Condor Energies Inc. (“Condor” or the “Company”) (TSX:CDR), a
Canadian based energy transition company with activities in Turkiye
and Kazakhstan is pleased to announce the release of its unaudited
interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2023 together with the related
management’s discussion and analysis. These documents will be made
available under Condor’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and
on the Condor website at www.condorenergies.ca. Readers are invited
to review the latest corporate presentation available on the Condor
website. All financial amounts in this news release are presented
in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated.
Highlights
- The Company is
seeking final approval of the contracts for a production
redevelopment project to assume full operations of eight existing
gas-condensate fields in Uzbekistan.
- In July 2023,
Condor was awarded a 100% working interest in a contiguous
37,300-hectare lithium brine mining license in Kazakhstan for a
six-year term.
- In Kazakhstan, the
Company continues to mature opportunities to implement proven
modular LNG technologies and processes to displace diesel fuel
usage in the industrial, transportation and power generation
sectors.
- The Company
completed a USD 5.9 million (CAD 7.8 million) three-year term loan
facility in July 2023 that bears interest at 9% per annum and is
available for working capital requirements and general corporate
purposes.
Uzbekistan Production Contract and LNG
Strategy
The Company is seeking final approval of the
contracts for a production redevelopment project to assume full
operations of eight existing gas-condensate fields in Uzbekistan,
along with two additional exploration blocks in the surrounding
area. The Company’s intent is to generate near term cashflow by
increasing production from existing gas fields while decreasing
greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing modern production
technologies and techniques. Included with the eight producing gas
fields are the associated gathering pipelines, and gas treatment
infrastructure.
In addition, the Company has presented a
proposal to the Government of Uzbekistan to use a portion of the
increased gas production for LNG feedstock and provide the
resulting LNG to mining operators and other users to displace
diesel fuel usage. The Company’s LNG strategy in Uzbekistan would
create a vertically integrated business with self-sufficient gas
supply to replace expensive diesel with cleaner and cheaper LNG,
decrease the mine’s operating costs, reduce the country’s
dependency on diesel imports, and positively impact the country’s
carbon reduction efforts by reducing overall
carbon emissions.
Lithium Licenses in
Kazakhstan
In July 2023, the Government of Kazakhstan
awarded Condor its first lithium brine mining license (the “First
Lithium License”). The Company holds a 100% working interest in the
First Lithium License which is a contiguous 37,300-hectares and
provides the subsurface exploration rights for solid minerals for a
six-year term. Given its strategic access to Asian and European
lithium markets, this region is ideally suited for the rapid
deployment of emerging North American and European lithium DLE
technologies to generate material lithium volumes for EV batteries
and other electricity storage applications.
A prior well drilled in the First Lithium
License for hydrocarbon exploration encountered and tested brine
deposits with lithium concentrations of 67 milligrams per litre in
Carboniferous-aged intervals as reported by the Ministry of Geology
of the Republic of Kazakhstan. A 670-meter column of tested and
untested brine reservoir has been identified from historical
wireline log and core data. This well also penetrated the very top
of the Devonian-aged sediments and reservoir sands were encountered
but not tested.
Since the First Lithium License is not
associated with legacy oil wells nor any reported presence of
hydrogen sulphide, a less complex and less capital intensive
modular DLE technology is envisioned for the separation of lithium
from the brine when compared with lithium extraction projects
targeting oilfield brines. By applying proven DLE production
technologies, the Company expects to have a much smaller
environmental footprint than existing lithium production operations
which use open-pit mining or brine evaporation ponds. The Company
is also evaluating the construction of a renewable power generation
project to achieve net-zero emissions for its lithium
production.
The Company’s initial development plan over the
next twelve months includes drilling and testing two wells to
verify deliverability rates, confirm the lateral extension and
concentrations of lithium in the tested and untested intervals,
conduct preliminary engineering for the production facilities, and
prepare a mineral resources or mineral reserves report compliant
with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects (the “Mineral Report”).
As disclosed in previous reporting periods, the
Company is also pursuing approval for a second lithium brine mining
license.
LNG Initiatives in
Kazakhstan
The Company continues to mature opportunities to
implement proven North American modular LNG technologies and
processes in Central Asia to displace diesel fuel usage in the
industrial, transportation and power generation sectors. The LNG
industrial uses the Company is proposing are proven worldwide, and
the Company’s intent is to introduce them to a region where they
are currently not deployed. The site location has been finalized,
the land package has been secured and the front-end engineering has
been completed for the Company’s planned first modular LNG
facility.
