The Group continues to monitor the 
  the business, a dispute that has                 situation and endeavours to protect 
  been going on since 2014 in parts                its assets and safeguard its staff 
  of eastern Ukraine, and since that               and contractors. 
  time Russia has continued to occupy 
  Crimea. The current war is also 
  having a significant adverse effect 
  on the Ukrainian financial markets, 
  hampering the ability of Ukrainian 
  companies and banks to obtain funding 
  from the international capital 
  and debt markets. The war has disrupted 
  the Group's business and operations, 
  causing the suspension of field 
  operations, albeit recommenced 
  in March 2022 at the MEX-GOL and 
  SV fields, in July 2022 at the 
  SC licence area and in October 
  2022 at the VAS field, and has 
  also impacted the supply of materials 
  and equipment and the availability 
  of contractors to undertake field 
  operations. At present, the war 
  is ongoing and the scope and duration 
  of the war is uncertain. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Risk relating to Ukraine 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Ukraine is an emerging market and                The Group minimises this risk by 
  as such the Group is exposed to                  continuously monitoring the market 
  greater regulatory, economic and                 in Ukraine and by maintaining as 
  political risks than it would be                 strong a working relationship as 
  in other jurisdictions. Emerging                 possible with the Ukrainian regulatory 
  economies are generally subject                  authorities. The Group also maintains 
  to a volatile political and economic             a significant proportion of its 
  environment, which makes them vulnerable         cash holdings in international banks 
  to market downturns elsewhere in                 outside Ukraine. 
  the world and could adversely impact 
  the Group's ability to operate 
  in the market. Furthermore, the 
  war in Ukraine is impacting the 
  fiscal and economic environment, 
  the financial and banking system, 
  and the economic stability of Ukraine. 
  As a result, Ukraine will require 
  financial assistance and/or aid 
  from international financial agencies 
  to provide economic support and 
  assist with the reconstruction 
  of infrastructure and buildings 
  damaged in the war. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Banking system in Ukraine 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The banking system in Ukraine has                The creditworthiness and potential 
  been under great strain in recent                risks relating to the banks in Ukraine 
  years due to the weak level of                   are regularly reviewed by the Group, 
  capital, low asset quality caused                but the geopolitical and economic 
  by the economic situation, currency              events in Ukraine over recent years 
  depreciation, changing regulations               have significantly weakened the 
  and other economic pressures generally,          Ukrainian banking sector. This has 
  and so the risks associated with                 been exacerbated by the current 
  the banks in Ukraine have been                   war in Ukraine. In light of this, 
  significant, including in relation               the Group has taken and continues 
  to the banks with which the Group                to take steps to diversify its banking 
  has operated bank accounts. This                 arrangements between a number of 
  situation was improving moderately               banks in Ukraine. These measures 
  following remedial action by the                 are designed to spread the risks 
  National Bank of Ukraine, but the                associated with each bank's creditworthiness, 
  current war has significantly affected           and the Group endeavours to use 
  such improvements, and the National              banks that have the best available 
  Bank of Ukraine has imposed a number             creditworthiness. Nevertheless, 
  of restrictive measures designed                 and despite the recent improvements, 
  to protect the banking system,                   the Ukrainian banking sector remains 
  including restrictions o n the                   weakly capitalised and so the risks 
  transfer of funds outside Ukraine                associated with the banks in Ukraine 
  (albeit that the Group aims to                   remain significant, including in 
  maintain a significant proportion                relation to the banks with which 
  of its cash resources outside Ukraine.           the Group operates bank accounts. 
  In addition, Ukraine continues                   As a consequence, the Group also 
  to be supported by funding from                  maintains a significant proportion 
  the International Monetary Fund,                 of its cash holdings in international 
  and has requested further funding                banks outside Ukraine. 
  support from the International 
  Monetary Fund. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Geopolitical environment in Ukraine 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Although there were some improvements            The Group continually monitors the 
  in recent years, there has not                   market and business environment 
  been a final resolution of the                   in Ukraine and endeavours to recognise 
  political, fiscal and economic                   approaching risks and factors that 
  situation in Ukraine, and the current            may affect its business. However, 
  war has had a severe detrimental                 the war in Ukraine creates material 
  effect on the economic situation                 challenges in planning future investment 
  in Ukraine. The ongoing effects                  and operations. The Group is limiting 
  of this are difficult to predict                 its operational activities to minimise 
  and likely to continue to affect                 risk to its staff and contractors, 
  the Ukrainian economy and potentially            and to limit its financial exposure. 
  the Group's business. This situation 
  is currently affecting the Group's 
  production and field operations, 
  and the ongoing instability is 
  disrupting the Group's development 
  and operational planning for its 
  assets. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Climate change 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Any near and medium-term continued               The Group's plans include: assessing, 
  warming of the planet can have                   reducing and/or mitigating its emissions 
  potentially increasing negative                  in its operations ; and identifying 
  social, economic and environmental               climate change-related risks and 
  consequences, generally, globally                assessing the degree to which they 
  and regionally, and specifically                 can affect its business, including 
  in relation to the Group. The potential          financial implications. The HSE 
  impacts include: loss of market;                 Committee is specifically tasked 
  and increased costs of operations                with overseeing, measuring, benchmarking 
  through increasing regulatory oversight          and mitigating the Group's environmental 
  and controls, including potential                and climate impact, which will be 
  effective or actual loss of licences             reported on in future periods. At 
  to operate. As a diligent operator               this stage, the Group does not consider 
  aware of and responsive to its                   climate change to have any material 
  good stewardship responsibilities,               implications on the Group's financial 
  the Group not only needs to monitor              statements, including accounting 
  and modify its business plans and                estimates. 
  operations to react to changes, 
  but also to ensure its environmental 
  footprint is as minimal as it can 
  practicably be in managing the 
  hydrocarbon resources the Group 
  produces. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Operational and technical risks 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Quality, Health, Safety and Environment 
  ("QHSE") 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The oil and gas industry, by its                 The Group maintains QHSE policies 
  nature, conducts activities which                and requires that management, staff 
  can cause health, safety, environmental          and contractors adhere to these 
  and security incidents. Serious                  policies. The policies ensure that 
  incidents can not only have a financial          the Group meets Ukrainian legislative 
  impact but can also damage the                   standards in full and achieves international 
  Group's reputation and the opportunity           standards to the maximum extent 
  to undertake further projects.                   possible. As a result of the COVID-19 
  The war in Ukraine poses significant             pandemic the Group has implemented 
  risks to field operations, by way                processes and controls intended 
  of potential threat to the lives                 to ensure protection of all our 
  of employees and contractors, and                stakeholders and minimise any disruption 
  damage to equipment and infrastructure.          to our business. As a consequence 
                                                   of the current war in Ukraine, operations 
                                                   at the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields 
                                                   and SC licence area have been suspended 
                                                   for periods, and currently only 
                                                   limited field and production operations 
                                                   are continuing at the MEX-GOL and 
                                                   SV fields. Only essential staff 
                                                   are located at site, and all other 
                                                   staff are working remotely, either 
                                                   from areas away from the conflict 
                                                   areas or outside Ukraine. The Group 
                                                   has invested in technology that 
                                                   allows many staff to work just as 
                                                   effectively from remote locations. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Industry risks 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group is exposed to risks which              The Group has well qualified and 
  are generally associated with the                experienced technical management 
  oil and gas industry. For example,               staff to plan and supervise operational 
  the Group's ability to pursue and                activities. In addition, the Group 
  develop its projects and undertake               engages with suitably qualified 
  development programmes depends                   local and international geological, 
  on a number of uncertainties, including          geophysical and engineering experts 
  the availability of capital, seasonal            and contractors to supplement and 
  conditions, regulatory approvals,                broaden the pool of expertise available 
  gas, oil, condensate and LPG prices,             to the Group. Detailed planning 
  development costs and drilling                   of development activities is undertaken 
  success. As a result of these uncertainties,     with the aim of managing the inherent 
  it is unknown whether potential                  risks associated with oil and gas 
  drilling locations identified on                 exploration and production, as well 
  proposed projects will ever be                   as ensuring that appropriate equipment 
  drilled or whether these or any                  and personnel are available for 
  other potential drilling locations               the operations, and that local contractors 
  will be able to produce gas, oil                 are appropriately supervised. 
  or condensate. In addition, drilling 
  activities are subject to many 
  risks, including the risk that 
  commercially productive reservoirs 
  will not be discovered. Drilling 
  for hydrocarbons can be unprofitable, 
  not only due to dry holes, but 
  also as a result of productive 
  wells that do not produce sufficiently 
  to be economic. In addition, drilling 
  and production operations are highly 
  technical and complex activities 
  and may be curtailed, delayed or 
  cancelled as a result of a variety 
  of factors. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Production of hydrocarbons 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Producing gas and condensate reservoirs          In recent years, the Group has engaged 
  are generally characterised by                   external technical consultants to 
  declining production rates which                 undertake a comprehensive review 
  vary depending upon reservoir characteristics    and re-evaluation study of the MEX-GOL 
  and other factors. Future production             and SV fields in order to gain an 
  of the Group's gas and condensate                improved understanding of the geological 
  reserves, and therefore the Group's              aspects of the fields and reservoir 
  cash flow and income, are highly                 engineering, drilling and completion 
  dependent on the Group's success                 techniques, and the results of this 
  in operating existing producing                  study and further planned technical 
  wells, drilling new production                   work are being used by the Group 
  wells and efficiently developing                 in the future development of these 
  and exploiting any reserves, and                 fields. The Group has established 
  finding or acquiring additional                  an ongoing relationship with such 
  reserves. The Group may not be                   external technical consultants to 
  able to develop, find or acquire                 ensure that technical management 
  reserves at acceptable costs. The                and planning is of a high quality 
  experience gained from drilling                  in respect of all development activities 
  undertaken to date highlights such               on the Group's fields. 
  risks as the Group targets the 
  appraisal and production of these 
  hydrocarbons. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Risks relating to the further 
  development and operation of the 
  Group's gas and condensate fields 
  in Ukraine 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The planned development and operation            The Group's technical management 
  of the Group's gas and condensate                staff, in consultation with its 
  fields in Ukraine is susceptible                 external technical consultants, 
  to appraisal, development and operational        carefully plan and supervise development 
  risk. This could include, but is                 and operational activities with 
  not restricted to, delays in the                 the aim of managing the risks associated 
  delivery of equipment in Ukraine,                with the further development of 
  failure of key equipment, lower                  the Group's fields in Ukraine. This 
  than expected production from wells              includes detailed review and consideration 
  that are currently producing, or                 of available subsurface data, utilisation 
  new wells that are brought on-stream,            of modern geological software, and 
  problematic wells and complex geology            utilisation of engineering and completion 
  which is difficult to drill or                   techniques developed for the fields. 
  interpret. The generation of significant         With regards to operational activities, 
  operational cash is dependent on                 the Group ensures that appropriate 
  the successful delivery and completion           equipment and personnel are available 
  of the development and operation                 for the operations, and that operational 
  of the fields. The war in Ukraine                contractors are appropriately supervised. 
  is impacting planning and implementation         In addition, the Group performs 
  of development and operations at                 a review of indicators of impairment 
  the Group's fields.                              of its oil and gas assets on an 
                                                   annual basis, and considers whether 
                                                   an assessment of its oil and gas 
                                                   assets by a suitably qualified independent 
                                                   assessor is appropriate or required. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Drilling and workover operations 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Due to the depth and nature of                   The utilisation of detailed sub-surface 
  the reservoirs in the Group's fields,            analysis, careful well planning 
  the technical difficulty of drilling             and engineering design in designing 
  or re-entering wells in the Group's              work programmes, along with appropriate 
  fields is high, and this and the                 procurement procedures and competent 
  equipment limitations within Ukraine,            on-site management, aims to minimise 
  can result in unsuccessful or lower              these risks. 
  than expected outcomes for wells. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Maintenance of facilities 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 There is a risk that production                  The Group's facilities are operated 
  or transportation facilities can                 and maintained at standards above 
  fail due to non-adequate maintenance,            the Ukrainian minimum legal requirements. 
  control or poor performance of                   Operations staff are experienced 
  the Group's suppliers.                           and receive supplemental training 
                                                   to ensure that facilities are properly 
                                                   operated and maintained. Service 
                                                   providers are rigorously reviewed 
                                                   at the tender stage and are monitored 
                                                   during the contract period. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Financial risks 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Exposure to cash flow and liquidity 
  risk 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 There is a risk that insufficient                The Group maintains adequate cash 
  funds are available to meet the                  reserves and closely monitors forecasted 
  Group's development obligations                  and actual cash flow, as well as 
  to commercialise the Group's oil                 short and longer-term funding requirements. 
  and gas assets. Since a significant              T he Group aims to maintain a significant 
  proportion of the future capital                 proportion of its cash resources 
  requirements of the Group is expected            outside Ukraine. The Group does 
  to be derived from operational                   not currently have any loans outstanding, 
  cash generated from production,                  internal financial projections are 
  including from wells yet to be                   regularly made based on the latest 
  drilled, there is a risk that in                 estimates available, and various 
  the longer term insufficient operational         scenarios are run to assess the 
  cash is generated, or that additional            robustness of the Group's liquidity. 
  funding, should the need arise,                  However, as the risk to future capital 
  cannot be secured. The war in Ukraine            funding is inherent in the oil and 
  has disrupted production operations              gas exploration and development 
  at the Group's fields, and consequently          industry and reliant in part on 
  reduced anticipated cash flows                   future development success, it is 
  from those fields, and this has                  difficult for the Group to take 
  increased the risk regarding sufficiency         any other measures to further mitigate 
  of capital for development. In                   this risk, other than tailoring 
  addition, the conflict may disrupt               its development activities to its 
  the sales market for hydrocarbons                available capital funding from time 
  that are produced. Currently, however,           to time. The Group aims to maintain 
  hydrocarbon prices are very high,                as diverse a range of banking relationships 
  which is ameliorating the potential              as possible to reduce the risks 
  reduction in cash flows, and the                 associated with limited accessibility 
  Group's sales counterparties are                 to banking services which may exist 
  meeting their financial obligations.             from time to time. 
  In addition to the risk of operational 
  cash shortfalls, there is a risk 
  that even with robust cash flows 
  and cash balances, the Group, from 
  time to time, can suffer from non-Ukrainian 
  operational banking appetite for 
  businesses such as the Group's 
  business, which can ultimately 
  manifest itself in having a restricted 
  access to banking services. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Ensuring appropriate business 
  practices 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group operates in Ukraine,                   The Group maintains anti-bribery 
  an emerging market, where certain                and anti- corruption policies in 
  inappropriate business practices                 relation to all aspects of its business, 
  may, from time to time occur, such               and ensures that clear authority 
  as corrupt business practices,                   levels and robust approval processes 
  bribery, appropriation of property               are in place, with stringent controls 
  and fraud, all of which can lead                 over cash management and the tendering 
  to financial loss.                               and procurement processes. In addition, 
                                                   office and site protection is maintained 
                                                   to protect the Group's assets. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Hydrocarbon price risk 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group derives its revenue principally        The Group sells a proportion of 
  from the sale of its Ukrainian                   Its hydrocarbon production through 
  gas, condensate and LPG production.              offtake arrangements, which include 
  These revenues are subject to commodity          pricing formulae so as to ensure 
  price volatility and political                   that it achieves market prices for 
  influence. A prolonged period of                 its products, as well utilising 
  low gas, condensate and LPG prices               the electronic market platforms 
  may impact the Group's ability                   in Ukraine to achieve market prices 
  to maintain its long-term investment             for its remaining products. However, 
  programme with a consequent effect               hydrocarbon prices in Ukraine are 
  on its growth rate, which in turn                implicitly linked to world hydrocarbon 
  may impact the Company's share                   prices and so the Group is subject 
  price or any shareholder returns.                to external price trends. In January 
  Lower gas, condensate and LPG prices             2022, the Ukrainian Government imposed 
  may not only decrease the Group's                temporary partial gas price regulations 
  revenues per unit, but may also                  until 30 April 2022, designed to 
  reduce the amount of gas, condensate             support the production of certain 
  and LPG which the Group can produce              designated food products. Whilst 
  economically, as would increases                 an unhelpful interference in the 
  in costs associated with hydrocarbon             functioning of the deregulated gas 
  production, such as subsoil taxes                supply market in Ukraine, in its 
  and royalties. The overall economics             stated form and duration, this temporary 
  of the Group's key assets (being                 scheme is not a material risk to 
  the net present value of the future              the Company and its cash generation, 
  cash flows from its Ukrainian projects)          and has now expired. 
  are far more sensitive to long 
  term gas, condensate and LPG prices 
  than short-term price volatility. 
  However, short-term volatility 
  does affect liquidity risk, as, 
  in the early stage of the projects, 
  income from production revenues 
  is offset by capital investment. 
  In addition, t he war in Ukraine 
  may disrupt the sales market for 
  hydrocarbons, although, currently, 
  hydrocarbon prices are very high, 
  and the Group's sales counterparties 
  are meeting their financial obligations. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Currency risk 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Since the beginning of 2014 , the                The Group's sales proceeds are received 
  Ukrainian Hryvnia significantly                  in Ukrainian Hryvnia, and the majority 
  devalued against major world currencies,         of the capital expenditure costs 
  including the US Dollar, where                   for the current investment programme 
  it has fallen from UAH8.3/$1.00                  will be incurred in Ukrainian Hryvnia, 
  on 1 January 2014 to UAH 36.6 /$1.00             thus the currency of revenue and 
  on 31 December 2022, and UAH 37.0                costs are largely matched. In light 
  /$1.00 on 14 December 2023. This                 of the previous devaluation and 
  devaluation has been a significant               volatility of the Ukrainian Hryvnia 
  contributor to the imposition of                 against major world currencies, 
  banking restrictions by the National             and since the Ukrainian Hryvnia 
  Bank of Ukraine over recent years.               does not benefit from the range 
  In addition, the geopolitical events             of currency hedging instruments 
  in Ukraine over recent years and                 which are available in more developed 
  the current war in Ukraine are                   economies, the Group has adopted 
  likely to continue to impact the                 a policy that, where possible, funds 
  valuation of the Ukrainian Hryvnia               not required for use in Ukraine 
  against major world currencies.                  be retained on deposit in the United 
  Further devaluation of the Ukrainian             Kingdom and Europe, principally 
  Hryvnia against the US Dollar will               in US Dollars. 
  affect the carrying value of the 
  Group's assets. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Counterparty and credit risk 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The challenging political and economic           The Group monitors the financial 
  environment in Ukraine and current               position and credit quality of its 
  war means that businesses can be                 contractual counterparties and seeks 
  subject to significant financial                 to manage the risk associated with 
  strain, which can mean that the                  counterparties by contracting with 
  Group is exposed to increased counterparty       creditworthy contractors and customers. 
  risk if counterparties fail or                   Hydrocarbon production is sold on 
  default in their contractual obligations         terms that limit supply credit and/or 
  to the Group, including in relation              title transfer until payment is 
  to the sale of its hydrocarbon                   received . 
  production, resulting in financial 
  loss to the Group. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Financial markets and economic 
  outlook 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The performance of the Group is                  The Group's sales proceeds are received 
  influenced by global economic conditions         in Ukrainian Hryvnia and a significant 
  and, in particular, the conditions               proportion of investment expenditure 
  prevailing in the United Kingdom                 is made in Ukrainian Hryvnia , which 
  and Ukraine. The economies in these              minimises risks related to foreign 
  regions have been subject to volatile            exchange volatility. However, hydrocarbon 
  pressures in recent periods, with                prices in Ukraine are implicitly 
  the global economy having experienced            linked to world hydrocarbon prices 
  a long period of difficulty, the                 and so the Group is subject to external 
  COVID pandemic, and more particularly            price movements. The Group holds 
  the current war in Ukraine. This                 a significant proportion of its 
  has led to extreme foreign exchange              cash reserves in the United Kingdom 
  movements in the Ukrainian Hryvnia               and Europe, mostly in US Dollars, 
  , high inflation and interest rates,             with reputable financial institutions. 
  and increased credit risk relating               The financial status of counterparties 
  to the Group's key counterparties.               is carefully monitored to manage 
                                                   counterparty risks. Nevertheless, 
                                                   the overall exposure that the Group 
                                                   faces as a result of these risks 
                                                   cannot be predicted and many of 
                                                   these are outside of the Group's 
                                                   control. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Corporate risks 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Ukrainian production licences 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group operates in a region                   The Group ensures compliance with 
  where the right to production can                commitments and regulations relating 
  be challenged by State and non-State             to its production licences through 
  parties. During 2010, this manifested            Group procedures and controls or, 
  itself in the form of a Ministry                 where this is not immediately feasible 
  Order instructing the Group to                   for practical or logistical considerations, 
  suspend all operations and production            seeks to enter into dialogue with 
  from its MEX-GOL and SV production               the relevant Government bodies with 
  licences, which was not resolved                 a view to agreeing a reasonable 
  until mid-2011. In 2013, new rules               time frame for achieving compliance 
  relating to the updating of production           or an alternative, mutually agreeable 
  licences led to further challenges               course of action. Work programmes 
  being raised by the Ukrainian authorities        are designed to ensure that all 
  to the production licences held                  licence obligations are met and 
  by independent oil and gas producers             continual interaction with Government 
  in Ukraine, including the Group.                 bodies is maintained in relation 
  In March 2019, a Ministry Order                  to licence obligations and commitments. 
  was issued instructing the Group 
  to suspend all operations and production 
  from its VAS production licence, 
  which was not resolved until March 
  2023. In 2020, LLC Arkona Gas-Energy 
  ("Arkona") faced a challenge from 
  PJSC Ukrnafta concerning the validity 
  of its SC production licence , 
  which was ultimately resolved in 
  Arkona's favour by a decision of 
  the Supreme Court of Ukraine in 
  February 2021. During 2023, the 
  Ukrainian authorities have taken 
  a number of regulatory actions 
  against the Group, which have culminated 
  in Ministry Orders being made in 
  May 2023 to suspend all operations 
  and production at the VAS production 
  licence and SC exploration licence. 
  Excepting the current suspension 
  O rders made in respect of the 
  VAS production licence and SC exploration 
  licence, all such challenges affecting 
  the Group have been successfully 
  defended through the Ukrainian 
  legal system. In July 2023, new 
  legislation was introduced in Ukraine, 
  which will come into force in September 
  2024, and which requires that branches 
  (or representative offices) of 
  foreign companies operating in 
  Ukraine register their ultimate 
  beneficial owners in Ukrainian 
  Registries. Regal Petroleum Corporation 
  Ltd ("RPC"), which holds the MEX-GOL 
  and SV licences, operates such 
  a branch and will therefore be 
  required to register its ultimate 
  beneficial owners from the implementation 
  of this law, which raises a potential 
  risk that such registration will 
  not be accepted by the Ukrainian 
  authorities, and possibly result 
  in regulatory action against RPC 
  and/or its licences and assets, 
  including suspension of the MEX-GOL 
  and SV licences. T he business 
  environment is such that these 
  types of challenges may arise at 
  any time in relation to the Group's 
  operations, licence history, compliance 
  with licence commitments and/or 
  local regulations. In addition, 
  production licences in Ukraine 
  are issued with and/or carry ongoing 
  compliance obligations, which if 
  not met, may lead to the loss of 
  a licence. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Risks relating to key personnel 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group's success depends upon                 The Group periodically reviews the 
  skilled management as well as technical          compensation and contractual terms 
  expertise and administrative staff.              of its staff. In addition, the Group 
  The loss of service of critical                  has developed relationships with 
  members from the Group's team could              a number of technical and other 
  have an adverse effect on the business.          professional experts and advisers, 
  The current war in Ukraine has                   who are used to provide specialist 
  meant that, as far as possible,                  services as required. As a result 
  the Group's staff have needed to                 of the war, o nly essential staff 
  move away from areas of conflict                 are located at site, and all other 
  and work remotely.                               staff are working remotely, either 
                                                   from areas away from the conflict 
                                                   areas or outside Ukraine. The Group 
                                                   has invested in technology that 
                                                   allows many staff to work just as 
                                                   effectively from remote locations. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 

