TIDMRPT

RNS Number : 0378U

Enwell Energy PLC

31 March 2021

31 March 2021

ENWELL ENERGY PLC

2020 AUDITED RESULTS

Enwell Energy plc (the "Company", and with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), the AIM-quoted (ENW) oil and gas exploration and production group, today announces its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2020.

 
 2020 Highlights 
 
 Ukraine Operations 
 
 --   Aggregate average daily production of 4,541 boepd (2019: 4,263 
       boepd), an increase of approximately 6.5% 
 --   SV-54 development well successfully completed and brought 
       on production in May 2020 
 --   Drilling of SV-25 appraisal well successfully completed and 
       hooked-up for production in Q1 2021 
 --   MEX-GOL and SV production licences each extended to 2040 enabling 
       full economic development of remaining reserves 
 --   No operational disruption to the Group's operations linked 
       to the COVID-19 pandemic 
 
 Financials 
 
 --   Revenue of $47.3 million (2019: $55.9 million), down 15% as 
       a function of weakened gas prices in the year 
 --   Gross profit of $15.7 million (2019: $23.5 million), down 
       33% 
 --   Cash generated from operations of $23.8 million (2019: $24.7 
       million), remained steady, predominantly due to record production 
       increasing non-cash DD&A 
 --   Net profit of $3.2 million (2019: $12.2 million) 
 --   Cash and cash equivalents were steady at $61.0 million at 
       31 December 2020 (2019: $62.5 million) 
 --   Average realised gas, condensate and LPG prices in Ukraine 
       were lower, particularly gas prices, at $136/Mm3 (UAH3,618/Mm3), 
       $46/bbl and $46/bbl respectively (2019: $219/Mm3 (UAH5,729/Mm3) 
       gas, $58/bbl condensate and $55/bbl LPG) 
 
 Outlook 
 
 --   Development work planned for 2021 at the MEX-GOL and SV fields 
       includes: completing drilling operations of the SV-29 well; 
       planning for a further new well or sidetracking of an existing 
       well in the SV field; and upgrading of the gas processing 
       facilities 
 --   Development work planned for 2021 at the VAS field includes: 
       planning for a new well to explore the VED prospect within 
       the VAS licence area; and upgrading of the gas processing 
       facilities 
 --   Development work planned for 2021 at the SC field includes: 
       planning for the drilling of the SVIST-4 well; and acquisition 
       of 150 km2 of 3D seismic 
 --   2021 development programme expected to be funded from existing 
       cash resources and operational cash flow 
 

Sergii Glazunov, CEO, commented: "2020 was another strong operational year for Enwell Energy. Two further successful wells in the SV field led to record production levels from our fields, which helped offset the impact of lower gas prices experienced in the year. The recent resolution of the legal issues relating to LLC Arkona Gas-Energy has enabled us to commence development planning for the SC licence, with our first well planned within the next twelve months.

We are looking forward to the results of the SV-29 development well and to further progressing our development programme in the new financial year, whilst continuing to improve production rates and revenue streams in the future. Although we have not suffered any material impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken, and will continue to take, all possible actions to ensure the safety of our employees and local communities."

The Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2020, together with the Notice of Annual General Meeting, will be posted to shareholders and published on the Company's website during May/June 2021.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014, which forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

For further information, please contact:

 
 Regal Petroleum 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 
 
 Arden Partners plc                          Tel: 020 7614 5900 
 Ruari McGirr / Dan Gee-Summons (Corporate 
  Finance) 
 Simon Johnson (Corporate Broking) 
 
 Citigate Dewe Rogerson                      Tel: 020 7638 9571 
 Elizabeth Kittle 
 

Dmitry Sazonenko, MSc Geology, MSc Petroleum Engineering, Member of AAPG, SPE and EAGE, Director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this press release in his capacity as a qualified person, as required under the AIM Rules.

 
 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 
 C(1)       reserves in deposits that were not put into 
             commercial development and that may be the 
             subject matter of production testing or 
             individual well production testing 
 C(2)       reserves in deposits that were not put into 
             commercial development and that are developed 
             based on a production testing plan or individual 
             well production testing plan, matured with 
             seismic exploration or other methods, and 
             the availability of which is supported by 
             geological and geophysical study data as 
             well as testing data obtained from individual 
             wells whilst drilling 
 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 
 $          United States Dollar 
 UAH        Ukrainian Hryvnia 
 VAS        Vasyschevskoye 
 VED        Vvdenska 
 WPC        World Petroleum Council 
 

Chairman's Statement

I am delighted to present the 2020 Annual Report and Financial Statements. Whilst 2020 was an unprecedented year globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am pleased to report that the Group has not been significantly affected on an operational level, and has achieved a robust performance despite the backdrop. The Group has continued to make good progress in the development of the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS gas and condensate fields in north-eastern Ukraine, and has delivered a solid financial performance during the year. Drilling of the SV-54 development well was successfully completed and brought on production in May 2020, whilst the SV-25 appraisal well was spudded in July 2020 and completed and brought on production in Q1 2021.