New 9% Loan Facility
Completed
On July 14, 2023, the Company completed its USD
5.9 million (CAD 7.8 million) three-year term loan facility (“Loan
Facility”) that bears interest at 9% per annum. The Loan Facility
is unsecured, non-revolving, requires quarterly interest payments
and is available for working capital requirements and general
corporate purposes, including the advancement of the Kazakhstan
lithium brine and Uzbekistan gas field redevelopment initiatives.
Implementing this financing strategy also successfully minimized
shareholder dilution, which has always been one of the Company’s
core values.
Turkiye Operations
Gas production for the third quarter of 2023
decreased 91% to 6,021 Mcf or an average of 65 Mcf/d from 67,494
Mcf or an average of 734 Mcf/d for the third quarter of 2022. The
Poyraz Ridge field has been producing for six years with water
production and natural pressure declines impeding gas production
rates. Gas production during the third quarter of 2022 was also
much higher due to the successfully drilled Poyraz 7 infill well
that began producing in June 2022 and has since naturally
declined.
Posted Turkish gas prices for the third quarter
of 2023 averaged $13.55 per Mcf as compared to $26.75 per Mcf in
the third quarter of 2022, in Canadian dollar terms, but increased
to $16.04 per Mcf as of November 1, 2023.
The Company is seeking a partner to fund
development activities at the Yakamoz field, which is located 2 km
north of the existing Poyraz Ridge field and within the Poyraz
Ridge operating license. The Company was encouraged with the
results from the previously drilled Yak 1-ST, as it encountered
numerous strong gas shows while confirming reservoir-quality
formations and an active hydrocarbon system and, despite being
temporarily suspended, casing pressure has built up at the surface,
indicating a gas presence. Development of the Yakamoz field would
consist of re-entering, casing and fully evaluating the Yak 1-ST
well, drilling the Yak-2 well and additional production wells as
required. If successful, the Yakamoz field would be tied by
pipeline into the Poyraz Ridge production and sales facilities.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this news release
constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities
legislation. Such statements are generally identifiable by the
terminology used, such as “anticipate'', “intend”, “expect”,
“plan”, “estimate”, “budget'', “schedule”, “may”, “will”, “could”,
“would”, “continue”, “pursue”, “prepare”, “envision”, “project”,
“potential” or other similar wording. Forward-looking information
in this news release includes, but is not limited to, information
concerning: the timing and ability to operate gas fields, optimize
production, increase domestic gas supply, generate cashflow and
utilize modern western production techniques and methods in
Uzbekistan; the timing and ability to increase gas production, use
a portion of the incremental gas for LNG feedstock, provide LNG to
mining operators and other users to displace diesel fuel usage; the
timing and ability to create a vertically integrated business with
self-sufficient gas supply and replace diesel fuel with LNG; the
timing and ability to decrease the mine’s operating costs, reduce
Uzbekistan’s dependency on diesel imports, and positively impact
the country’s carbon reduction efforts by reducing overall carbon
emissions; the timing and ability to execute a production contract
with the Government of Uzbekistan under favorable terms, or at all,
the areas to be included and the terms and conditions including but
not limited to royalty and tax rates, cost recovery, profit
allocation, gas marketing and pricing, government participation,
governance, baseline production levels and reimbursement
methodology; the timing and ability to execute the Company’s growth
and sustainability strategies; the timing and ability to rapidly
deploy lithium DLE technologies to generate material lithium
volumes for EV batteries; the potential for the First Lithium
License area to contain commercials deposits; future lithium
testing results; the timing and ability to fund, permit and
complete the planned drilling activities including drilling up to
two additional wells and conduct preliminary engineering for the
production facilities; the timing and ability to optimize the
planned method for direct lithium extraction; the timing and
ability to generate a NI 43-101 compliant report; the Company’s
ability to procure and contract long-lead equipment; the timing and
ability to produce the lithium by utilizing closed-looped DLE
production technologies; the timing and ability to have a much
smaller environmental footprint than existing lithium production
operations; the timing and ability to evaluate the construction of
a solar power generation project to support the long-term expansion
of the project to achieve net-zero emissions; the timing and
ability to obtain a second lithium brine mining license; the timing
and ability to conduct future drilling, workover and optimization
activities; the timing and ability to receive delivery, commission
the compressor and resume production at Destan; the Company’s
ability to secure a partner to fund development at the Yakamoz
field; the timing and ability to re-enter, case and fully evaluate
the Yakamoz structure; the timing of and ability to drill new wells
and the ability of the new wells to become producing wells; the
ability of the surface casing pressure build up at Yak 1-ST well to
indicate a gas presence; the timing and ability to tie the Yakamoz
field into the Company’s existing gas plant; the result and timing
of negotiation with the Government of Kazakhstan regarding the
construction and operation of modular LNG facilities; the timing
and ability to secure long-term LNG feedstock gas supply contracts
under favorable terms, or at all; the potential to profitably
generate LNG at feed gas site locations; the impact of declining
gas production and increased demand for natural gas in Uzbekistan;
the timing and ability to pursue other initiatives and commercial
opportunities; projections and timing with respect to natural gas
and condensate production; expected markets, prices, costs and
operating netbacks for future oil, gas and condensate sales; the
timing and ability to obtain various approvals and conduct the
Company’s planned exploration and development activities; the
timing and ability to access oil and gas pipelines; the timing and
ability to access domestic and export sales markets; anticipated
capital expenditures; forecasted capital and operating budgets and
cash flows; anticipated working capital; sources and availability
of financing for potential budgeting shortfalls; the timing and
ability to obtain future funding on favorable terms, if at all;
general business strategies and objectives; the timing and ability
to obtain exploration contract, production contract and operating
license extensions; the potential for additional contractual work
commitments; the ability to meet and fund the contractual work
commitments; the satisfaction of the work commitments; the results
of non-fulfilment of work commitments; projections relating to the
adequacy of the Company’s provision for taxes; and treatment under
governmental regulatory regimes and tax laws.