Consolidated Income Statement

for the year ended 31 December 2022

 
 
                                                         202 2        2021 
                                               Note       $000        $000 
 
 Revenue                                        5     133 ,380     121,353 
 Cost of sales                                  6     (47,457)    (47,422) 
--------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  ---------- 
 Gross profit                                           85,923      73,931 
                                                       (6, 830 
 Administrative expenses                        7            )     (8,350) 
 Other operating ( losses)/ gains, (net)        10     (3,320)         654 
--------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  ---------- 
 Operating profit                                       75,773      66,235 
 Finance income                                 11       1,126       1,394 
 Finance costs                                  12     (1,410)       (752) 
 Net impairment (losses)/gains on financial 
  assets                                                 (444)       (177) 
 Other losses, (net)                            13     (1,738)       (108) 
--------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  ---------- 
 Profit before taxation                                 73,307      66,592 
 Income tax expense                             14    (13,124)    (15,473) 
--------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  ---------- 
 Profit for the year                                    60,183      51,119 
--------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  ---------- 
 
   Earnings per share (cents) 
 Basic and diluted                              16       18,8c       15.9c 
--------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  ---------- 
 

The Notes set out below are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the year ended 31 December 202 2

 
                                                    202 2    202 1 
                                                     $000     $000 
 
 Profit for the year                               60,183   51,119 
 
 Other comprehensive income/(expense): 
 Items that may be subsequently reclassified 
  to profit or loss: 
 
   Equity - foreign currency translation         (38,094)    1,611 
 Items that will not be subsequently 
  reclassified to profit or loss: 
 Re-measurements of post-employment benefit 
  obligations                                          53      172 
 
 
 Total other comprehensive (expense)/income      (38,041)    1,783 
 
 
 Total comprehensive income for the 
  year                                             22,142   52,902 
----------------------------------------------  ---------  ------- 
 

Company Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the year ended 31 December 202 2

 
                                       Note     202 2      20 21 
                                                 $000       $000 
 
 (Loss)/profit for the year              15   (6,358)   16 , 330 
------------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
 
 
 Total comprehensive (loss)/ income 
  for the year                                (6,358)   16 , 330 
------------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
 

The Notes set out below are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Balance Sheet

as at 31 December 202 2

 
 
                                             202 2        20 21 
                                  Note        $000         $000 
 Assets 
 Non-current assets 
 Property, plant and equipment     17       74,256       87,418 
 Intangible assets                 18        8,994       12,340 
 Right-of-use assets               19          364        1,008 
 Deferred tax asset                26          287          361 
-------------------------------  -----  ----------  ----------- 
 Prepayments for fixed assets                5,385        4,933 
-------------------------------  -----  ----------  ----------- 
                                            89,286      106,060 
 
 Current assets 
 Inventories                       21        3,358        1,862 
 Trade and other receivables       22       60,438        8,126 
 Cash and cash equivalents         23       88,652       87,780 
 Other short-term investments      23            -        4,762 
-------------------------------  -----  ----------  ----------- 
                                           152,448      102,530 
 
 Total assets                              241,734      208,590 
-------------------------------  -----  ----------  ----------- 
 
 Liabilities 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables          24     (27,529)     (12,306) 
 Lease liabilities                 19        (229)        (455) 
 Corporation tax payable                   (2,447)      (5,445) 
                                          (30,205)     (18,206) 
 
 Net current assets                        127,628       89,257 
-------------------------------  -----  ----------  ----------- 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Provision for decommissioning     25      (6,964)      (5,467) 
 Lease liabilities                 19        (258)        (648) 
 Defined benefit liability                   (323)        (427) 
 Deferred tax liability            26      (3,232)      (5,197) 
 Other non-current liabilities                (93)        (128) 
                                          (10,870)     (11,867) 
 
 Total liabilities                        (41,075)     (30,073) 
-------------------------------  -----  ----------  ----------- 
 
 Net assets                                200,659      178,517 
-------------------------------  -----  ----------  ----------- 
 
 Equity 
 Called up share capital           27       28,115       28,115 
 Foreign exchange reserve          28    (141,705)    (103,611) 
 Merger reserve                    28      (3,204)      (3,204) 
 Capital contributions reserve     28        7,477        7,477 
 Retained earnings                         309,976      249,740 
 Total equity                              200,659      178,517 
-------------------------------  -----  ----------  ----------- 
 

The Notes set out below are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

for the year ended 31 December 202 2

 
 
                       Called 
                           up       Share                    Capital      Foreign                Retained 
                        share     premium     Merger   contributions     exchange   earnings/(Accumulated 
                      capital     account    reserve         reserve     reserve*                 losses)                    Total equity 
                         $000        $000       $000            $000         $000                    $000                            $000 
 
 As at 1 January 
  202                                                                  ( 105 , 22             (35 6 , 641 
  1                    28,115     555,090    (3,204)           7,477           2)                       )                      1 25 , 615 
 Profit for the 
  year                      -           -          -               -            -                  51,119                          51,119 
 Other 
  comprehensive 
  expense - 
  exchange 
  differences               -           -          -               -        1,611                       -                           1,611 
  - re-measurements 
   of 
   post-employment 
   benefit 
   obligations              -           -          -               -            -                     172                             172 
-------------------  --------  ----------  ---------  --------------  -----------  ----------------------  ------------------------------ 
 Total 
  comprehensive 
  income/( expense)         -           -          -               -        1,611                  51,291                          52,902 
-------------------  --------  ----------  ---------  --------------  -----------  ----------------------  ------------------------------ 
 Cancellation of 
  share 
  premium account           -   (555,090)          -               -            -                 555,090                               - 
-------------------  --------  ----------  ---------  --------------  -----------  ----------------------  ------------------------------ 
 As at 31 December 
  202 
  1                    28,115           -    (3,204)           7,477    (103,611)                 249,740                         178,517 
-------------------  --------  ----------  ---------  --------------  -----------  ----------------------  ------------------------------ 
 
                       Called 
                           up       Share                    Capital      Foreign                Retained 
                        share     premium     Merger   contributions     exchange   earnings/(Accumulated 
                      capital     account    reserve         reserve     reserve*                 losses)                    Total equity 
                         $000        $000       $000            $000         $000                    $000                            $000 
 
 As at 1 January 
  202 
  2                    28,115           -    (3,204)           7,477    (103,611)                 249,740                         178,517 
 Profit for the 
  year                      -           -          -               -            -                  60,183                          60,183 
 Other 
  comprehensive 
  income - exchange 
  differences               -           -          -               -     (38,094)                       -                        (38,094) 
  - re-measurements 
   of 
   post-employment 
   benefit 
   obligations              -           -          -               -            -                      53                              53 
-------------------  --------  ----------  ---------  --------------  -----------  ----------------------  ------------------------------ 
 Total 
  comprehensive 
  income/( expense)         -           -          -               -     (38,094)                  60,236                          22,142 
-------------------  --------  ----------  ---------  --------------  -----------  ----------------------  ------------------------------ 
 As at 31 December 
  202 2                28,115           -    (3,204)           7,477    (141,705)                 309,976                         200,659 
-------------------  --------  ----------  ---------  --------------  -----------  ----------------------  ------------------------------ 
 * Predominantly as a result of exchange differences on non-monetary assets and liabilities where the subsidiaries' 
  functional currency is not the US Dollar. 
 
 

The Notes set out below are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

for the year ended 31 December 202 2

 
                                                                202 2      20 21 
                                                      Note       $000       $000 
 
 Operating activities 
 Cash generated from operations                        29      47,541     77,646 
 Charitable donations                                  13     (6,534)       (76) 
 Income tax paid                                             (15,863)    (8,959) 
 Interest received                                              1,888        763 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Net cash inflow from operating activities                     27,032     69,374 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 
 Investing activities 
 Purchase of oil and gas development, production 
  and other property, plant and equipment                    (19,829)   (26,292) 
 Purchase of oil and gas exploration and 
  evaluation assets                                           (4,092)   (11,387) 
 Sale/(Purchase) of financial instruments              23       4,762    (4,762) 
 Purchase of oil and gas development, production                           (5 39 
  and other intangible assets                                 (1,482)          ) 
 Proceeds from return of prepayments for 
  shares                                                            -        250 
 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and 
  equipment                                                         4         10 
 Net cash outflow from investing activities                  (20,637)   (42,720) 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 
 Financing activities 
 Payment of principal portion of lease liabilities              (398)      (555) 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Net cash outflow from financing activities                     (398)      (555) 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 
 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                      5,997     26,099 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning 
  of the year                                                  87,780     60,993 
 ECL* of cash and cash equivalents                               (14)        (6) 
 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes                      (5,111)        694 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of 
  the year                                             23      88,652     87,780 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 

*ECL - Expected credit losses

The Notes set out below are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Notes forming part of the financial statements

 
 1.   Statutory Accounts 
 

The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022 or 2021, but is derived from those accounts. The Auditor has reported on those accounts, and its reports were unqualified and did not contain statements under sections 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. The auditors' report on the Group financial statements included a material uncertainty in respect of the Group's ability to continue as a going concern as explained in the section "Going Concern" in Note 3 below.

The statutory accounts for 2022 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following publication.

While the financial information included in this preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards ("framework"), this announcement does not itself contain sufficient information to comply with the framework. The Company expects to distribute the full financial statements that comply with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards by 31 December 2023.

 
 2.   General Information and Operational Environment 
 

Enwell Energy plc (the "Company") and its subsidiaries (the "Group") is a gas, condensate and LPG production group.

The Company is a public limited company quoted on the AIM Market operated by London Stock Exchange plc and incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 2006. The Company's registered office is at 16 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP, United Kingdom and its registered number is 4462555. The principal activities of the Group and the nature of the Group's operations are set out above.

As at 31 December 2022, the Company's immediate parent company was Smart Energy (CY) Limited, which was 100% owned by Smart Holding (Cyprus) Limited, which was 100% owned by Proteas Trustees Ltd as trustee of the STEP Trust, and Proteas Trustee Services Ltd, Afroditi Loukaidou, Elena Iona and Charoula Sofokleous as trustees of the SMART Trust. Accordingly, the Company was ultimately controlled by Proteas Trustees Ltd as trustee of the STEP Trust, and Proteas Trustee Services Ltd, Afroditi Loukaidou, Elena Iona and Charoula Sofokleous as trustees of the SMART Trust. As at 31 December 2021, the Company's immediate parent company was Smart Energy (CY) Limited, which was 100% owned by Smart Holding (Cyprus) Limited, which was 100% owned by Mr Vadym Novynskyi.

The Group's gas, condensate and LPG extraction and production facilities are located in Ukraine.

Impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine

On 24 February 2022, Russia commenced a military invasion of Ukraine, and since then there has been an ongoing war in Ukraine. Shortly after the invasion, the Ukrainian Government imposed martial law, and the corresponding introduction of related temporary restrictions that impact, amongst other areas, the economic environment and business operations in Ukraine. The war has caused significant economic challenges in Ukraine, which has led to a deterioration of Ukrainian State finances, volatility of financial markets, illiquidity on capital markets, higher inflation and a depreciation of the national currency against major foreign currencies.

The war is continuing, causing very significant numbers of military and civilian casualties and significant dislocation of the Ukrainian population. The Russian army has occupied territories in the east and south of Ukraine, including the majority of the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Russian attacks have targeted and destroyed civilian infrastructure over wide areas of Ukraine, including hospitals and residential complexes.