At the MEX-GOL and SV fields, production was stable during 2020, with higher production volumes compared with 2019. At the VAS field production was also steady, but lower than during 2019 after a decline in production from the VAS-10 well in late 2019.

Aggregate average daily production from the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields during 2020 was 4,541 boepd, which compares favourably with an aggregate daily production rate of 4,263 boepd during 2019, an increase of approximately 6.5%.

The Group delivered a solid financial performance for the year, despite the higher production levels being offset by a lower average gas price during the year, as a result of weakened European gas prices. During 2020, the Group achieved a net profit of $3.2 million (2019: $12.2 million) despite the weak gas prices, while cash generated from operations during the year was steady at $23.8 million (2019: $24.7 million), predominantly due to the higher production rates increasing non-cash depreciation, depletion and amortisation (DD&A).

The fiscal and economic environment in Ukraine remains stable, despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in a contraction in GDP and an increase in the rate of inflation, and recently Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates have been steady. Nevertheless, future fiscal and economic uncertainties remain in the Ukrainian market and we continue to be vigilant.

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 more recently, reductions in the subsoil tax rates relating to oil and gas production and a 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 the market gas prices in Ukraine now broadly correlate with the imported gas prices. During 2020, gas prices trended lower, reflecting a similar trend in European gas prices, and were lower than in 2019. Similarly, condensate and LPG prices were also lower by comparison with last year. However, prices have improved in 2021 to date.

Arkona Acquisition

As announced on 24 March 2020, the Group acquired the entire issued share capital of LLC Arkona Gas-Energy ("Arkona") for a total consideration of up to $8.63 million, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions. Arkona holds a 100% interest in the Svystunivsko-Chervonolutskyi ("SC") exploration licence in north-eastern Ukraine, some 15 km east of the SV field. The SC licence was granted in May 2017, with a duration of 20 years, and is prospective for gas and condensate. As with the productive reservoirs in the SV field, the prospective reservoirs in this licence are Visean, at depths between 4,600 - 6,000 metres.

However, NJSC Ukrnafta, the majority State-owned oil and gas producer, issued legal proceedings against Arkona, in which NJSC Ukrnafta made claims of irregularities in the procedures involved in the grant of the SC licence to Arkona in May 2017. In early July 2020, the First Instance Court in Ukraine made a ruling in favour of NJSC Ukrnafta, which found that the grant of the SC licence was irregular, but this ruling was overturned by the Appellate Administrative Court in September 2020, and a final appeal to the Supreme Court of Ukraine was determined in favour of Arkona in February 2021. Further information can be found in the Company's announcements dated 3 July 2020, 31 July 2020, 30 September 2020, 23 November 2020 and 11 February 2021.

With these legal issues now resolved, the Group has re-commenced planning for the development of this licence, and a new well is planned for later this year.

COVID-19 Pandemic

We continue to closely monitor the volatility in global financial markets, and the implications on the operational, economic and social environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the weakened hydrocarbon prices. As of the date hereof, there has been no operational disruption linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, and no material impact is currently envisaged on the Group's prospects. However, the Board and management remain acutely aware of the risks, and are taking action to mitigate them where possible, not only to protect our staff and other stakeholders, but also to minimise any potential disruption to our business. We have taken steps to continually monitor the health of our operational staff, including temperature checks for such staff at the commencement of each shift, as well as investing in technology to enable many staff to work from remote locations. We continue to reassess our medium-term forecasts based on current pricing and are highly confident we have the resources to deliver on our plans. Of course, we cannot be certain of the duration of the pandemic's impact but will remain focussed on monitoring and protecting our business through the period of uncertainty. In protecting our stakeholders interests, we are conscious of our wider obligations to the communities, and country, in which we operate. Accordingly, as previously announced, in 2020 we acted, alongside other corporate entities in Ukraine, to directly acquire critical equipment and supplies from Chinese suppliers to donate to the Ukrainian State to assist its efforts to manage the pandemic in Ukraine. Our monetary contribution of $2 million to this initiative is reflected in the results for the year.