This news release also includes forward-looking
information regarding health risk management including, but not
limited to: travel restrictions including shelter in place orders,
curfews and lockdowns which may impact the timing and ability of
Company personnel, suppliers and contractors to travel
internationally, travel domestically and to access or deliver
services, goods and equipment to the fields of operation; the risk
of shutting in or reducing production due to travel restrictions,
Government orders, crew illness, and the availability of goods,
works and essential services for the fields of operations;
decreases in the demand for oil and gas; decreases in natural gas,
condensate and crude oil prices; potential for gas pipeline or
sales market interruptions; the risk of changes to foreign currency
controls, availability of foreign currencies, availability of hard
currency, and currency controls or banking restrictions which
restrict or prevent the repatriation of funds from or to foreign
jurisdiction in which the Company operates; the timing and ability
to execute a production contract with the Government of Uzbekistan;
the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows; access to capital and borrowings to fund operations and new
business projects; the timing and ability to meet financial and
other reporting deadlines; and the inherent increased risk of
information technology failures and cyber-attacks.
By its very nature, such forward-looking
information requires Condor to make assumptions that may not
materialize or that may not be accurate. Forward-looking
information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties
and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of
activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such information. Such risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to: regulatory changes; the timing of
regulatory approvals; the risk that actual minimum work programs
will exceed the initially estimated amounts; the results of
exploration and development drilling and related activities; prior
lithium testing results may not be indicative of future testing
results or actual results; imprecision of reserves estimates and
ultimate recovery of reserves; the effectiveness of lithium mining
and production methods including DLE technology; historical
production and testing rates may not be indicative of future
production rates, capabilities or ultimate recovery; the historical
composition and quality of oil and gas may not be indicative of
future composition and quality; general economic, market and
business conditions; industry capacity; uncertainty related to
marketing and transportation; competitive action by other
companies; fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices; the effects
of weather and climate conditions; fluctuation in interest rates
and foreign currency exchange rates; the ability of suppliers to
meet commitments; actions by governmental authorities, including
increases in taxes; decisions or approvals of administrative
tribunals and the possibility that government policies or laws may
change or government approvals may be delayed or withheld; changes
in environmental and other regulations; risks associated with oil
and gas operations, both domestic and international; international
political events; and other factors, many of which are beyond the
control of Condor. Capital expenditures may be affected by cost
pressures associated with new capital projects, including labour
and material supply, project management, drilling rig rates and
availability, and seismic costs.
These risk factors are discussed in greater
detail in filings made by Condor with Canadian securities
regulatory authorities including the Company’s Annual Information
Form, which may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website
(www.sedarplus.ca).
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of
important factors affecting forward-looking information is not
exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news
release are made as of the date of this news release and, except as
required by applicable law, Condor does not undertake any
obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking
information contained in this news release is expressly qualified
by this cautionary statement.
ABBREVIATIONS
The following is a summary of abbreviations used in this news
release:
Mcf |
Thousands of
standard cubic feet |
Mcf/d |
Thousands of standard cubic feet per day |
CAD |
Canadian Dollars |
USD |
United States Dollars |
LNG |
Liquefied Natural Gas |
DLE |
Direct Lithium Extraction |
EV |
Electric Vehicle |
The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this news release.
For further information, please contact Don Streu, President and
CEO or Sandy Quilty, Vice President of Finance and CFO at
403-201-9694.
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