On 3 June 2022, the National Bank of Ukraine ("NBU") increased the key policy interest rate to 25%, which was aimed at suspending price increases and strengthening the Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rate. The NBU has also introduced temporary restrictions on foreign currency trades and limited the ability to perform cross-border payments for non-critical imports and repayment of debt to foreign creditors, apart from international institutions. The Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rate with the US Dollar was effectively fixed at UAH29.25:$1.00 in February 2022 and then at UAH36.57:$1.00 in July 2022 on the foreign exchange market to ensure the stable operation of Ukraine's financial system. As a result, commercial interbank quotes remain close to the officially imposed NBU exchange rate. Despite the uncertainty and instability in the general situation within Ukraine, the banking system remains relatively stable, with sufficient liquidity even as martial law continues, and banking services are available to both legal entities and individual bank customers.

The Ukrainian Government has taken action to limit the negative effects of the war on the Ukrainian economic environment during the period of martial law and beyond, including but not limited to:

 
 --   the temporary easing of the tax regime until the end of 
       martial law, including the suspension of tax audits and 
       the cancellation of some penalties for violating the tax 
       law; 
 --   gasoline, heavy distillates, liquefied gas, oil and petroleum 
       are subject to VAT at a reduced rate of 7%, and the excise 
       tax rate for the imported fuel group of products' is set 
       at zero; 
 --   a number of measures were taken to limit prices for energy 
       resources, including prohibiting export of gas, setting 
       a level of electricity price on transactions a day ahead 
       and intraday markets; and 
 --   the increase in the subsoil tax rate on natural gas production 
       during martial law, which action introduced a differentiated 
       subsoil tax rate on the production of natural gas depending 
       on sale prices for natural gas. 
 

Additional financial support was received from a number of international institutions, including from the IMF and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ("EBRD"), to support the economy and the population. Such financial support is critical for Ukraine to continue to service its debts in the foreseeable future.

Given the fast-moving nature of the situation in Ukraine and the unpredictability of the outcome, it is impracticable to assess the full impact of the war on the economic environment.

Overall, the final resolution and the ongoing effects of the war and political and economic situation in Ukraine are difficult to predict, but they may have further severe effects on the Ukrainian economy and the Group's business.

As at 14 December 2023, the official NBU exchange rate of the Ukrainian Hryvnia against the US Dollar was UAH37.0/$1.00, compared with UAH36.57/$1.00 as at 31 December 2022.

Further details of risks relating to Ukraine can be found within the Principal Risks section of the Strategic Report.

 
 3.   Accounting Policies 
 

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Basis of Preparation

On 31 December 2020, IFRS as adopted by the European Union at that date was brought into UK law and became UK-adopted International Accounting Standards, with future changes being subject to endorsement by the UK Endorsement Board. The Group and Company transitioned to UK-adopted International Accounting Standards on 1 January 2021. This change constitutes a change in accounting framework. However, there is no impact on recognition, measurement or disclosure in the period reported as a result of the change in framework. The consolidated financial statements of the Group and the financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards and with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies reporting under those standards.

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards under the historical cost convention, as modified by the initial recognition of financial instruments based on fair value, and by the revaluation of financial instruments categorised at fair value through profit or loss ("FVTPL") and at fair value through other comprehensive income ("FVOCI"). The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below. Apart from the accounting policy changes effective from 1 January 2022 these policies have been consistently applied to all the periods presented, unless otherwise stated.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group's accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in Note 4. The consolidated financial statements are presented in thousands of US Dollars.

Going Concern

The Group's business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future operations, performance and position are set out in the Chairman's Statement, Chief Executive's Statement and Finance Review. The financial position of the Group, its cash flows and liquidity position are set out in these consolidated financial statements.

On 24 February 2022, Russia commenced a military invasion of Ukraine. This was quickly followed by the enactment of martial law by the Ukrainian President's Decree, approved by the Parliament of Ukraine, and the corresponding introduction of related temporary restrictions that impact the economic environment and business operations in Ukraine.

The production assets of the Group are located in the central and eastern part of the country (Poltava and Kharkiv regions) which are controlled by the Ukrainian Government. Following a brief period of suspension, production and field operations, as well as construction work on upgrades to the gas processing facilities, at the MEX-GOL and SV fields recommenced. As of the date of approval of these financial statements, no assets of the Group have been damaged, and the Group continues to operate its MEX-GOL and SV assets in the Poltava region, while its SC asset in the Poltava region and all production and field operations at the VAS asset located in the Kharkiv region are suspended. No military activities have occurred at the Group's field locations. The Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine has maintained complete operational and technological control over the operations of the Ukrainian Gas Transmission System. However, as of the date of approval of these financial statements, the war has had, and continues to have, a material impact on the production and sales levels of the business and execution of the Group's 2022 budget.

The Group has no debt and funds its operations from its own cash resources. Cash and cash equivalents were $79.1 million as at 14 December 2023. The Directors maintain a significant level of flexibility to modify the Group's development plans as may be required to preserve cash resources for liquidity management. Absent the potential impact of the war in Ukraine, the Directors are satisfied that the Group and the Company are a going concern and will continue their operations for the foreseeable future.

In assessing the impact of the war on the ability of the Group and the Company to continue as a going concern, the Directors have analysed a number of possible scenarios of economic and military developments and the impact on the expected cash flows of the Group and Company for 2023 and 2024. This includes considering a possible (but in the view of the Directors, highly unlikely) worst case scenario in which the Group has zero production as a result of possible future military conflict dictating field operations being completely shut-in, and all other non-production related costs being maintained at current levels with no reduction or mitigating actions as would otherwise be possible. Even in this worst-case scenario, the Directors are satisfied that the Group and the Company have sufficient liquid resources to be able to meet their liabilities as they fall due and to be able to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future.

The corporate strategy for the near term is to:

 
 --              continue production from MEX-GOL and SV licences, generating 
                  cash to cover Group costs and add to existing cash resources, 
                  whilst moderating development plans to reduce cash spend 
                  exposure whilst the war and operational/political continue; 
 --              vigorously pursue legal initiatives to protect the Group's 
                  assets, restore all licences and production, and seek compensation 
                  for losses incurred to date and as may be incurred in the 
                  future; and 
 --   tightly manage costs to ensure cash resources are maintained 
       at levels capable of sustaining the business through the 
       uncertainty that lies ahead 
 

In respect of the Group's operations, staff and assets in Ukraine, the potential short and long-term impact of the future development of the war is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, this creates a material uncertainty related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group's ability to continue as a going concern because of the potential impact on its ability to continue its operations for the foreseeable future and realise its assets in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include the adjustments that would result if the Group were unable to continue as a going concern.

The Company is a UK-based investment holding company. The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $20.6 million as at 14 December 2023, all of which are held outside of Ukraine, in US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros. The Directors are satisfied that the Company is a going concern and will be able to continue its operations for the foreseeable future, and there is no material uncertainty in respect of its ability to do so.

New and amended standards adopted by the Group

The following amended standards became effective from 1 January 2022, but did not have a material impact on the Group's c onsolidated or Company's financial statements :

 
      --        Amendments to IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment prohibit 
                 the deduction from the cost of an item of property, plant 
                 and equipment of any proceeds from selling items produced 
                 while bringing that asset into operation and clarify that 
                 these proceeds (and the corresponding costs of production) 
                 are recognised in profit or loss 
      --        Amendments to IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities 
                 and Contingent Assets clarify that the cost of fulfilling 
                 a contract comprises the costs that relate directly to 
                 the contract. These can either be incremental costs of 
                 fulfilling that contract or the allocation of other costs 
                 that relate directly to fulfilling contracts 
 

Impact of standards issued but not yet applied by the Group

Certain new standards and interpretations have been issued that are mandatory for the annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023 or later, and which the Group has not early adopted.

 
 (a)   IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts 
 (b)   Amendments to IFRS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements: 
        Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current 
 (c)   Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2: Disclosure 
        of Accounting Policies 
 (d)   Amendments to IAS 8: Definition of Accounting Estimates 
 (e)   Amendments to IAS 12: Deferred Tax related to Assets and 
        Liabilities arising from a Single Transaction 
 

These new standards and interpretations are not expected to affect significantly the Group's consolidated financial statements.

Exchange differences on intra-group balances with foreign operation

The Group has certain inter-company monetary balances of which the Company is the beneficial owner. These monetary balances are payable by a subsidiary that is a foreign operation and are eliminated on consolidation.

In the consolidated financial statements, exchange differences arising on such payables because the transaction currency differs from the subsidiary's functional currency are recognised initially in other comprehensive income if the settlement of such payables is continuously deferred and is neither planned nor likely to occur in the foreseeable future.

In such cases, the respective receivables of the Company are regarded as an extension of the Company's net investment in that foreign operation, and the cumulative amount of the abovementioned exchange differences recognised in other comprehensive income is carried forward within the foreign exchange reserve in equity and is reclassified to profit or loss only upon disposal of the foreign operation.

When the subsidiary that is a foreign operation settles its quasi-equity liability due to the Company, but the Company continues to possess the same percentage of the subsidiary, i.e. there has been no change in its proportionate ownership interest, such settlement is not regarded as a disposal or a partial disposal, and therefore cumulative exchange differences are not reclassified.

The designation of inter-company monetary balances as part of the net investment in a foreign operation is re-assessed when management's expectations and intentions on settlement change due to a change in circumstances.

Where, because of a change in circumstances, a receivable balance, or part thereof, previously designated as a net investment into a foreign operation is intended to be settled, the receivable is de-designated and is no longer regarded as part of the net investment.

In such cases, the exchange differences arising on the subsidiary's payable following de-designation are recognised within finance costs / income in profit or loss, similar to foreign exchange differences arising from financing.

Foreign exchange gains and losses not related to intra-group balances are recognised on a net basis as other gains or losses.

Basis of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial information of the Company and entities controlled by the Company (and its subsidiaries) made up to 31 December each year.

Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group is exposed to, or has rights to variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair value of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The Group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquiree on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis at the non-controlling interest's proportionate share of the recognised amounts of the acquiree's identifiable net assets.

Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

If the business combination is achieved in stages, the acquisition date carrying value of the acquirer's previously held equity interest in the acquiree is re-measured to fair value at the acquisition date; any gains or losses arising from such re-measurement are recognised in profit or loss.

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the Group is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset or liability is recognised in accordance with IFRS 9 in profit or loss.

Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealised losses are also eliminated. When necessary, amounts reported by subsidiaries have been adjusted to conform with the Group's accounting policies.

Segment reporting

The Group's only class of business activity is oil and gas exploration, development and production. The Group's primary operations are located in Ukraine, with its head office in the United Kingdom. The geographical segments are the basis on which the Group reports its segment information to management. Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the Board of Directors.

Commercial Reserves

Proved and probable oil and gas reserves are estimated quantities of commercially producible hydrocarbons which the existing geological, geophysical and engineering data show to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs. Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum that, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be commercially recoverable from known reservoirs and under defined technical and commercial conditions. Probable reserves are those additional reserves which analysis of geoscience and engineering data indicate are less likely to be recovered than proved reserves but more certain to be recovered than possible reserves. The proved and probable reserves conform to the definition approved by the Petroleum Resources Management System.

Oil and Gas Exploration/Evaluation and Development/Production Assets

The Group applies the successful efforts method of accounting for oil and gas assets, having regard to the requirements of IFRS 6 Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources.

Exploration costs are incurred to discover hydrocarbon resources. Evaluation costs are incurred to assess the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the resources found. Exploration, as defined in IFRS 6 Exploration and evaluation of mineral resources, starts when the legal rights to explore have been obtained. Expenditure incurred before obtaining the legal right to explore is generally expensed; an exception to this would be separately acquired intangible assets such as payment for an option to obtain legal rights.

Expenditures incurred in the exploration activities are expensed unless they meet the definition of an asset. The Group recognises an asset when it is probable that economic benefits will flow to the Group as a result of the expenditure. The economic benefits might be available through commercial exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves or sales of exploration findings or further development rights. Exploration and evaluation ("E&E") assets are recognised as either property, plant and equipment or intangible assets, according to their nature, in single field cost centres.

The capitalisation point is the earlier of:

 
 (a)   the point at which the fair value less costs to sell the 
        property can be reliably determined as being higher than 
        the total of the expenses incurred and costs already capitalised 
        (such as licence acquisition costs); and 
 (b)   an assessment of the property demonstrates that commercially 
        viable reserves are present and hence there are probable 
        future economic benefits from the continued development 
        and production of the resource. 
 

E&E assets are reclassified from Exploration and Evaluation when evaluation procedures have been completed. E&E assets that are not commercially viable are written down. E&E assets for which commercially viable reserves have been identified are reclassified to Development and Production assets. E&E assets are tested for impairment immediately prior to reclassification out of E&E.

Once an E&E asset has been reclassified from E&E, it is subject to the normal IFRS requirements. This includes impairment testing at the cash-generating unit ("CGU") level and depreciation.

Abandonment and Retirement of Individual Items of Property, Plant and Equipment

Normally, no gains or losses shall be recognised if only an individual item of equipment is abandoned or retired or if only a single lease or other part of a group of proved properties constituting the amortisation base is abandoned or retired as long as the remainder of the property or group of properties constituting the amortisation base continues to produce oil or gas. Instead, the asset being abandoned or retired shall be deemed to be fully amortised, and its costs shall be charged to accumulated depreciation, depletion or amortisation. When the last well on an individual property (if that is the amortisation base) or group of properties (if amortisation is determined on the basis of an aggregation of properties with a common geological structure) ceases to produce and the entire property or group of properties is abandoned, a gain or loss shall be recognised. Occasionally, the partial abandonment or retirement of a proved property or group of proved properties or the abandonment or retirement of wells or related equipment or facilities may result from a catastrophic event or other major abnormality. In those cases, a loss shall be recognised at the time of abandonment or retirement.

Intangible Assets other than Oil and Gas Assets

Intangible assets other than oil and gas assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and any provision for impairment. These assets represent exploration licences. Amortisation is charged so as to write off the cost, less estimated residual value on a straight-line basis of 20-25% per annum.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortisation

All expenditure carried within each field is amortised from the commencement of commercial production on a unit of production basis, which is the ratio of gas production in the period to the estimated quantities of commercial reserves at the end of the period plus the production in the period, generally on a field by field basis. In certain circumstances, fields within a single development area may be combined for depletion purposes. Costs used in the unit of production calculation comprise the net book value of capitalised costs plus the estimated future field development costs necessary to bring the reserves into production.

Impairment

At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the carrying amount of oil and gas development and production assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. This includes exploration and appraisal costs capitalised which are assessed for impairment in accordance with IFRS 6. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss.

For oil and gas development and production assets, the recoverable amount is the greater of fair value less costs to dispose and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using an expected weighted average cost of capital. If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised as an expense immediately. The valuation method used for determination of fair value less cost of disposal is based on unobservable market data, which is within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Should an impairment loss subsequently reverse, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised as income immediately.

Decommissioning Provision

Where a material liability for the removal of existing production facilities and site restoration at the end of the productive life of a field exists, a provision for decommissioning is recognised. The amount recognised is the present value of estimated future expenditure determined in accordance with local conditions and requirements. The cost of the relevant property, plant and equipment is increased with an amount equivalent to the provision and depreciated on a unit of production basis. Changes in estimates are recognised prospectively, with corresponding adjustments to the provision and the associated fixed asset. The unwinding of the discount on the decommissioning provision is included within finance costs.

Property, Plant and Equipment other than Oil and Gas Assets

Property, plant and equipment other than oil and gas assets (included in Other fixed assets in Note 17 are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets on a straight-line basis over their useful lives as follows:

 
                               Useful lives in years 
 Buildings and constructions          10 to 20 years 
 Machinery and equipment                2 to 5 years 
 Vehicles                                    5 years 
 Office and other equipment            4 to 12 years 
 

Spare parts and equipment purchased with the intention to be used in future capital investment projects are recognised as oil and gas development and production assets within property, plant and equipment.

Right-of-use assets

The Group leases various offices, equipment, wells and land. Contracts may contain both lease and non-lease components. The Group allocates the consideration in the contract to the lease and non-lease components based on their relative stand-alone prices.

Assets arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis.

Right-of-use assets are measured at cost comprising the following:

 
 --   the amount of the initial measurement of lease liability, 
 --   any lease payments made at or before the commencement date 
       less any lease incentives received, 
 --   any initial direct costs, and 
 --   costs to restore the asset to the conditions required by 
       lease agreements. 
 

Right-of-use assets are generally depreciated over the shorter of the asset's useful life and the lease term on a straight-line basis. If the Group is reasonably certain to exercise a purchase option, the right-of-use asset is depreciated over the underlying assets' useful lives. Depreciation on the items of the right-of-use assets is calculated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:

 
                                                      Useful lives 
                                                          in years 
 Land                                               40 to 50 years 
 Wells                                              10 to 20 years 
 Properties: 
 Buildings and constructions                        10 to 20 years 
 Machinery and equipment                              2 to 5 years 
 Vehicles                                                  5 years 
 Office and other equipment                          4 to 12 years 
 
 

Inventories

Inventories typically consist of materials, spare parts and hydrocarbons, and are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost of finished goods is determined on the weighted average bases. Cost of other than finished goods inventory is determined on the first in first out basis. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is income arising in the course of the Group's ordinary activities. Revenue is recognised by the amount of the transaction price. Transaction price is the amount of consideration to which the Group expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring control over promised goods or services to a customer, excluding the amounts collected on behalf of third parties.

Revenue is recognised net of indirect taxes and excise duties.

Sales of gas, condensate and LPG are recognised when control of the good has transferred, being when the goods are delivered to the customer, the customer has full discretion over the goods, and there is no unfulfilled obligation that could affect the customer's acceptance of the goods. Delivery occurs when the goods have been shipped to the specific location, the risks of obsolescence and loss have been transferred to the customer, and either the customer has accepted the goods in accordance with the contract, the acceptance provisions have lapsed, or the Group has objective evidence that all criteria for acceptance have been satisfied.

A receivable is recognised when the goods are delivered as this is the point in time that the consideration is unconditional because only the passage of time is required before the payment is due.