Outlook

Whilst there are still challenges in the business environment in Ukraine, the situation is relatively stable despite the COVID-19 outbreak. Following the steady operational performance during 2020, and the increased production output during the year, we are looking forward to the results of the SV-29 development well, which are expected in the fourth quarter of 2021. We are also looking forward to achieving further successes in the development activities planned for 2021 and delivering a steadily increasing production and revenue stream in the future.

In conclusion, on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all of our staff for the continued dedication and support they have shown during the year and especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chris Hopkinson

Chairman

Chief Executive's Statement

Introduction

The Group continued to make good progress at its Ukrainian fields during 2020, with development activity at the MEX-GOL and SV fields including successes with the drilling of the SV-54 development well, which came on production in May 2020 and the SV-25 appraisal well, which came on production in February 2021. In addition, work continued on the planning of an upgrade to the gas processing facilities, as well as work on upgrades to the flow-line network and remedial activity on existing wells.

At the VAS field, planning for a proposed new well to explore the VED prospect within the VAS licence area has continued, and upgrades to the gas processing facilities, flow-line network and other infrastructure are underway.

Overall production continued its upward trend during the year, achieving record levels for the Group and being approximately 6.5% higher than in 2019, with a substantial boost in May 2020, once the SV-54 well came on production.

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 the 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 2020, a total of 461,321 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 3,451,816 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 from the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields for the year ended 31 December 2020 was as follows:-

 
   Field          Gas         Condensate          LPG          Aggregate 
                (MMscf/d)       (bbl/d)         (bbl/d)          boepd 
              2020    2019   2020    2019    2020    2019    2020    2019 
             ------  -----  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------ 
 
   MEX-GOL 
   & SV       17.6    14.8   640.6   577.8   295.3   274.4   3,960   3,391 
             ------  -----  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------ 
 
   VAS         2.9    4.4    32.2    61.9      -       -      581     872 
             ------  -----  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------ 
 
   Total      20.5    19.2   672.8   639.7   295.3   274.4   4,541   4,263 
             ------  -----  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------ 
 

Production rates were higher in 2020 when compared with 2019, predominantly due to the contributions of the MEX-119 well, which commenced production in October 2019, and the SV-54 well, which commenced production in May 2020.

The Group's average daily production for the period from 1 January 2021 to 26 March 2021 from the MEX-GOL and SV field was 18.1 MMscf/d of gas, 634 bbl/d of condensate and 239 bbl/d of LPG (4,072 boepd in aggregate) and from the VAS field was 2.5 MMscf/d of gas and 28 bbls/d of condensate (499 boepd in aggregate).

Operations

Notwithstanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020, over recent periods, there have been relatively stable fiscal and economic conditions 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 , and this has given the Board confidence to continue the Group's development programme at its Ukrainian fields during 2020. However, lower realised gas prices impacted revenues, following a general decline in gas prices in Europe.

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

At the MEX-GOL and SV fields, the drilling of the SV-54 development well was completed to a final depth of 5,322 metres. One interval, at a drilled depth of 5,303 - 5,308 metres in the B-23 Visean formation, was perforated, and after successful testing, the well was hooked-up to the gas processing facilities in May 2020. In January 2021, additional intervals, at drilled depths of 5,143 - 5,146, 5,125 - 5,155 and 5,180 - 5,186 within the B-22 Visean formation were perforated. The well is currently producing at approximately 1.1 MMscf/d of gas and 25 bbl/d of condensate (212 boepd in aggregate).

In February 2021, the SV-25 appraisal well was completed, having been drilled to a final depth of 5,320 metres. One interval, at a drilled depth of 5,184 - 5,190 metres, within the B-22 Visean formation was perforated, and after successful testing, the well was hooked-up to the gas processing facilities. The well is currently producing at approximately 1.9 MMscf/d of gas and 80 bbl/d of condensate (423 boepd in aggregate).

The Group continues 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. Both of these wells have proven to be strong producers since being brought back on production.

At the VAS field, planning has continued for a new well to explore the VED prospect within the VAS licence area. However, a decline in production rates from the VAS-10 well impacted overall production at the VAS field during the fourth quarter of 2019, and as a result, compression equipment was installed to increase production from this well, with a longer-term plan to undertake a workover of the well to access an alternative reservoir horizon.