The Group normally uses standardised contracts for the sale of gas, condensate and LPG, which define the point of control transfer. The price and quantity of each sale transaction are indicated in the specifications to the sales contracts.

The control over gas is transferred to a customer when the respective act of acceptance is signed by the parties to a contract upon delivery of gas to the point of sale specified in the contract, normally being a certain point in the Ukrainian gas transportation system. Acts of acceptance of gas are signed and the respective revenues are recognised on a monthly basis.

The control over condensate and LPG is transferred to a customer when the respective waybill is signed by the parties to a contract upon shipment of goods at the point of sale specified in the contract, which is normally the Group's production site.

Foreign Currencies

The Group's consolidated financial statements and those of the Company are presented in US Dollars. The functional currency of the subsidiaries which operate in Ukraine is Ukrainian Hryvnia. The remaining entities have US Dollars as their functional currency.

The functional currency of individual companies is determined by the primary economic environment in which the entity operates, normally the one in which it primarily generates and expends cash. In preparing the financial statements of the individual companies, transactions in currencies other than the entity's functional currency ("foreign currencies") are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the Income Statement. Non-monetary assets and liabilities carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined. Non-monetary items which are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated. Gains and losses arising on retranslation are included in net profit or loss for the period, except for exchange differences arising on balances which are considered long term investments where the changes in fair value are recognised directly in other comprehensive income.

On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of the Group's subsidiaries which do not use US Dollars as their functional currency are translated into US Dollars as follows:

 
 (a)   assets and liabilities for each Balance Sheet presented 
        are translated at the closing rate at the date of that 
        Balance Sheet; 
 (b)   income and expenses for each Income Statement are translated 
        at average monthly exchange rates (unless this average 
        is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect 
        of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which 
        case income and expenses are translated at the rate on 
        the dates of the transactions); and 
 (c)   all resulting exchange differences are recognised in other 
        comprehensive income 
 

The principal rates of exchange used for translating foreign currency balances as at 31 December 202 2 were $1:UAH36. 57 (20 2 1 : $1: UAH2 7 . 28 ), $1:GBP0. 827 (20 2 1 : $1:GBP 0.7 41 ), $1:EUR0.934 (20 2 1 : $1:EUR0.8 83 ), and the average rates for the year were $1:UAH32.37 (202 1 : $1:UAH27. 3 ), $1:GBP0.811 (20 21 : $1:GBP 0.7 2 7), $1:EUR0.951 (202 1 : $1:EUR0.8 45 )

None of the Group's operations are considered to use the currency of a hyperinflationary economy, however this is kept under review.

Pensions

The Group contributes to a local government pension scheme in Ukraine and defined benefit plans. The Group has no further payment obligations towards the local government pension scheme once the contributions have been paid.

Defined benefit plans define an amount of pension benefit that an employee will receive on retirement, usually dependent on one or more factors such as age, years of service and compensation.

The Group companies participate in a mandatory Ukrainian State-defined retirement benefit plan, which provides for early pension benefits for employees working in certain workplaces with hazardous and unhealthy working conditions. The Group also provides lump sum benefits upon retirement subject to certain conditions. The early pension benefit (in the form of a monthly annuity) is payable by employers only until the employee has reached the statutory retirement age. The pension scheme is based on a benefit formula which depends on each individual member's average salary, his/her total length of past service and total length of past service at specific types of workplaces ("list II" category).

The liability recognised in the Balance Sheet in respect of defined benefit pension plans is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the end of the reporting period less the fair value of plan assets. The defined benefit obligation is calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of high-quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid, and that have terms to maturity approximating to the terms of the related pension obligation. Since Ukraine has no deep market in such bonds, the market rates on government bonds are used.

The current service cost of the defined benefit plan, recognised in the Income Statement within the Cost of Sales in employee benefit expense, except where included in the cost of an asset, reflects the increase in the defined benefit obligation resulting from employee service in the current year, benefit changes curtailments and settlements. Past-service costs are recognised immediately in the Income Statement.

The net interest cost is calculated by applying the discount rate to the net balance of the defined benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets. This cost is included in employee benefit expense in the Income Statement within the Cost of Sales.

Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited to equity in other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.

Taxation

The tax expense represents the sum of the current tax and deferred tax.

Current tax, including UK corporation and overseas tax, is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, and interests in joint ventures, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates which are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the Income Statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Other taxes which include recoverable value added tax, excise tax and custom duties represent the amounts receivable or payable to local tax authorities in the countries where the Group operates.

Value added tax

Output value added tax related to sales is payable to tax authorities on the earlier of (a) collection of receivables from customers or (b) delivery of goods or services to customers. Input VAT is generally recoverable against output VAT upon receipt of the VAT invoice. The tax authorities permit the settlement of VAT on a net basis. VAT related to sales and purchases is recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position on a gross basis for different entities of the Group and disclosed separately as an asset and a liability. Where provision has been made for expected credit losses ("ECL") of receivables, the impairment loss is recorded for the gross amount of the debtor, including VAT.

Financial Instruments

Financial instruments - key measurement terms . Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The best evidence of fair value is the price in an active market. An active market is one in which transactions for the asset or liability take place with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Fair value of financial instruments traded in an active market is measured as the product of the quoted price for the individual asset or liability and the number of instruments held by the entity. This is the case even if a market's normal daily trading volume is not sufficient to absorb the quantity held and placing orders to sell the position in a single transaction might affect the quoted price.

A portfolio of financial derivatives or other financial assets and liabilities that are not traded in an active market is measured at the fair value of a group of financial assets and financial liabilities on the basis of the price that would be received to sell a net long position (i.e. an asset) for a particular risk exposure or paid to transfer a net short position (i.e. a liability) for a particular risk exposure in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. This is applicable for assets carried at fair value on a recurring basis if the Group: (a) manages the group of financial assets and financial liabilities on the basis of the Group's net exposure to a particular market risk (or risks) or to the credit risk of a particular counterparty in accordance with the Group's documented risk management or investment strategy; (b) it provides information on that basis about the group of assets and liabilities to the Group's key management personnel; and (c) the market risks, including duration of the Group's exposure to a particular market risk (or risks) arising from the financial assets and financial liabilities are substantially the same.

Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow models or models based on recent arm's length transactions or consideration of financial data of the investees are used to measure fair value of certain financial instruments for which external market pricing information is not available. Fair value measurements are analysed by level in the fair value hierarchy as follows: (i) level one are measurements at quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, (ii) level two measurements are valuations techniques with all material inputs observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices), and (iii) level three measurements are valuations not based on solely observable market data (that is, the measurement requires significant unobservable inputs).

Transaction costs are incremental costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition, issue or disposal of a financial instrument. An incremental cost is one that would not have been incurred if the transaction had not taken place. Transaction costs include fees and commissions paid to agents (including employees acting as selling agents), advisers, brokers and dealers, levies by regulatory agencies and securities exchanges, and transfer taxes and duties. Transaction costs do not include debt premiums or discounts, financing costs or internal administrative or holding costs.

Fair value is the amount at which the financial instrument was recognised at initial recognition, while amortised cost ("AC") is the amount at which the financial instrument was subsequently measured after the initial recognition less any principal repayments, plus accrued interest, and for financial assets less any allowance for ECL. Accrued interest includes amortisation of transaction costs deferred at initial recognition and of any premium or discount to the maturity amount using the effective interest method. Accrued interest income and accrued interest expense, including both accrued coupon and amortised discount or premium (including fees deferred at origination, if any), are not presented separately and are included in the carrying values of the related items in the consolidated statement of financial position.

The effective interest method is a method of allocating interest income or interest expense over the relevant period, so as to achieve a constant periodic rate of interest (effective interest rate) on the carrying amount. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments or receipts (excluding future credit losses) through the expected life of the financial instrument or a shorter period, if appropriate, to the gross carrying amount of the financial instrument. The effective interest rate discounts cash flows of variable interest instruments to the next interest repricing date, except for the premium or discount which reflects the credit spread over the floating rate specified in the instrument, or other variables that are not reset to market rates. Such premiums or discounts are amortised over the whole expected life of the instrument. The present value calculation includes all fees paid or received between parties to the contract that are an integral part of the effective interest rate. For assets that are purchased or originated credit impaired ("POCI") at initial recognition, the effective interest rate is adjusted for credit risk, i.e. it is calculated based on the expected cash flows on initial recognition instead of contractual payments.

Financial instruments - initial recognition . Financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss ("FVTPL") are initially recorded at fair value. All other financial instruments are initially recorded at fair value adjusted for transaction costs. Fair value at initial recognition is best evidenced by the transaction price. A gain or loss on initial recognition is only recorded if there is a difference between fair value and transaction price which can be evidenced by other observable current market transactions in the same instrument or by a valuation technique whose inputs include only data from observable markets. After the initial recognition, an ECL allowance is recognised for financial assets measured at AC and investments in debt instruments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income ("FVOCI"), resulting in an immediate accounting loss.

All purchases and sales of financial assets that require delivery within the time frame established by regulation or market convention ("regular way" purchases and sales) are recorded at trade date, which is the date on which the Group commits to deliver a financial asset. All other purchases are recognised when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets - classification and subsequent measurement - measurement categories. The Group classifies financial assets in the following measurement categories: FVTPL, FVOCI and AC. The classification and subsequent measurement of debt financial assets depends on: (i) the Group's business model for managing the related assets portfolio and (ii) the cash flow characteristics of the asset. The Group's financial assets include cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, loans to subsidiary undertakings, all of which are classified as AC in accordance with IFRS 9.

Financial assets - classification and subsequent measurement - business model. The business model reflects how the Group manages the assets in order to generate cash flows - whether the Group's objective is: (i) solely to collect the contractual cash flows from the assets ("hold to collect contractual cash flows"), or (ii) to collect both the contractual cash flows and the cash flows arising from the sale of assets ("hold to collect contractual cash flows and sell") or, if neither of (i) and (ii) is applicable, the financial assets are classified as part of "other" business model and measured at FVTPL.

Business model is determined for a group of assets (on a portfolio level) based on all relevant evidence about the activities that the Group undertakes to achieve the objective set out for the portfolio available at the date of the assessment. Factors considered by the Group in determining the business model include past experience on how the cash flows for the respective assets were collected.

The Group's business model for financial assets is to collect the contractual cash flows from the assets ("hold to collect contractual cash flows").

Financial assets - classification and subsequent measurement - cash flow characteristics. Where the business model is to hold assets to collect contractual cash flows or to hold contractual cash flows and sell, the Group assesses whether the cash flows represent solely payments of principal and interest ("SPPI"). Financial assets with embedded derivatives are considered in their entirety when determining whether their cash flows are consistent with the SPPI feature. In making this assessment, the Group considers whether the contractual cash flows are consistent with a basic lending arrangement, i.e. interest includes only consideration for credit risk, time value of money, other basic lending risks and profit margin.

Where the contractual terms introduce exposure to risk or volatility that is inconsistent with a basic lending arrangement, the financial asset is classified and measured at FVTPL. The SPPI assessment is performed on initial recognition of an asset and it is not subsequently reassessed.

Financial assets - reclassification. Financial instruments are reclassified only when the business model for managing the portfolio as a whole changes. The reclassification has a prospective effect and takes place from the beginning of the first reporting period that follows after the change in the business model. The Group did not change its business model during the current and comparative period and did not make any reclassifications.

Financial assets impairment - credit loss allowance for ECL. The Group assesses, on a forward-looking basis, the ECL for debt instruments measured at AC and FVOCI and for the exposures arising for contractual assets. The Group measures ECL and recognises Net impairment losses on financial and contractual assets at each reporting date. The measurement of ECL reflects: (i) an unbiased and probability weighted amount that is determined by evaluating a range of possible outcomes, (ii) time value of money and (iii) all reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost and effort at the end of each reporting period about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future conditions.

Debt instruments measured at AC and contractual assets are presented in the consolidated statement of financial position net of the allowance for ECL. For loan commitments and financial guarantees, a separate provision for ECL is recognised as a liability in the consolidated statement of financial position.

The Group applies a simplified approach for impairment of cash and cash equivalents, other short-term investments and trade and other receivables, by recognising lifetime expected credit losses based on past default experience and credit profiles, adjusted as appropriate for current observable data. For other financial assets the Group applies a three stage model for impairment, based on changes in credit quality since initial recognition. A financial instrument that is not credit-impaired on initial recognition is classified in Stage 1. Financial assets in Stage 1 have their ECL measured at an amount equal to the portion of lifetime ECL that results from default events possible within the next 12 months or until contractual maturity, if shorter ("12 Months ECL"). If the Group identifies a significant increase in credit risk ("SICR") since initial recognition, the asset is transferred to Stage 2 and its ECL is measured based on ECL on a lifetime basis, that is, up until contractual maturity but considering expected prepayments, if any ("Lifetime ECL"). If the Group determines that a financial asset is credit-impaired, the asset is transferred to Stage 3 and its ECL is measured as a Lifetime ECL. For financial assets that are purchased or originated credit-impaired ("POCI Assets"), the ECL is always measured as a Lifetime ECL.

Financial assets - write-off. Financial assets are written-off, in whole or in part, when the Group has exhausted all practical recovery efforts and has concluded that there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. The write-off represents a derecognition event. The Group may write-off financial assets that are still subject to enforcement activity when the Group seeks to recover amounts that are contractually due, however, there is no reasonable expectation of recovery.

Financial assets - derecognition. The Group derecognises financial assets when (a) the assets are redeemed or the rights to cash flows from the assets otherwise expire or (b) the Group has transferred the rights to the cash flows from the financial assets or entered into a qualifying pass-through arrangement whilst (i) also transferring substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the assets or (ii) neither transferring nor retaining substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership but not retaining control.

Financial assets - modification. If the modified terms are substantially different, the rights to cash flows from the original asset expire and the Company derecognises the original financial asset and recognises a new asset at its fair value. The date of renegotiation is considered to be the date of initial recognition for subsequent impairment calculation purposes, including determining whether a SICR has occurred. Any difference between the carrying amount of the original asset derecognised and fair value of the new substantially modified asset is recognised in profit or loss, unless the substance of the difference is attributed to a capital transaction with owners. If the modified asset is not substantially different from the original asset and the modification does not result in derecognition. The Group recalculates the gross carrying amount by discounting the modified contractual cash flows by the original effective interest rate (or credit-adjusted effective interest rate for POCI financial assets), and recognises a modification gain or loss in profit or loss.

Financial liabilities - measurement categories. Financial liabilities are classified as subsequently measured at AC, except for (i) financial liabilities at FVTPL: this classification is applied to derivatives, financial liabilities held for trading (e.g. short positions in securities), contingent consideration recognised by an acquirer in a business combination and other financial liabilities designated as such at initial recognition and (ii) financial guarantee contracts and loan commitments. The Group's financial liabilities include trade and other payables , lease liabilities , all of which are classified as AC in accordance with IFRS 9.

Financial liabilities - derecognition. Financial liabilities are derecognised when they are extinguished (i.e. when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires).

Trade Receivables

Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for goods sold in the ordinary course of business. If collection is expected in one year or less, they are classified as current assets. If not, they are presented as non-current assets.

Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less expected credit losses.

Prepayments

Prepayments are carried at cost less provision for impairment. A prepayment is classified as non-current when the goods or services relating to the prepayment are expected to be obtained after one year, or when the prepayment relates to an asset which will itself be classified as non-current upon initial recognition. Prepayments to acquire assets are transferred to the carrying amount of the asset once the Group has obtained control of the asset and it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the asset will flow to the Group. Other prepayments are written off to profit or loss when the services relating to the prepayments are received. If there is an indication that the assets, goods or services relating to a prepayment will not be received, the carrying value of the prepayment is written down accordingly and a corresponding impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss for the year.

Investments in subsidiaries

Investments made by the Company in its subsidiaries are stated at cost in the Company's financial statements and reviewed for impairment if there are indications that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Loans issued to subsidiaries

Loans issued by the Company to its subsidiaries are initially recognised in the Company's financial statements at fair value and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less credit loss allowance. Net change in credit losses and foreign exchange differences on loans issued are recognised in the Company's statement of profit or loss in the period when incurred.

Trade and Other Payables

Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Lease liabilities

Liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis. Lease liabilities include the net present value of the following lease payments:

 
 --   fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments), 
       less any lease incentives receivable, 
 --   variable lease payments that are based on an index or a 
       rate, initially measured using the index or rate as at 
       the commencement date, 
 --   the exercise price of a purchase option if the Group is 
       reasonably certain to exercise that option, and 
 --   payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the 
       lease term reflects the Group exercising that option. 
 

Extension and termination options are included in a number of property and equipment leases across the Group. These terms are used to maximise operational flexibility in terms of managing contracts. Extension options (or period after termination options) are only included in the lease term if the lease is reasonably certain to be extended (or not terminated). Lease payments to be made under reasonably certain extension options are also included in the measurement of the liability.

The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease. If that rate cannot be readily determined, which is generally the case for leases of the Group, the Group's incremental borrowing rate is used, being the rate that the Group would have to pay to borrow the funds necessary to obtain an asset of similar value in a similar economic environment with similar terms and conditions.

To determine the incremental borrowing rate, the Group:

 
 --   where possible, uses recent third-party financing received 
       by the individual lessee as a starting point, adjusted 
       to reflect changes in financing conditions since third 
       party financing was received, 
 --   uses a build-up approach that starts with a risk-free interest 
       rate adjusted for credit risk, and 
 --   makes adjustments specific to the lease, e.g. term, country, 
       currency and collateral. 
 

The Group is exposed to potential future increases in variable lease payments based on an index or rate, which are not included in the lease liability until they take effect. When adjustments to lease payments based on an index or rate take effect, the lease liability is reassessed and adjusted against the right-of-use asset.

Lease payments are allocated between principal and finance costs. The finance costs are charged to profit or loss over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period.

Payments associated with short-term leases and all leases of low-value assets under $5,000 are recognised on a straight-line basis as an expense in profit or loss. Short-term leases are leases with a lease term of 12 months or less.

Equity Instruments

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments issued by the Company and the Group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Any excess of the fair value of consideration received over the par value of shares issued is recorded as share premium in equity.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and deposits held at call with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments which are readily convertible to a known amount of cash with insignificant risk of change in value. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at amortised cost. Interest income that relates to cash and cash equivalents on current and deposit accounts is disclosed within operating cash flow.

Other short-term investments

Other short-term investments include current accounts and deposits held at banks, which do not meet the cash and cash equivalents definition. Current accounts and deposits held at banks, which do not meet the cash and cash equivalents definition are measured initially at fair value and subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Interest received on other short-term investments is disclosed within operating cash flow.

Interest income

Interest income is recognised as it accrues, taking into account the effective yield on the asset. Interest income on current bank accounts and on demand deposits or term deposits with the maturity less than three months recognised as part of cash and cash equivalents is recognised as other operating income. Interest income on term deposits other than those classified as cash and cash equivalents is recognised as finance income.

 
 4.   Significant Accounting Judgements and Estimates 
 

The Group makes estimates and judgements concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and judgements which have a risk of causing material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.

Depreciation of Oil and Gas Development and Production Assets

Development and production assets held in property, plant and equipment are depreciated on a unit of production basis at a rate calculated by reference to proved and probable reserves at the end of the period plus the production in the period, and incorporating the estimated future cost of developing and extracting those reserves. Future development costs are estimated using estimates about the number of wells required to produce those reserves, the cost of the wells, future production facilities and operating costs, together with assumptions on oil and gas realisations, and are revised annually. The reserves estimates used are determined using estimates of gas in place, recovery factors, future hydrocarbon prices and also take into consideration the Group's latest development plan for the associated development and production asset. The latest development plan and therefore the inputs used to determine the depreciation charge for the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields continue until the end of the economic life of the fields, which is assessed to be 2038, 2042 and 2028 respectively, based on the assessment contained in the DeGolyer & MacNaughton reserves report for these fields. The licences for the MEX-GOL and SV fields have recently been extended until 2044. Were the estimated reserves at the beginning of the year to differ by 10% from previous assumptions, the impact on depreciation for the year ended 31 December 2022 would be to increase it by $1,394,000 or decrease it by $626,000 (2021: increase by $1,195,000 or decrease by $975,000).

Provision for Decommissioning

The Group has decommissioning obligations in respect of its Ukrainian assets. The full extent to which the provision is required depends on the legal requirements at the time of decommissioning, the costs and timing of any decommissioning works and the discount rate applied to such costs.

A detailed assessment of gross decommissioning cost was undertaken on a well-by-well basis using local data on day rates and equipment costs. The discount rate applied on the decommissioning cost provision as at 31 December 2022 was 4.76 % (31 December 2021: 6.29%). The discount rate is calculated in real terms based on the yield to maturity of Ukrainian Government bonds denominated in the currency in which the liability is expected to be settled and with the settlement date that approximates the timing of settlement of decommissioning obligations. Increase of the discount rate applied is caused by the growth of the Ukrainian risk-free rate.

The change in estimate applied to calculate the provision as at 31 December 2022 resulted from the revision of the estimated costs of decommissioning (increase of $1,477,000 in provision), an increase in the discount rate applied (increase of $1,020,000 in provision). The costs are expected to be incurred by 2038 on the MEX-GOL field, by 2042 on the SV field, and by 2028 on the VAS field, which is the end of the estimated economic life of the respective fields (Note 25).

Net Carrying Amount of Inter-Company Loans Receivable and Investments by the Company into a Subsidiary

The Company has certain inter-company loans receivable from a subsidiary, which are eliminated on consolidation. For the purpose of the Company's financial statements, these receivable balances are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less credit loss allowance. Measurement of lifetime expected credit losses on inter-company loans is a significant judgment that involves models and data inputs including forward-looking information, current conditions and forecasts of future conditions impacting the estimated future cash flows that are expected to be recovered, time value of money, etc. In previous years, significant impairment charges were recorded against the carrying amount of the loans issued to subsidiaries as the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate was less than the carrying amount of the loans, and the resulting impairment losses were recognised in profit or loss in the Company's financial statements.

For the purpose of assessment of the credit loss allowance as at 31 December 2022, the Company considered all reasonable and supportable forward-looking information available as at that date without undue cost and effort, which includes a range of factors, such as estimated future net cash flows to be generated by the subsidiaries operating in Ukraine and cash flow management. All these factors have a significant impact on the amounts subject to repayment on the loans and investments. The estimated future discounted cash flows generated by the subsidiaries operating in Ukraine are considered as a primary source of repayment on the loans and investments. As at 31 December 2022, the present value of future net cash flows to be generated by the subsidiaries operating in Ukraine during 2023 - 2027, adjusted for the subsidiaries' working capital as at 31 December 2022 and estimated amounts reserved by the Group for investment projects in the time horizon was calculated.

The key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow model are:

 
            --              production levels for a period of five years assumed to 
                             be: at the level of 6.9 MMboe for the MEX-GOL and SV fields 
                             and zero for the period of suspension of the VAS field 
                             and SC licence area; 
            --              reserves at the beginning of 2023 at the MEX-GOL and SV 
                             fields of 31.9 MMboe, at the VAS field of 1.2 MMboe and 
                             at the SC licence area of 10.8 MMboe; 
            --              commodity prices - the model assumes gas prices of $464/Mm(3) 
                             in 2023, $581/Mm(3) in 2024, decreasing to $509/Mm(3) in 
                             2025, $450/Mm(3) in 2026 and $300/Mm(3) in subsequent years; 
            --              discount rate applied is 11.66%, determined in real terms; 
            --              production taxes applicable to gas production at variable 
                             rates under relevant legislation; 
            --              capital expenditure allowance for maintenance and development 
                             of: MEX-GOL and SV fields at the level of $750,000 per 
                             year, VAS field at the level of $250,000 per year and SC 
                             licence area at the level of $100,000 per year; 
            --              future capital expenditures for a period of five years 
                             assumed to be: for the MEX-GOL and SV fields at the level 
                             of $170,500,000, VAS field at the level of $200,000 and 
                             SC licence area at the level of $0; 
            --              life of field for the purpose of the assessment of loans 
                             - cash flows were taken for a period of five years as management 
                             believes there is no reasonably available information to 
                             build reliable expectations and demonstrate the ability 
                             to settle the loans over a longer perspective ; 
            --              life of field for the purpose of the assessment of investments 
                             - cash flows were taken for a period of the full economic 
                             life of the respective CGUs. 
 

The resulting amount, net of the carrying value of the Company's investments in subsidiaries and loans, was compared to the discounted cash flows and net financial assets of the subsidiaries as at 31 December 2022. As such, the Company has recorded $ 9 ,942,000 of loss, being the net change in the expected credit losses for loans issued to and investments in subsidiaries in the Company's statement of profit or loss for the year ended 31 December 2022.

As with any economic forecast, the projections and likelihoods of occurrence are subject to a high degree of inherent uncertainty, and therefore the actual outcomes may be significantly different to those projected. The Company considers these forecasts to represent its best estimate of the possible outcomes.

 
 5.   Segmental Information 
 

In line with the Group's internal reporting framework and management structure, the key strategic and operating decisions are made by the Board of Directors, who review internal monthly management reports, budget and forecast information as part of this process. Accordingly, the Board of Directors is deemed to be the Chief Operating Decision Maker within the Group.

The Group's only class of business activity is oil and gas exploration, development and production. The Group's operations are located in Ukraine, with its head office in the United Kingdom. These geographical regions are the basis on which the Group reports its segment information. The segment results as presented represent operating profit before depreciation, amortisation and impairment of non-current assets.

 
                                  Ukraine     United     Total 
                                             Kingdom 
                                     2022       2022      2022 
                                     $000       $000      $000 
 
 Revenue 
 Gas sales                        109,461          -   109,461 
 Condensate sales                  12,744          -    12,744 
 Liquefied Petroleum Gas sales     11,175          -    11,175 
-------------------------------  --------  ---------  -------- 
 Total revenue                    133,380          -   133,380 
 
 Segment result                    84,750    (1,140)    83,610 
 Depreciation and amortisation 
  of non-current assets           (7,837)          -   (7,837) 
 Operating profit                                       75,773 
 
 Segment assets                   158,982     82,752   241,734 
 
 Capital additions*                19,807          -    19,807 
 

*Comprises additions to property, plant and equipment (Note 17)

There are no inter-segment sales within the Group and all products are sold in the geographical region in which they are produced. The Group is not significantly impacted by seasonality. Revenue is recognised at a point in time.

During 2022, the Group was selling all of its gas production to its related party, LLC Smart Energy ("Smart Energy"). Smart Energy has oil and gas operations in Ukraine and is part of the PJSC Smart-Holding Group, which was ultimately controlled by Mr Vadym Novynskyi, who until 1 December 2022, through an indirect 82.65% majority shareholding, ultimately controlled the Group. This arrangement came about in 2017 as a consequence of the Ukrainian Government introducing a number of new provisions into the Ukrainian Tax Code over the previous two years, including transfer pricing regulations for companies operating in Ukraine. The introduction of the new regulations has meant that there is an increased regulatory burden on affected companies in Ukraine who must prepare and submit reporting information to the Ukrainian Tax Authorities. Due to the corporate structure of the Group, a substantial proportion of its gas production is produced by a non-Ukrainian subsidiary of the Group, which operates in Ukraine as a branch, or representative office as it Is classified in Ukraine. Under the Ukrainian tax regulations, this places additional regulatory obligations on each of the Group's potential customers who may be less inclined to purchase the Group's gas and/or may seek discounts on sales prices. As a result of discussions between the Company and Smart Energy, Smart Energy agreed to purchase all of the Group's gas production and to assume responsibility for the regulatory obligations under the Ukrainian tax regulations. Furthermore, Smart Energy agreed to combine the Group's gas production with its own gas production, and to sell such gas as combined volumes, which was intended to result in higher sales prices due to the larger sales volumes. In order to cover Smart Energy's sales, administration and regulatory compliance costs, the Group sold its gas to Smart Energy at a discount of 2.0% to the gas sales prices achieved by Smart Energy, who sold the combined volumes in line with market prices. The terms of sale for the Group's gas to Smart Energy were (i) for 35% of the monthly volume of gas by the 15(th) of the month following the month of delivery, and (ii) payment of the remaining balance by the end of that month. This arrangement was terminated subsequent to the year end.

 
                                     Ukraine     United        Total 
                                                Kingdom 
                                        2021       2021         2021 
                                        $000       $000         $000 
 
 Revenue 
 Gas sales                            95,813          -       95,813 
 Condensate sales                     19,260          -       19,260 
 Liquefied Petroleum Gas sales         6,280          -        6,280 
-------------------------------  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
 Total revenue                       121,353          -      121,353 
 
 Segment result                       81,025    (2,832)       78,193 
 Depreciation and amortisation 
  of non-current assets             (11,958)          -     (11,958) 
 Operating profit                                             66,235 
 
 Segment assets                      144,941     63,649      208,590 
 
 Capital additions*                   32,577          -       32,577 
 

*Comprises additions to property, plant and equipment (Note 17)

 
 6.   Cost of Sales 
 
 
                                                   202 2     202 1 
                                                    $000      $000 
 
 Production taxes                                 25,271    19,926 
 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment     6,684    10,669 
 Rent expenses (Note 19)                           8,468     8,811 
 Staff costs (Note 9)                              2,149     2,886 
 Cost of inventories recognised as an expense      1,510     1,708 
 Transmission tariff for Ukrainian gas system        493       880 
 Amortisation of mineral reserves (Note 18)          411       482 
 Other expenses                                    2,471     2,060 
-----------------------------------------------  -------  -------- 
                                                  47,457    47,422 
 

A transmission tariff for use of the Ukrainian gas transit system of UAH101.93/Mm(3) of gas was applicable to

the Group (202 1 :   UAH101.93/Mm(3) ). 
 
 7.   Administrative Expenses 
 
 
                                                202 2    202 1 
                                                 $000     $000 
 
 Staff costs (Note 9)                           4,105    5,019 
 Consultancy fees                                 906      923 
 Depreciation of other fixed assets               297      572 
 Auditors' remuneration                           326      352 
 Amortisation of other intangible assets          169      235 
 Rent expenses                                    248      160 
 Other expenses                                   779    1,089 
---------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
                                                6,830    8,350 
 
 Auditors Remuneration 
 
 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
                                                202 2    202 1 
                                                 $000     $000 
 
 Audit of the Company and subsidiaries             37      141 
 Audit of subsidiaries in Ukraine                  10      124 
 Audit related assurances services - interim 
  review                                            -       48 
---------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
 Total assurance services                          47      313 
 
 
   Tax compliance services                          -       26 
 Tax advisory services                              3       13 
 Total non-audit services                           3       39 
---------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
 
 Total audit and other services                    50      352 
 
 
 Zenith Audit Ltd 
                                                202 2    202 1 
                                                 $000     $000 
 
 Audit of the Company and subsidiaries            139        - 
 Audit of subsidiaries in Ukraine                   -        - 
 Audit related assurances services - interim        -        - 
  review 
 Total assurance services                           -        - 
 
 
   Tax compliance services                          -        - 
 Tax advisory services                              -        - 
 Total non-audit services                           -        - 
 
 Total audit and other services                   139        - 
 
 
 8.   Remuneration of Directors 
 
 
                           2022    2021 
                           $000    $000 
 
 Directors' emoluments    1,325   1,115 
-----------------------  ------  ------ 
 

The emoluments of the individual Directors were as follows:

 
                                   Total         Total 
                              Emoluments    emoluments 
                                   202 2          2021 
                                    $000          $000 
 Executive Directors: 
 Sergii Glazunov                     473           307 
 Bruce Burrows                       546           484 
 
 Non-executive Directors: 
 Chris Hopkinson                     124           138 
 Alexey Pertin                        56            62 
 Yuliia Kirianova                     56            62 
 Dmitry Sazonenko                     50            62 
 Dr Gehrig Schultz*                   20             - 
                                   1,325         1,115 
 

*appointed 24 August 2022

The emoluments include base salary, bonuses and fees. According to the Register of Directors' Interests, no rights to subscribe for shares in or debentures of any Group companies were granted to any of the Directors or their immediate families during the financial year, and there were no outstanding options to Directors.

 
 9.   Staff Numbers and Costs 
 

The average monthly number of employees during the year (including Executive Directors) and the aggregate staff costs of such employees were as follows:

 
                               Number of employees 
 
                                  2022        2021 
 Group 
 Management / operational          166         171 
 Administrative support             81          92 
--------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                   247         263 
 

The prior year comparative numbers of employees were amended to conform to the current year presentation. The number of employees includes full-time and part-time employees.

 
                          202 2    202 1 
                           $000     $000 
 
 Wages and salaries       5,729    6,785 
 Other pension costs        816    1,007 
 Social security costs       90      113 
                          6,635    7,905 
 
 
 10.   Other Operating (Losses)/Gains, (net) 
 
 
                                                   202 2     202 1 
                                                    $000      $000 
 
 Interest income on cash and cash equivalents      1,888       763 
 Contractor penalties applied                        114        81 
 Gain on sales of current assets                      20        16 
 Impairment of property, plant and equipment     (4,257)         - 
  (Note 17) 
 Other operating (loss)/income, net              (1,085)   ( 206 ) 
                                                 (3,320)       654 
 
 
 11.   Finance Income 
 
 
                                                202 2   202 1 
                                                 $000    $000 
 
 Financial instrument: unwinding of discount    1,126       - 
 Foreign exchange gains less losses                 -   1,394 
                                                1,126   1,394 
 
 
 12.   Finance Costs 
 
 
                                                            2022   2021 
                                                            $000   $000 
 
 Unwinding of discount on financial liabilities              996    333 
 Unwinding of discount on provision for decommissioning 
  (Note 25)                                                  293    250 
 Interest expense on lease liabilities                       121    169 
                                                           1,410    752 
 
 
 13.   Other Losses, (net) 
 
 
                                       2022   2021 
                                       $000   $000 
 
 Charitable donations                 6,534     76 
 Foreign exchange (gains)/losses    (4,843)     53 
 Other losses/(gains), net               47   (21) 
                                      1,738    108 
 

Charitable donations for the year ended 31 December 2022 comprise humanitarian aid in for population and armed forces of Ukraine (2021: contributions to the development of social infrastructure of local communities ).

 
 14.   Income Tax Expense 
 
 
 a)    Income tax expense and (benefit): 
 
                                                            2022       2021 
                                                            $000       $000 
 Current tax 
 UK - current year                                            54        165 
 UK - prior year                                               -         10 
 Overseas - current year                                  14,263     13,130 
 Overseas - prior year                                         -          - 
 
 Deferred tax (Note 26) 
 UK - current year                                         1,852      2,367 
 UK - prior year                                         (3,021)          - 
 Overseas - current year                                    (24)      (199) 
 Income tax expense                                       13,124     15,473 
 
 
 
 b)   Factors affecting tax charge for the year: 
 

The tax assessed for the year is different from the corporation tax in the UK of 19.00%. The expense for the year can be reconciled to the profit as per the Income Statement as follows:

 
 
                                                      2022        2021 
                                                      $000        $000 
 
 Profit before taxation                             73,307     66, 592 
------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------- 
 Tax charge at UK tax rate of 19.00% (2021:                     12,6 5 
  19.00%)                                           13,928           2 
 
 Tax effects of: 
 Lower foreign corporate tax rates in Ukraine 
  (18.00%) (202 1 : 18.00%)                          (699)       (685) 
 Change in UK tax rate from 19% to 25% starting 
  from 1 April 2023                                      -       1,168 
 Disallowed expenses and non-taxable income          6,708   1 2 , 038 
 Previously unrecognised tax losses used to 
  reduce income tax expense                        (3,792)   ( 9 ,875) 
 Adjustments in respect of prior periods           (3,021)         175 
------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------- 
 Total tax expense for the year                     13,124      15,473 
 

The tax effect of disallowed expenses and non-taxable income are mainly represented by foreign exchange differences of Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited and the net change in credit loss allowance for loans issued to subsidiaries and shares in subsidiary undertakings.