In March 2019 (as set out in the announcement made on 12 March 2019), a regulatory issue arose when the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine issued an order for suspension (the "Order") of the production licence for the VAS field. Under the applicable legislation, the Order would lead to a shut-down of production operations at the VAS field, but the Group has issued legal proceedings to challenge the Order, and has obtained a ruling suspending operation of the Order pending a hearing of the substantive issues. The Group does not believe that there are any grounds for the Order, and intends to pursue its challenge to the Order through the Ukrainian Courts.

Arkona Acquisition

As announced on 24 March 2020, the Group acquired the entire issued share capital of LLC Arkona Gas-Energy ("Arkona") for a total consideration of up to $8.63 million, of which $4.32 million was subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Following satisfaction of the initial conditions, a second payment of $2.1 million (net of an indemnity liability) has been paid, and the balance of the consideration is subject to the remaining conditions. Arkona holds a 100% interest in the Svystunivsko-Chervonolutskyi ("SC") exploration licence, which is located in the Poltava region in north-eastern Ukraine. The SC licence covers an area of 97 km(2) , and is approximately 15 km east of the SV field. The licence was granted in May 2017 with a duration of 20 years. The licence is prospective for gas and condensate, and has been the subject of exploration since the 1980s, with 5 wells having been drilled on the licence since then, although none of these wells are currently on production. As with the productive reservoirs in the SV field, the prospective reservoirs in the licence are Visean, at depths between 4,600 - 6,000 metres.

According to the recorded information on the Ukrainian State Balance of Natural Resources as at 1 January 2020, the licence has hydrocarbon reserves, in the category of C(1) and C(2) under the Ukrainian classification, DKZ, of approximately 38.0 MMboe (4.9 Bm(3) of gas and 0.86 Mtonnes of condensate). It should be noted, however, that whilst the Group's review of existing technical data for the licence is considered supportive of such assessment of hydrocarbon resources, such hydrocarbon resources have not been verified by an independent reserves assessor and do not correspond to the SPE/WPC/AAPG/SPEE Petroleum Resources Management System ("PRMS") standard for classification and reporting.

However, NJSC Ukrnafta, as claimant, issued legal proceedings against Arkona, as defendant, in which NJSC Ukrnafta claimed that irregular procedures were adopted in the grant of the SC licence to Arkona in May 2017. NJSC Ukrnafta was the holder of a previous licence over this area which expired prior to the grant of the SC licence. In early July 2020, the First Instance Court in Ukraine announced a ruling in favour of NJSC Ukrnafta, which found that the grant of the SC licence was irregular, which would mean the licence is invalid. Arkona filed an appeal in the Appellate Administrative Court in Kyiv, which was determined in favour of Arkona in September 2020, as was a final appeal to the Supreme Court of Ukraine issued in February 2021. Further information can be found in the announcements dated 3 July 2020, 31 July 2020, 30 September 2020, 23 November 2020 and 11 February 2021.

With the resolution of these legal issues, the Group has re-commenced planning for the development of this licence, which includes the acquisition of 150 km(2) of 3D seismic and drilling of a new well, SVYST-4, both of which are planned to start later this year.

Outlook

During 2021, the Group will continue to develop the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields, as well as progressing the development planning for the SC licence . At the MEX-GOL and SV fields, the development programme includes continuing the drilling operations on the SV-29 development well, planning for a further well or sidetracking of an existing well in the SV field, investigating workover opportunities for other existing wells, installation of further compression equipment, further upgrading of the gas processing facilities and flow-line network, and remedial and upgrade work on existing wells, pipelines and other infrastructure.

At the VAS field, a workover of the VAS-10 well has recently been completed to access an alternative production horizon, planning for the proposed new well to explore the VED prospect within the VAS licence area is continuing, and upgrades to the gas processing facilities, pipeline network and other infrastructure are planned.

Ongoing legislative reforms and the general stability in the business climate in Ukraine, are encouraging and supportive of the independent oil and gas producers in Ukraine.

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 the year, and to especially recognise their continuing efforts and professionalism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 2040 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 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.

The Group acquired this project in July 2016.

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 fields have 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 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 field

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

Production Licence

We hold a 100% working interest in, and are the operator of, the SC field. The production licence for the field 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.

According to the recorded information on the Ukrainian State Balance of Natural Resources as at 1 January 2020, the licence has hydrocarbon reserves, in the category of C(1) and C(2) under the Ukrainian classification, DKZ, of approximately 38.0 MMboe (4.9 Bm(3) of gas and 0.86 Mtonnes of condensate). It should be noted, however, that whilst the Group's review of existing technical data for the licence is considered supportive of such assessment of hydrocarbon resources, such hydrocarbon resources have not been verified by an independent reserves assessor and do not correspond to the SPE/WPC/AAPG/SPEE Petroleum Resources Management System ("PRMS") standard for classification and reporting.