The tax effect of losses not recognised as deferred tax assets are mainly represented by accumulated losses of Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited.

 
 15.   Loss/Profit for the Year 
 

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own Income Statement in these financial statements. The Parent Company loss after tax was $6,358 , 000 for the year ended 31 December 202 2 (202 1 : profit after tax $ 16 , 330, 000).

 
 16.   Earnings per Share 
 

The calculation of basic earnings per ordinary share has been based on the profit for the year and 320,637,836 (202 1 : 320,637,836) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue for the year. There are no dilutive instruments.

 
 17.   Property, Plant and Equipment 
 
 
                                                              202 2                                            202 1 
                                      Oil and       Oil and    Other      Total     Oil and Gas       Oil and    Other      Total 
                                          Gas           Gas    fixed                Development           Gas    fixed 
                                  Development   Exploration   assets                        and   Exploration   assets 
                                          and           and                          Production           and 
                                   Production    Evaluation                              assets    Evaluation 
                                       assets        Assets                             Ukraine        Assets 
                                      Ukraine 
  Group                                  $000          $000     $000       $000            $000          $000     $000       $000 
 
  Cost 
  At the beginning of the                                                                                         2,21     140,54 
   year                               163,170        10,110    2,631    175,911         135,966         2,362        7          5 
  Additions                            12,872         6,549      386     19,807          24,289         7,763      524     32,576 
  Change in decommissioning 
   provision                            2,596            38        -      2,634         (1,921)            70        -    (1,851) 
  Disposals                             (200)          (18)    (356)      (574)            (62)             -    (187)      (249) 
  Exchange differences               (43,183)       (3,586)    (693)   (47,462)           4,898          (85)       77      4,890 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------------  -------  ---------  --------------  ------------  -------  --------- 
  At the end of the year              135,255        13,093    1,968    150,316         163,170        10,110    2,631    175,911 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------------  -------  ---------  --------------  ------------  -------  --------- 
 
 Accumulated depreciation and impairment 
  At the beginning of the                                                                                         1,06      74,88 
   year                                87,070             -    1,423     88,493          73,816             -        7          3 
  Charge for year                       6,906             -      301      7,207          10,544             -      343     10,887 
  Disposals                              (75)             -     (57)      (132)            (25)             -     (28)       (53) 
  Impairment charged                    2,361         1,896               4,257 
  Exchange differences               (23,154)         (219)    (392)   (23,765)           2,735             -       41      2,776 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------------  -------  ---------  --------------  ------------  -------  --------- 
  At the end of the year               73,108         1,677    1,275     76,060          87,070             -    1,423     88,493 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------------  -------  ---------  --------------  ------------  -------  --------- 
 Net book value at the 
  beginning 
  of the year                          76,100        10,110    1,208     87,418         62, 150         2,362    1,150    65, 662 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------------  -------  ---------  --------------  ------------  -------  --------- 
 Net book value at the end 
  of the year                          62,147        11,416      693     74,256          76,100        10,110    1,208     87,418 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------------  -------  ---------  --------------  ------------  -------  --------- 
 
 

MEX-GOL, SV, SC and VAS gas and condensate fields

In accordance with the Group's accounting policies, oil and gas development and producing assets are tested for an impairment loss at each balance sheet date. In assessing whether an impairment loss has occurred, the carrying amount of the asset is compared to its recoverable amount, which IAS 36 defines as the higher of fair value less cost to sell and value in u se. Management does not believe it possible to measure fair value reliably, due to both the absence of an active market in which to sell the asset and the current political and economic climate in Ukraine. Therefore, as in previous years, management has used value in use, using a discounted cash flow ('DCF') model, to measure its recoverable amount.

Due to the suspension of the VAS and SC licences for five years, zero production was attributed for this period in the DCF models.

This resulted in the recognition of an impairment loss for the VAS assets of $4,256,000 (2012: $nil), to match the carrying value of the asset to its recoverable value, based on the revised estimate of value in use.

The calculation of value in use is most sensitive to the following assumptions:

 
 --   production levels and reserves at the beginning of 2023 
       at the MEX-GOL and SV fields of 31.9 MMboe, at the VAS 
       field of 1.2 MMboe and at the SC licence area of 10.8 MMboe 
       with zero production for the period of suspension of the 
       VAS and SC licences; 
 --   commodity prices - the model assumes gas prices of $464/Mm3 
       in 2023, $581/Mm3 in 2024, decreasing to $509/Mm3 in 2025, 
       $450/Mm3 in 2026 and $300/Mm3 in subsequent years; 
 --   discount rate applied is 11.66%, determined in real terms; 
 --   production taxes applicable to gas production at variable 
       rates under relevant legislation; 
 --   capital expenditure allowance for maintenance and development 
       of: MEX-GOL and SV fields at the level of $750,000 per 
       year, VAS field at the level of $250,000 per year and SC 
       licence area at the level of $100,000 per year; 
 --   future capital expenditures for a period of five years 
       assumed to be: for the MEX-GOL and SV fields at the level 
       of $245,700,000, VAS field at the level of $14,800,000 
       and SC licence area at the level of $116,700,000; 
 --   life of field for the purpose of the assessment of investments 
       - cash flows were taken for a period of the full economic 
       life of the respective CGUs (Note 4). 
 
 
 18.   Intangible Assets 
 
 
                                                             202 2                                            202 1 
                                 Mineral   Exploration        Other     Total      Mineral   Exploration        Other          Total 
                                 reserve           and   intangible                reserve           and   intangible 
                                  rights    evaluation       assets                 rights    evaluation       assets 
                                            intangible                                        intangible 
                                                assets                                            assets 
  Group                             $000          $000         $000      $000         $000          $000         $000           $000 
 
  Cost 
  At the beginning of the 
   year                            6,810         8,651          752    16,213        6,570         8,286          616         15,472 
  Additions                            -             -          322       322            -           143          324            467 
  Disposals                            -             -         (27)      (27)            -          (80)        (212)          (292) 
  Exchange differences           (1,730)       (2,218)        (187)   (4,135)          240           302           24            566 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  --------  -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------- 
  At the end of the year           5,080         6,433          860    12,373        6,810         8,651          752         16,213 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  --------  -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------- 
 
  Accumulated amortisation 
  At the beginning of the 
   year                            3,439             -          434     3,873        2,855             -          385          3,240 
  Charge for year                    411             -          182       593          482             -          239            721 
  Disposals                            -             -         (27)      (27)            -             -        (212)          (212) 
  Exchange differences             (925)             -        (135)   (1,060)          102             -           22            124 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  --------  -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------- 
  At the end of the year           2,925             -          454     3,379        3,439             -          434          3,873 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  --------  -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------- 
 Net book value at the 
  beginning 
  of the year                      3,371         8,651          318    12,340        3,715         8,286          231         12,232 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  --------  -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------- 
 Net book value at the end 
  of the year                      2,155         6,433          406     8,994        3,371         8,651          318         12,340 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  --------  -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------- 
 
 
 

Intangible assets consist mainly of the hydrocarbon production licence relating to the VAS field which is held by one of the Group's subsidiaries, LLC Prom-Enerho Produkt, and a hydrocarbon exploration licence relating to the Svystunivsko-Chervonolutskyi ("SC") area which is held by LLC Arkona Gas-Energy. The Group amortises the hydrocarbon production licence relating to the VAS field using the straight-line method over the term of the economic life of the VAS field until 2028. The hydrocarbon exploration licence relating to the SC area is not amortised due to it being in an exploration and evaluation stage.

In accordance with the Group's accounting policies, intangible assets are tested for impairment at each balance sheet date as part of the impairment testing of the Group's oil and gas development and production assets if impairment indicators exist. As at 31 December 2022, intangible assets were tested for an impairment loss, however no loss was recognised in the period.

 
 19.   Right-of-use Assets 
 

This note provides information for right-of-use assets and leases obligations where the Group is a lessee.

Amount recognised in the balance sheet:

 
 
                        202 2   202 1 
                         $000    $000 
 Right-of-use assets 
 Properties               150     627 
 Land                     170     242 
 Wells                     44     139 
---------------------  ------  ------ 
                          364   1,008 
 
 
 
                      202 2   202 1 
                       $000    $000 
 Lease liabilities 
 Current                229     455 
 Non-current            258     648 
-------------------  ------  ------ 
                        487   1,103 
 

After modification and due to termination of contracts disposals to the right-of-use assets during the 202 2 financial year were $271,000 (202 1 : additions to the right-of-use assets after modification were $ 820 ,000).

Amounts recognised in the statement of profit or loss:

 
 
                                                      202 2     202 1 
                                                       $000      $000 
 Depreciation charge 
 Properties                                           (237)     (311) 
 Land                                                  (14)      (15) 
 Wells                                                  (5)      (34) 
-------------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
                                                    ( 256 )     (360) 
 
 Interest expense (included in finance cost)          (121)     (169) 
 Expense relating to short-term leases (included 
  in cost of sales and administrative expenses)       (228)     (142) 
 Expense relating to variable lease payments 
  not included in lease liabilities (included       (8,4 30 
  in cost of sales)                                       )   (8,765) 
 Expense relating to lease payments for land 
  under wells not included in lease liabilities 
  (included in cost of sales)                        (3 8 )      (64) 
 

The total cash outflow for leases in 202 2 was $12,464,000 (202 1 : $ 10 , 217 ,000).

 
 20.   Investments and Loans to Subsidiary Undertakings 
 
 
                                             Shares in        Loans to 
                                            subsidiary      subsidiary 
                                          undertakings    undertakings      Total 
                                                  $000            $000       $000 
 Company 
 As at 1 January 202 1                          35,287          62,828     98,115 
--------------------------------------  --------------  --------------  --------- 
 Additions including accrued interest                -          15,447     15,447 
 Disposal of shares in subsidiary              (3,322)               -    (3,322) 
 Accumulated impairment on disposal 
  of shares in subsidiary                        3,322               -      3,322 
 Repayment of interest and loans                     -        (32,132)   (32,132) 
 Reversal of impairment                          3,240           7,672     10,912 
 Exchange differences                                -         (4,916)    (4,916) 
--------------------------------------  --------------  --------------  --------- 
 As at 31 December 2021                         38,527          48,899     87,426 
--------------------------------------  --------------  --------------  --------- 
 Additions including accrued interest                3           6,740      6,743 
 Repayment of interest and loans                     -         (1,077)    (1,077) 
 Impairment                                    (7,826)         (2,116)    (9,942) 
 Exchange differences                                -         (2,472)    (2,472) 
--------------------------------------  --------------  --------------  --------- 
 As at 31 December 202 2                        30,704          49,974     80,678 
--------------------------------------  --------------  --------------  --------- 
 

The Company has recorded a loss of $2,116,000, being the net change in expected credit losses for loans issued to subsidiaries in the Company's statement of profit or loss for the year ended 31 December 2022 (Note 4). The Company also recorded a loss of $7,826,000, being the net change in credit loss allowance for shares in subsidiary undertakings.

The Company's discounted cash flow model used for the assessment of the investments recoverability, flexed for sensitivities, produced the following results:

 
                                            31 December    31 December 
                                                   2022           2021 
                                                   $000           $000 
 
 Discount rate (increase)/decrease 
  by 1%                                       (247)/220   ( 641 )/ 676 
 Change in gas price increase/(decrease)     1,664 /( 1   3 , 388 /( 3 
  by 10%                                        , 647 )        , 411 ) 
-----------------------------------------  ------------  ------------- 
 

The table presented below discloses the changes in the gross carrying amount and credit loss allowance between the beginning and the end of the reporting period for loans to subsidiary undertakings carried at amortised cost and classified within a three-stage model for impairment assessment as at 31 December 2022:

 
                             Credit loss allowance                             Gross carrying amount 
                      Stage       Stage      Stage 3      Total        Stage       Stage         Stage 3     Total 
                          1           2                                    1           2 
                                                      ---------                                           -------- 
                 (12-months   (lifetime    (lifetime              (12-months   (lifetime       (lifetime 
                       ECL)         ECL      ECL for                    ECL)     ECL for         ECL for 
                                    for       credit                               SICR)          credit 
                                  SICR)    impaired)                                           impaired) 
--------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  --------------  -------- 
 
                       $000        $000         $000       $000         $000        $000            $000      $000 
 
 As at 1 
  January 
  202 2               (637)           -     (16,044)   (16,681)       12,276           -          53,304    65,580 
--------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  --------------  -------- 
 
 Movements 
 with 
 impact on 
 credit 
 loss 
 allowance 
 charge for 
 the 
 year: 
 
 Modification 
  of 
  loans                   -           -        (876)      (876)            -           -             876       876 
 Additions 
  including 
  accrued 
  interest                -           -            -          -        4,958           -           1,782     6,740 
 Payment of 
  interest                -           -            -          -            -           -         (1,077)   (1,077) 
 Repayment of             -           -            -          -            -           -               -         - 
 loans 
 Exchange 
  difference              -           -          120        120            -           -         (2,592)   (2,592) 
 Changes to 
  ECL 
  measurement 
  model 
  assumptions       (1,085)           -      (1,031)    (2,116)            -           -               -         - 
--------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  --------------  -------- 
 
 Total 
  movements 
  with impact 
  on 
  credit loss 
  allowance 
  charge for 
  the 
  year              (1,085)           -      (1,787)    (2,872)        4,958           -         (1,011)     3,947 
--------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  --------------  -------- 
 
 As at 31 
  December 
  202 2             (1,722)           -     (17,831)   (19,553)       17,234           -          52,293    69,527 
--------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  --------------  -------- 
 

ECL - Expected credit losses

SICR - Significant increase in credit risk

The table presented below discloses the changes in the gross carrying amount and credit loss allowance between the beginning and the end of the reporting period for loans to subsidiary undertakings carried at amortised cost and classified within a three-stage model for impairment assessment as at 31 December 2021:

 
                             Credit loss allowance                             Gross carrying amount 
                      Stage       Stage        Stage      Total        Stage       Stage        Stage 3      Total 
                          1           2            3                       1           2 
                                                      ---------                                          --------- 
                 (12-months   (lifetime    (lifetime              (12-months   (lifetime      (lifetime 
                       ECL)         ECL      ECL for                    ECL)     ECL for        ECL for 
                                    for       credit                               SICR)         credit 
                                  SICR)    impaired)                                          impaired) 
--------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  -------------  --------- 
 
                       $000        $000         $000       $000         $000        $000           $000       $000 
 
 As at 1 
  January 
  2021                    -           -     (20,375)   (20,375)            -           -         83,203     83,203 
--------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  -------------  --------- 
 
 Movements 
 with 
 impact on 
 credit 
 loss 
 allowance 
 charge for 
 the 
 year: 
 
 Modification 
  of 
  loans                   -           -      (5,378)    (5,378)            -           -          5,378      5,378 
 Additions 
  including 
  accrued 
  interest                -           -            -          -       12,276           -          3,171     15,447 
 Payment of 
  interest                -           -            -          -            -           -        (3,134)    (3,134) 
 Repayment of 
  loans                   -           -            -          -            -           -       (28,998)   (28,998) 
 Exchange 
  difference              -           -        1,400      1,400            -           -        (6,316)    (6,316) 
 Changes to 
  ECL 
  measurement 
  model 
  assumptions         (637)           -        8,309      7,672            -           -              -          - 
--------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  -------------  --------- 
 
 Total 
  movements 
  with impact 
  on 
  credit loss 
  allowance 
  charge for 
  the 
  year                (637)           -        4,331      3,694       12,276           -       (29,899)   (17,623) 
--------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  -------------  --------- 
 
 As at 31 
  December 
  2021                (637)           -     (16,044)   (16,681)       12,276           -         53,304     65,580 
--------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  ------------- 
 

ECL - Expected credit losses

SICR - Significant increase in credit risk

Subsidiary undertakings

As at 31 December 2022 and 2021, the Company's subsidiary undertakings, all of which are included in the consolidated financial statements, were:

 
                        Registered            Country         Country          Principal          % of shares held 
                          address                of         of operation        activity 
                                           incorporation 
                                                                                              31 December  31 December 
                                                                                                  2022         2021 
 
                   3(rd) Floor, 
                    Charter Place, 
                    23-27 Seaton 
Regal Petroleum     Place, St Helier, 
 Corporation        Jersey, JE4                                             Oil & Natural 
 Limited            0WH                   Jersey           Ukraine           Gas Extraction          100%         100% 
 
Regal Petroleum    162 Shevchenko                          Ukraine         Oil & Natural 
 Corporation        Str., Yakhnyky                                          Gas Extraction 
 Limited            Village, Lokhvytsya 
 (Branch            District, Poltava 
 Office)            Region, 37212 
 
                   162 Shevchenko                                          Exploration 
                    Str., Yakhnyky                                          and Evaluation 
                    Village, Lokhvytsya                                     for Oil 
LLC Arkona          District, Poltava                                       and Natural 
 Gas-Energy         Region, 37212         Ukraine          Ukraine          Gas                      100%         100% 
 
LLC Regal          162 Shevchenko 
 Petroleum          Str., Yakhnyky 
 Corporation        Village, Lokhvytsya 
 (Ukraine)          District, Poltava                                      Holding 
 Limited            Region, 37212         Ukraine          Ukraine          Company                  100%         100% 
 
                   3 Klemanska 
LLC Prom-Enerho     Str., Kiev,                                            Oil & Natural 
 Produkt            02081                 Ukraine          Ukraine          Gas Extraction           100%         100% 
 
                   58 Yaroslavska 
Well Investum       str., Kyiv,                                            Dormant 
 LLC                04071                 Ukraine          Ukraine          Company                  100%            - 
 
*Regal Group       16 Old Queen 
 Services           Street, London,       United           United          Service 
 Limited            SW1H 9HP               Kingdom          Kingdom         Company                  100%         100% 
 
                   3(rd) Floor, 
                    Charter Place, 
                    23-27 Seaton 
*Regal Petroleum    Place, St Helier, 
 (Jersey)           Jersey, JE4                            United          Holding 
 Limited            0WH                   Jersey            Kingdom         Company                     -         100% 
 
 

*Regal Petroleum (Jersey) Limited was dissolved on 11 November 2022, and Regal Group Services Limited was dissolved on 21 February 2023.

The Parent Company, Enwell Energy plc, holds direct interests in 100% of the share capital of Regal Petroleum Corporation Limited, Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited, LLC Arkona Gas-Energy and Well Investum LLC, and a 100% indirect interest in LLC Prom-Enerho Produkt through its 100% shareholding in Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited, which owns all of the share capital of LLC Prom-Enerho Produkt. The Parent Company, Enwell Energy plc, held a direct interest in 100% of the share capital of Regal Group Services Limited until it was dissolved on 21 February 2023.

 
 21.  Inventories 
 
 
                                                       Group 
                                                  202 2      202 1 
                                                   $000       $000 
 Current 
 Materials and spare parts                        1,914      1,705 
 Finished goods                                   1,444        157 
--------------------------------------------             --------- 
                                                  3,358      1,862 
 
 

Inventories consist of materials, spare parts and finished goods. Materials and spare parts are represented by spare parts that were not assigned to any new wells, production raw materials and fuel at the storage facility. Finished goods consist of produced gas held in underground gas storage facilities and condensate and LPG held at the processing facility prior to sale.

As at 31 December 2022 allowances for impairment of materials and spare parts amounted to $705,000 (31 December 2021: $965,000).

All inventories are measured at the lower of cost or net realisable value. There was no write down of inventory as at 31 December 2022 or 2021.

 
 22.   Trade and Other Receivables 
 
 
                                          Group               Company 
                                   2022     2021       2022       2021 
                                   $000     $000       $000       $000 
 
Trade receivables                46,188    5,308          -          - 
Other financial receivables         284      200        285        196 
Financial aids                   11,316        -          -          - 
Less credit loss allowance        (433)    (140)          -          - 
                              ---------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Total financial receivables      57,355    5,368        285        196 
 
Prepayments and accrued 
 income                           4,509      298        249         28 
Other receivables                 2,574    2,460         81         75 
                              ---------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Total trade and other 
 receivables                     60,438    8,126        615        299 
 

Due to the short-term nature of the trade and other receivables, their carrying amount is assumed to be the same as their fair value. All trade and other financial receivables, except those provided for, are considered to be of high credit quality.

As at 31 December 2022, the Group's total trade receivables, net of expected credit losses amounted to $46,033,000 and 100% were denominated in Ukrainian Hryvnia (31 December 2021: $5,169,000 and 100% were denominated in Ukrainian Hryvnia). Further description of financial receivables is disclosed in Note 30.

The majority of the trade receivables were from a related party, LLC Smart Energy, that purchased all of the Group's gas production (see Note 5). The applicable payment terms, which were revised in the period, are payment for 35% of the monthly volume of gas by the 15(th) of the month following the month of delivery, and payment of the remaining balance by the end of that month. This arrangement was terminated subsequent to the year end.

Analysis by credit quality of financial trade and other receivables and expected credit loss allowance as at 31 December 2022 is as follows:

 
                         Loss rate  Gross carrying  Life-time  Carrying               Basis 
                                            amount        ECL    amount 
                                              $000       $000      $000 
 
Trade receivables                                                        financial position 
 from related                                                                of related 
 parties                     9,99%          46,003      (126)    45,877         party 
 
                                                                           number of days 
Trade receivables                                                          the asset past 
 - -credit impaired           100%              98       (98)         -          due 
 
                                                                             historical 
Trade receivables                                                           credit losses 
 - other                     9.99%              87        (1)        86      experienced 
 
Other financial                                                              individual 
 receivables                 9.99%             284       (25)       259     default rates 
 
Financial aids                              11,316      (183)    11,133 
 
Total trade 
 and other receivables 
 for which individual 
 approach for 
 ECL is used                               57, 788      (433)    57,355 
 

Analysis by credit quality of financial trade and other receivables and expected credit loss allowance as at 31 December 2021 is as follows:

 
                         Loss rate  Gross carrying  Life-time  Carrying               Basis 
                                            amount        ECL    amount 
                                              $000       $000      $000 
 
Trade receivables                                                        financial position 
 from related                                                                of related 
 parties                        5%           5,015        (7)     5,008         party 
 
                                                                           number of days 
Trade receivables                                                          the asset past 
 - -credit impaired           100%             132      (132)         -          due 
 
                                                                             historical 
Trade receivables                                                           credit losses 
 - other                     0.21%             161          -       161      experienced 
 
Other financial                                                              individual 
 receivables                 0.48%             200        (1)       199     default rates 
 
Total trade 
 and other receivables 
 for which individual 
 approach for 
 ECL is used                                 5,508      (140)     5,368 
 

ECL - Expected credit losses

The following table explains the changes in the credit loss allowance for trade and other receivables under the simplified ECL model between the beginning and the end of the year:

 
                                            202 2  202 1 
                                             $000   $000 
Trade and other receivables 
Balance as at 1 January                       140    133 
New originated or purchased                   441     24 
Financial assets derecognised during the 
 year                                       (172)   (19) 
Changes in estimates and assumptions           61    (3) 
Foreign exchange movements                 (3 7 )      5 
Balance as at 31 December                     433    140 
 
 
 23.   Cash and Cash Equivalents and Other short-term investments 
 
 
                                         Group           Company 
                                      202 2    202 1   202 2   202 1 
                                       $000     $000    $000    $000 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents 
Cash at bank                         33,243   75,457  26,541  63,299 
Demand deposits and term deposits 
 with maturity of less than 3 
 months                              55,409   12,323  55,000       - 
                                     88,652   87,780  81,541  63,299 
 
Other short-term investments 
Demand deposits and term deposits 
 with maturity of more than 3 
 months but less than a year              -    4,762       -       - 
                                          -    4,762       -       - 
 

Cash at bank earns interest at fluctuating rates based on daily bank deposit rates. Demand deposits are made for varying periods depending on the immediate cash requirements of the Group and earn interest at the respective short-term deposit rates. The terms and conditions upon which the Group's demand deposits are made allow immediate access to all cash deposits, with no significant loss of interest.

 
                                    Group          Company 
                                 202 2   202 1   202 2   202 1 
                                  $000    $000    $000    $000 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents 
Ukrainian Hryvnia                6,874  24,249       -       - 
US Dollars                      81,282  63,247  81,046  63,015 
British Pounds                     223     275     223     275 
Euros                              273       9     272       9 
                                88,652  87,780  81,541  63,299 
 
Other short-term investments 
Ukrainian Hryvnia                    -   4,762       -       - 
                                     -   4,762       -       - 
 

The credit quality of cash and cash equivalents balances and other short-term investments may be summarised based on Moody's ratings as follows as at 31 December:

 
                         Demand deposits     Demand deposits 
                       and term deposits   and term deposits             Total cash 
             Cash at       with maturity       with maturity   and cash equivalents 
            bank and         less than 3         more than 3   and other short-term 
             on hand              months              months            investments 
               202 2               202 2               202 2                  202 2 
                $000                $000                                       $000 
 
 A- to A+ 
    rated     26,537              55,000                   -                 81,537 
 B- to B+          -                   -                   -                      - 
    rated 
 C- to C+ 
    rated      3,209                 409                   -                  3,618 
  Unrated      3,497                   -                   -                  3,497 
              33,243              55,409                   -                 88,652 
 
 
                            Demand deposits     Demand deposits 
                          and term deposits   and term deposits             Total cash 
                              with maturity       with maturity   and cash equivalents 
           Cash at bank         less than 3         more than 3   and other short-term 
            and on hand              months              months            investments 
                   2021                2021                2021                   2021 
                   $000                $000                                       $000 
 
 A- to A+ 
    rated        63,290                   -                   -                 63,290 
 B- to B+ 
    rated           900               8,660               4,762                 14,322 
  Unrated        11,267               3,663                   -                 14,930 
                 75,457              12,323               4,762                 92,542 
 

For cash and cash equivalents and other short-term investments, the Group assessed ECL based on the Moody's rating for rated banks and based on the sovereign rating of Ukraine defined by Fitch as "RD" as at 31 December 2022 for non-rated banks. Based on this assessment, the Group concluded that the identified impairment loss was immaterial.

 
 24.   Trade and Other Payables 
 
 
                                         Group              Company 
                                     202 2      202 1    202 2      202 1 
                                      $000       $000     $000       $000 
 
Taxation and social security         3,347    5 , 031       51         41 
Trade payables                       1,079      3,404        -          - 
Accruals and other payables         21,810      3,354   19,909      1,757 
Advances received                    1,293        517        -          - 
                                    27,529     12,306   19,960      1,798 
 
 

The carrying amounts of trade and other payables are assumed to be the same as their fair values, due to their short-term nature. Financial payables are disclosed in Note 30.

 
 25.   Provision for Decommissioning 
 
 
                                  202 2     202 1 
                                   $000      $000 
Group 
At the beginning of the year     5 ,467     6,819 
Amounts provided                    137       198 
Unwinding of discount               293       250 
Change in estimate                2,497   (2,049) 
Effect of exchange difference   (1,430)       249 
At the end of the year            6,964     5,467 
 
 

The provision for decommissioning is based on the net present value of the Group's estimated liability for the removal of the Ukrainian production facilities and well site restoration at the end of production life.

The non-current provision of $6,964,000 (31 December 2021: $5,467,000) represents a provision for the decommissioning of the Group's MEX-GOL, SV, VAS and SC production and exploration facilities, including site restoration.

The change in estimates applied to calculate the provision as at 31 December 2022 is explained in Note 4.

The principal assumptions used are as follows:

 
                                        31 December   31 December 
                                              202 2         202 1 
 
 Discount rate                               4,76 %         6.29% 
Average cost of restoration per well 
 ($000)                                         326           348 
 

The sensitivity of the restoration provision to changes in the principal assumptions to the provision balance and related asset is presented below:

 
                                                 31 December   31 December 
                                                       202 2         202 1 
                                                        $000          $000 
 
 Discount rate (increase)/decrease 
  by 1%                                         ( 561 )/ 665     (723)/860 
 Change in average cost of well restoration                     353 /( 353 
  increase/ (decrease) by 10%                     451/( 451)             ) 
--------------------------------------------  --------------  ------------ 
 
 
26  Deferred Tax 
 
 
 
                                              202 2    202 1 
                                               $000     $000 
Deferred tax (liability)/asset recognised 
 relating to oil and gas development 
 and production assets at the MEX-GOL-SV 
 fields and provision for decommissioning 
At the beginning of the year                (5,197)  (2,705) 
Charged to Income Statement - UK current 
 year                                       (1,852)  (2,367) 
Charged to Income Statement - UK prior 
 year                                         3,021        - 
Effect of exchange difference                   796    (125) 
At the end of the year                      (3,232)  (5,197) 
 
                                              202 2    202 1 
                                               $000     $000 
Deferred tax asset/(liability) recognised 
 relating to development and production 
 assets at the VAS field and provision 
 for decommissioning 
At the beginning of the year                    361      167 
Credited to Income Statement - overseas 
 current year                                    24      199 
Effect of exchange difference                  (98)      (5) 
At the end of the year                          287      361 
 

There was a further $77,072,000 (31 December 2021: $76,443,000) of unrecognised UK tax losses carried forward. These losses can be carried forward indefinitely, subject to certain rules regarding capital transactions and changes in the trade of the Company. No deferred tax asset in the amount of $14,643,680 has been recognised as insufficient future taxable profits are forecast against which these UK tax losses could be offset.

The deferred tax asset relating to the Group's provision for decommissioning as at 31 December 2022 of $449,000 (31 December 2021: $457 , 000) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences of the Group's provision for decommissioning at the MEX-GOL and SV fields, and its tax base. The deferred tax liability relating to the Group's development and production assets at the MEX-GOL and SV fields as at 31 December 202 2 of $3,681,000 (31 December 202 1 : $ 5 , 654 ,000) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences between the carrying value of the Group's development and production asset at the MEX-GOL and SV fields, and its tax base. The deferred tax liability will be settled more than twelve months after the reporting period.

The deferred tax asset relating to the Group's provision for decommissioning as at 31 December 202 2 of $310,000 (31 December 202 1 : $3 15 ,000) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences on the Group's provision on decommissioning at the VAS field, and its tax base. The deferred tax liability relating to the Group's development and production assets at the VAS field as at 31 December 202 2 of $23,000 (31 December 202 1 : deferred tax asset of $ 46 ,000) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences between the carrying value of the Group's development and production asset at the VAS field, and its tax base. The deferred tax assets are expected to be recovered more than twelve months after the reporting period.

Losses accumulated in a Ukrainian subsidiary service company of UAH 877,268,000 ($23,990,000) as at 31 December 202 2 and UAH 835 , 298 ,000 ($ 30 , 621 ,000) as at 31 December 202 1 mainly originated as foreign exchange differences on inter-company loans and for which no deferred tax asset was recognised as this subsidiary is not expected to have taxable profits to utilise these losses in the future.

As at 31 December 2022 and 2021, the Group has not recorded a deferred tax liability in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries as the Group is able to control the timing of the reversal of those temporary differences and does not intend to reverse them in the foreseeable future.

UK Corporation tax change

The current Corporation tax rate of 19% generally applies to all companies whatever their size. From 1 April 2023, this rate will cease to apply and will be replaced by variable rates ranging from 19% to 25%. A small profits rate of 19% will apply to companies whose profits are equal to or less than GBP50,000. The main Corporation Tax rate is increased to 25% and will apply to companies with profits in excess of GBP250,000.

Double tax treaty

On 30 October 2019, the Parliament of Ukraine voted for ratification of a Protocol changing the Double Tax Treaties between Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The Protocol and the new Treaty will enter into force upon completion of ratification formalities, and for the purposes of withholding tax, commence applying from 1 January 2020. The Group accrues and pays withholding tax on current amounts of interest at the moment when such interest accrues and is paid.

 
 27.   Called Up Share Capital 
 
 
                                        202 2                  202 1 
                               Number    $000        Number     $000 
Allotted, called up and 
 fully paid 
Opening balance as at 
 1 January                320,637,836  28,115   320,637,836   28,115 
Issued during the year              -       -             -        - 
                                               ------------  ------- 
Closing balance as at 
 31 December              320,637,836  28,115   320,637,836   28,115 
 
 

There are no restrictions over ordinary shares issued. The Company is a public company limited by shares.

 
 28.  Other Reserves 
 

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared and are entitled to one vote per share at any general meeting of shareholders.

Other reserves, the movements in which are shown in the statements of changes in equity, comprise the following:

Capital contributions reserve

The capital contributions reserve is non-distributable and represents the value of equity invested in subsidiary entities prior to the Company listing.

Merger reserve

The merger reserve represents the difference between the nominal value of shares acquired by the Company and those issued to acquire subsidiary undertakings. This balance relates wholly to the acquisition of Regal Petroleum (Jersey) Limited and that company's acquisition of Regal Petroleum Corporation Limited during 2002.

Foreign exchange reserve

Exchange reserve movement for the year attributable to currency fluctuations. This balance predominantly represents the result of exchange differences on non-monetary assets and liabilities where the subsidiaries' functional currency is not the US Dollar.

 
 29.  Reconciliation of Operating Profit to Operating Cash Flow 
 
 
 
                                                      202 2      202 1 
                                                       $000       $000 
 Group 
 Operating profit                                    75,773     66,235 
 Depreciation and amortisation                        7,837     11,958 
 Less interest income recorded within operating 
  profit                                            (1,888)      (763) 
 Impairment of property, plant and equipment          4,256 
 Fines and penalties received                         (114)       (81) 
 Gain on sales of current assets, net                  (20)     ( 16 ) 
 Net (gain)/loss on sale of non-current assets         (44)       (16) 
 Change in working capital:                               - 
 Increase in provisions                                 117        (6) 
 (Increase)/decrease in inventory                   (1,480)      (104) 
                                                               (4,4 63 
 (Increase)/decrease in receivables                (56,849)          ) 
 Increase/(decrease) in payables                     19,953      4,902 
 Cash generated from operations                      47,541     77,646 
 
 
                                                   202 2       202 1 
                                                    $000        $000 
Company 
Operating profit                                 (8,112)      11,591 
Interest received                                (2,740)     (3,447) 
Change in working capital: 
Movement in provisions (including impairment 
 of subsidiary loans)                              9,942    (10,912) 
Decrease/(increase) in receivables                 (316)         136 
(Decrease)/increase in payables                   22,917       (188) 
                                               ---------  ---------- 
Cash used in operations                           21,691     (2,820) 
 
 
 30.   Financial Instruments 
 

Capital Risk Management

The Group defines its capital as equity. As at 31 December 2022, net assets were $200,659,000 (31 December 2021: $178,517,000). The primary source of the Group's liquidity has been cash generated from operations. The Group's objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group's and the Company's ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets.

The capital structure of the Group consists of equity attributable to the equity holders of the parent, comprising issued share capital, share premium, reserves and retained earnings.

There are no capital requirements imposed on the Group.

Financial Risk Management

The Group's financial instruments comprise cash and cash equivalents and various items such as debtors and creditors that arise directly from its operations. The Group has bank accounts denominated in British Pounds, US Dollars, Euros and Ukrainian Hryvnia. The Group does not have any external borrowings. The main future risks arising from the Group's financial instruments are currently currency risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and credit risk.

The Group's financial assets and financial liabilities comprise the following:

 
 Financial Assets 
                                            2022       2021 
                                            $000       $000 
 Group 
 Cash and cash equivalents                88,652     87,780 
 Other short-term investments                  -      4,762 
 Trade and other financial receivables    46,039      5,368 
                                         134,691  9 7 , 910 
 
 
                                      202 2    202 1 
                                       $000     $000 
 Company 
 Cash and cash equivalents           81,541   63,299 
 Loans to subsidiary undertakings    49,974   48,899 
                                    131,515  112,198 
 
 
Financial Liabilities 
                               202 2   202 1 
                                $000    $000 
Group 
Lease liabilities                487   1,103 
Trade and other payables       1,079   3,404 
Other financial liabilities   20,422   2,244 
                              21,988   6,751 
 
                               202 2   202 1 
                                $000    $000 
Company 
Trade and other payables      19,923   1,767 
                              19,923   1,767 
 

Financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost, which approximates their fair value as the instruments are mostly short-term. Assets and liabilities of the Group where fair value is disclosed are level 2 in the fair value hierarchy and valued using the current cost accounting technique.

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Group to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable, and financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and loans to subsidiary undertakings.

Currency Risk

The functional currencies of the Group's entities are US Dollars and Ukrainian Hryvnia. The following analysis of net monetary assets and liabilities shows the Group's currency exposures. Exposures comprise the monetary assets and liabilities of the Group that are not denominated in the functional currency of the relevant entity.

 
                                       202 2  202 1 
 Currency                               $000   $000 
 
 British Pounds                          223    275 
 US Dollars                              235    234 
 Euros                                   273      9 
Net monetary assets less liabilities     731    518 
 

The Group's exposure to currency risk at the end of the reporting period is not significant due to immaterial balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.

The sensitivity of the exchange rate of US Dollars is presented below:

 
                               31 December    31 December 
                                     202 2          202 1 
                                      $000           $000 
 
 Increase/(decrease) by 10%     23 /( 23 )   2 3 /( 2 3 ) 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------- 
 

The prior year comparative figures were amended to conform to the current year presentation.

Interest Rate Risk Management

The Group is not exposed to interest rate risk on financial liabilities as none of the entities in the Group have any external borrowings. The Group does not use interest rate forward contracts and interest rate swap contracts as part of its strategy.

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on financial assets as entities in the Group hold money market deposits at floating interest rates. The risk is managed by fixing interest rates for a period of time when indications exist that interest rates may move adversely.

The Group's exposure to interest rates on financial assets and financial liabilities are detailed in the liquidity risk section below.

Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis

The sensitivity analysis below has been determined based on exposure to interest rates for non-derivative instruments at the balance sheet date. A 0.5% increase or decrease is used when reporting interest rate risk internally to key management personnel and represents management's assessment of a reasonably possible change in interest rates.

If interest rates earned on money market deposits had been 0.5% higher / lower and all other variables were held constant, the Group's:

 
            --              profit for the year ended 31 December 2022 would increase 
                             by $97,000 in the event of 0.5% higher interest rates and 
                             decrease by $97,000 in the event of 0.5% lower interest 
                             rates (profit for the year ended 31 December 2021 would 
                             increase by $136,000 in the event of 0.5% higher interest 
                             rates and decrease by $136,000 in the event of 0.5% lower 
                             interest rates). 
            --              This is mainly attributable to the Group's exposure to interest 
                             rates on its money market deposits; and other equity reserves 
                             would not be affected (2021: not affected) 
 

Interest payable on the Group's liabilities would have an immaterial effect on the profit or loss for the year.

Liquidity Risk

The Group's objective throughout the year has been to ensure continuity of funding. Operations have primarily been financed through revenue from Ukrainian operations.

The table below shows liabilities by their remaining contractual maturity. The amounts disclosed in the maturity table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows including future interest. Such undiscounted cash flows differ from the amount included in the statement of financial position because the statement of financial position amount is based on discounted cash flows and does not include the interest that will be accrued in future periods.

When the amount payable is not fixed, the amount disclosed is determined by reference to the conditions existing at the reporting date. Foreign currency payments are translated using the spot exchange rate at the end of the reporting period. The maturity analysis of financial liabilities as at 31 December 2022 is as follows:

 
As at 31 December        On demand      From       From      From 12     More    Total 
 2022                     and less       1 to     3 to 12     months     than 5 
                        than 1 month   3 months   months    to 5 years   years 
                           $000         $000       $000       $000       $000     $000 
Liabilities 
Trade and other 
 payables                     21,194          -       307            -        -  21,501 
Lease liabilities                 29         60       284          492      367   1,232 
Other non-current 
 liabilities                       -          -         -          106      170     276 
Total future 
 payments, including 
 future principal 
 and interest 
 payments                     21,223         60       591          598      537  23,009 
 

The maturity analysis of financial liabilities as at 31 December 2021 is as follows:

 
As at 31 December        On demand      From     From 3     From 12    More than  Total 
 202 1                    and less       1 to     to 12      months     5 years 
                        than 1 month   3 months   months   to 5 years 
                           $000         $000      $000       $000        $000     $000 
Liabilities 
Trade and other 
 payables                      4,030      1,618        -            -          -  5,648 
Lease liabilities                 39         80      381          661        492  1,653 
Other non-current 
 liabilities                       -          -        -          142        256    398 
Total future 
 payments, including 
 future principal 
 and interest 
 payments                      4,069      1,698      381          803        748  7,699 
 

Details of the Group's cash management policy are explained in Note 23.

Liquidity risk for the Group is further detailed under the Principal Risks section above.

Credit Risk

Credit risk principally arises in respect of the Group's cash balance. For balances held outside Ukraine, where $81,537,000 of the overall cash and cash equivalents is held (31 December 2021: $63,299,000), the Group only deposits cash surpluses with major banks of high quality credit standing (Note 23). As at 31 December 2022, the remaining balance of $7,115,000 of cash and cash equivalents and other short-term investments was held in Ukraine (31 December 2021: $29,243,000). As at 31 December 2022, Standard & Poor's affirmed Ukraine's sovereign credit rating of 'CCC+', Outlook Stable. There is no international credit rating information available for the specific banks in Ukraine where the Group currently holds its cash and cash equivalents.

The Group has taken steps to diversify its banking arrangements between a number of banks in Ukraine and increased the quality of cash placed with UK and European banking institutions. These measures are designed to spread the risks associated with each bank's creditworthiness. Management considers the credit risk to be immaterial.

Interest Rate Risk Profile of Financial Assets

The Group had the following cash and cash equivalent and other short-term investments balances which are included in financial assets as at 31 December with an exposure to interest rate risk:

 
                                                                              Floating       Fixed 
                                      Floating             Fixed                  rate        rate 
                                rate financial    rate financial             financial   financial 
Currency               Total            assets            assets    Total       assets      assets 
                       202 2             202 2             202 2    20 21        20 21       20 21 
                        $000              $000              $000     $000         $000        $000 
 
Euros                    273               273                 -        9            9           - 
British Pounds           223               223                 -      275          275           - 
Ukrainian Hryvnia      6,874                 -             6,874   29,011            -      29,011 
US Dollars            81,282            81,282                 -   63,247       63,247           - 
                      88,652            81,778             6,874   92,542       63,531      29,011 
 

Cash deposits included in the above balances comprise term deposits with maturity less than 3 months of $55,409,000 and no term deposits with maturity more than 3 months but less than a year (2021: term deposits with maturity less than 3 months of $12,323,000 and term deposits with maturity more than 3 months but less than a year of $4,762,000).

As at 31 December 2022, cash and cash equivalents of the Company of $81,046,000 were held in US Dollars at a floating rate (2021: $63,015,000).

Interest Rate Risk Profile of Financial Liabilities

As at 31 December 2022 and 2021, the Group had no interest bearing financial liabilities at the year end.

Maturity of Financial Liabilities

The maturity profile of financial liabilities, on an undiscounted basis, is as follows:

 
                        202 2    20 21 
                         $000     $000 
Group 
In one year or less    21,988    6,148 
                       21,988    6,148 
 
                        202 2    20 21 
                         $000     $000 
Company 
In one year or less    19,923    1,767 
                       19,923    1,767 
 
 

Borrowing Facilities

As at 31 December 2022 and 2021, the Group did not have any borrowing facilities available to it.

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities

The fair value of all financial instruments is not materially different from the book value.

 
31.  Contingencies and Commitments 
 

Amounts contracted in relation to the Group's 2022 investment programme in the MEX-GOL, SV, VAS and SC fields in Ukraine, but not provided for in the financial statements at 31 December 2022, were $156,000 related to Oil and Gas Exploration and Evaluation assets and $8,607,000 related to Oil and Gas Development and Production assets (2021: $3,101,000 related to Oil and Gas Exploration and Evaluation assets and $2,674,000 related to Oil and Gas Development and Production assets).

Since 2010, the Group has been in dispute with the Ukrainian tax authorities in respect of VAT receivables on imported leased equipment, with a disputed liability of up to UAH 8,487,000 ($302,000) inclusive of penalties and other associated costs. There is a level of ambiguity in the interpretation of the relevant tax legislation, and the position adopted by the Group has been challenged by the Ukrainian tax authorities, which has led to legal proceedings to resolve the issue. The Group had been successful in three court cases in respect of this dispute in courts of different levels. On 20 September 2016, a hearing was held in the Supreme Court of Ukraine of an appeal of the Ukrainian tax authorities against the decision of the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine, in which the appeal of the Ukrainian tax authorities was upheld. As a result of this appeal decision, all decisions of the lower courts were cancelled, and the case was remitted to the first instance court for a new trial. On 1 December 2016 and 7 March 2017 respectively, the Group received positive decisions in the first and second instance courts, but no appointment of hearings has been settled yet. No liability has been recognised in these consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 (31 December 2021: nil), as the Group has been successful in previous court cases in respect of this dispute in courts of different levels, the date of the next legal proceedings has not been set and as management believes that adequate defences exist to the claim.

In March 2019, the State Geologic and Subsoil Survey of Ukraine published an Order for suspension dated 11 March 2019 (the "VAS Order") in respect of the VAS production licence held by LLC Prom-Enerho Produkt ("PEP"). PEP disputed the VAS Order and issued legal proceedings in the Ukrainian Courts to challenge the VAS Order, and these legal proceedings progressed through the various levels of the Ukrainian Court system, with PEP being successful at each level. The proceedings ultimately reached the Supreme Court of Ukraine, which, by a decision dated 23 February 2023 upheld PEP's appeal and cancelled the VAS Order. The Supreme Court is the final appellate court in the legal proceedings and therefore this decision is final.

In September 2021, an entity named JV Boryslav Oil Company ("Boryslav"), which is 25.0999% owned by PJSC Ukrnafta ("Ukrnafta"), issued legal proceedings, claiming that irregular procedures were followed in the grant of the SC exploration licence, against the State Geologic and Subsoil Survey of Ukraine, the State Commission of Ukraine for Mineral Resources and LLC Arkona Gas-Energy ("Arkona"), as defendants, with Ukrnafta named as a third party. In this claim, the First Instance Court in Ukraine made a ruling in January 2022 in favour of Boryslav, and on 2 November 2022, the Appellate Administrative Court also made a ruling in favour of Boryslav to uphold the decision of the First Instance Court. Arkona appealed the decision of the Appellate Administrative Court to the Supreme Court, and on 3 May 2023, the Supreme Court published its decision to allow Arkona's appeal and overturn the ruling made by the Appellate Administrative Court. The Supreme Court represents the final appellate court in these legal proceedings, and accordingly, the decision of the Supreme Court is final.

 
 32.  Related Party Disclosures 
 

Key management personnel of the Group are considered to comprise only the Directors. Details of Directors' remuneration are disclosed in Note 8.

During the year, Group companies entered into the following transactions with related parties who are not members of the Group:

 
                              Total    LLC Smart   Other   Total     LLC    Other 
                                         Energy                     Smart 
                                                                    Energy 
                                                     202     20 2     20 2   20 2 
                               202 2       202 2       2        1        1      1 
                                $000        $000    $000     $000     $000   $000 
 
Sale of goods/services       113,787     113,741      46   95,342   95,340      2 
Purchase of goods/services     1,061         571     490    1,099        -  1,099 
Amounts owed by related 
 parties                      56,230      56,227       3    5,008    5,008      - 
Amounts owed to related 
 parties                      20,603      20,576      27      912      901     11 
                                      ---------- 
 

All related party transactions were with subsidiaries of the ultimate Parent Company, and primarily relate to the sale of gas (see Note 5 for more details), the rental of office facilities and a vehicle and the sale of equipment. The amounts outstanding were unsecured and will be settled in cash.

As at the date of this report, none of the Company's controlling parties prepares consolidated financial statements available for public use.

 
33.  Post Balance Sheet Events 
 

The ongoing war in Ukraine means that the fiscal, economic and humanitarian situation in Ukraine is unstable and extremely challenging and the final resolution and consequences of the ongoing war are hard to predict, but they may have a further serious impact on the Ukrainian economy and business of the Group. Management continues to identify and mitigate, where possible, the impact on the Group, but the majority of these factors are beyond their control, including the duration and severity of war, as well as the further actions of various governments and diplomacy.

In January 2023, the Company was notified that there had been a restructuring of the ownership of the PJSC Smart-Holding Group, a member of which held a major shareholding in the Company, and which was ultimately controlled by Mr Vadym Novynskyi ("Mr Novynskyi"). Under this restructuring, which occurred with effect from 1 December 2022, Mr Novynskyi disposed of his major indirect shareholding interest in the Company to two trusts registered in Cyprus named the SMART Trust and the STEP Trust. In early December 2022, the Ukrainian Government imposed sanctions on Mr Novynskyi.

In December 2022, new legislation, Law No. 2805-IX, relating to the natural resources sector was enacted in Ukraine, which came into force on 28 March 2023. This legislation includes provisions that if the ultimate beneficial owner of a mineral or hydrocarbon licence becomes the subject of sanctions in Ukraine, then the State Geologic and Subsoil Survey of Ukraine (the "SGSS") may suspend or revoke that licence. Following Law No. 2805-IX coming into force on 28 March 2023, the Ukrainian authorities have taken a number of regulatory actions against certain of the Group's subsidiary companies in Ukraine.

These regulatory actions included conducting a search at the Group's Yakhnyky office, from where the MEX-GOL and SV fields are operated, and placing certain physical assets of the Ukrainian branch (representative) office of Regal Petroleum Corporation Limited ("RPC") and LLC Arkona Gas-Energy ("Arkona") (which respectively hold the MEX-GOL and SV fields and the SC exploration licence) under seizure, thereby restricting any actions that would change registration of the property rights relating to such assets, although the use of such assets was not restricted and therefore the Group has been able to continue to operate and produce gas and condensate from the MEX-GOL and SV fields. In addition, the regulatory actions included the freezing of gas volumes held in gas storage on behalf of RPC (to a value of $0.27 million) and LLC Prom-Enerho Produkt ("PEP") (to a value of $0.31 million). Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine (the "MoJ") made an Order cancelling the registration entry made on behalf of a subsidiary of the Company named LLC Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individuals-entrepreneurs and Civil Institutions of Ukraine (the "State Register") relating to the ultimate beneficial owners of such company, which were stated as the trustees of the SMART Trust and STEP Trust as previously notified to the Company, thereby restoring the previous entry in the State Register, Mr Novynskyi. Furthermore, the SGSS issued an Order to RPC requiring that additional information be provided and/or violations be eliminated in the disclosures relating to the ultimate beneficial owners of the MEX-GOL and SV licences respectively.

On 2 May 2023, the MoJ made further Orders cancelling the registration entry made on behalf of three further Ukrainian subsidiaries of the Company, being PEP, Arkona and LLC Well Investum ("Well Investum") respectively in the State Register relating to the ultimate beneficial owners of such companies, which again were stated as the trustees of the SMART Trust and STEP Trust, thereby restoring the previous entry, Mr Novynskyi. PEP holds the VAS production licence, Arkona holds the SC exploration licence and Well Investum is a dormant company.

Following the issuance of the abovementioned Orders by the MoJ, Mr Novynskyi is registered in the State Register as the ultimate beneficial owner of each of PEP and Arkona, and is consequently recognised by the SGSS as the ultimate beneficial owner of each of the VAS production licence and SC exploration licence. As a result, on 4 May 2023, the SGSS issued orders suspending the VAS production licence and SC exploration licence for a period of 5 years effective from that date. Accordingly, the Company ceased all field and production operations on the VAS and SC licence areas.

The Group is consulting with its legal advisers in order to determine appropriate actions to protect its legal rights in relation to the above regulatory actions by the Ukrainian authorities.

On 15 June 2023, the Company paid an interim dividend of 15 pence per ordinary share, aggregating approximately GBP48.1 million in total, which was the Company's first ever dividend payment to its shareholders.

In July 2023, new legislation was introduced in Ukraine, which will come into force in September 2024, and which requires that branches (or representative offices) of foreign companies operating in Ukraine register their ultimate beneficial owners in Ukrainian Registries. Regal Petroleum Corporation Ltd ("RPC"), which holds the MEX-GOL and SV licences, operates such a branch and will therefore be required to register its ultimate beneficial owners from the implementation of this law, which raises a potential risk that such registration will not be accepted by the Ukrainian authorities, and possibly result in regulatory action against RPC and/or its licences and assets, including suspension of the MEX-GOL and SV licences.

 
 34.   Auditor's Limitation Liability Agreement 
 

An Auditor's Limitation of Liability Agreement has been entered into, subject to shareholders approval, for the financial period ended 31 December 2022. The principal terms and conditions are below:

- The Agreement limits the amount of any liability owed to the Company by the Auditor in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, occurring in the course of the audit of the Company's financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022, for which the Auditor may otherwise be liable to the Company.

- The Agreement also stipulates the maximum aggregated amount payable in event of any of the circumstances stated above.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 21, 2023 10:29 ET (15:29 GMT)

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