Overview of Reserves

1. MEX-GOL and SV fields

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 2020, the Group has produced 3.7 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 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 

2. VAS field

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 2020, 0.5 MMboe were produced from the field.

The VAS Report estimates 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 estimates 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                    0                      0                   83 MMm(3) 
                ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
   Condensate             0                      0              74 Mbbl / 9 Mtonne 
                ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 

The VAS Report estimates 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) 
        --------------  ----------------  ----------------  ---------------- 
 

Finance Review

The Group's financial performance in 2020 was shaped largely by two factors, the significant drop in average gas realisations (which had started in 2019) materially affecting revenue but partly mitigated by the record level of gas production, and sale of gas from storage. Despite the challenges during the year, the Group made a net profit of $3.2 million (2019: $12.2 million).

Gross profit for the year was $15.7 million (2019: $23.5 million). The 33% decrease in gross profit year-on-year is almost entirely a result of significantly weakened gas prices in the year. Average gas realisations in the period were down 38% at $136/Mm(3) (UAH3,618/Mm(3) ), with condensate and LPG sales also down by 21% and 16% at $46/bbl and $46/bbl respectively (2019: $219/Mm(3) (UAH5,729/Mm(3) ), $58/bbl and $55/bbl respectively).

Revenue for the year, derived from the sale of the Group's Ukrainian gas, condensate and LPG production, was $47.3 million (2019: $55.9 million). Despite the gas price-driven fall in revenue, the cash generated from operations was only down 3.8% at $23.8 million (2019: $24.7 million) predominantly as a result of higher non-cash DD&A of $12.7 million compared to $10.2 million in 2019, less interest income recorded in the operating profit ($1.5 million compared to $4.8 million in 2019), and a $2.6 million draw of 24 MMm(3) of gas from inventory in the period compared to a $3.2 million build to inventory in 2019.

During the period from 1 January 2021 to 26 March 2021, the average realised gas, condensate and LPG prices were $232/Mm(3) (UAH6,489/Mm(3) ), $66/bbl and $64/bbl respectively.

The significantly lower average realised gas price had the greatest impact on the Group's 2020 performance. Since the deregulation of the gas supply market in Ukraine in October 2015, the market price for gas has broadly correlated to the price of imported gas, which generally reflects trends in European gas prices. Gas prices are also subject to seasonal variation. During the 2020 year, gas prices were depressed, as a combined result of lower international prices reducing the price of imported gas, and the unseasonally warm 2019/20 winter. Condensate and LPG prices were also lower than in 2020. During 2021 to date however, there has been a sustained recovery in prices (a function of a more general recovery in European commodity prices, as well as Ukraine experiencing one of the coldest winters in a decade).

Cost of sales for the 2020 year was marginally lower at $31.5 million (2019: $32.4 million). Whilst broadly consistent with last year, there were some significant movements within this total: depreciation of property plant and equipment was 26% higher at $11.5 million (2019: $9.1 million) as a result of higher levels of production; production taxes declined by 19% as a result of reduced gas revenues, in turn a function of the reduced gas prices as noted above; a 42% decrease in rent expense, a function of lower well profitability in the period despite increased production; and staff costs increased by 31% as a function of a 2% increase in the number of staff, in combination with salary inflation,

The subsoil tax rates applicable to gas production were stable during the period 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, but reductions in the subsoil rates applicable to new wells and to condensate production were applicable, under which (i) for new wells drilled after 1 January 2018, 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, and (ii) with effect from 1 January 2019 and applicable to all wells, the subsoil tax rates for condensate were reduced from 45% to 31% for condensate produced from deposits shallower than 5,000 metres and from 21% to 16% for condensate produced from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres.

Administrative expenses for the year were marginally higher at $7.8 million (2019: $7.4 million), primarily as a result of: a 46% increase in consultancy fees mainly due to legal and advisory costs associated with the acquisition activity in the year; a 6% increase in payroll and related taxes, consistent with the increased staff level and salary inflation noted above; all partially mitigated by a 30% decrease in other expenses primarily in relation to decreased costs for managing gas transportation and storage, and marketing.

Other losses in the year reduced by 22% in the period, a net effect of: a foreign exchange gain in the period of $0.3 million compared to a loss of $1.5 million in 2019; no VAT credit in the period compared to the $0.5 million charge in 2019; and the charitable donations of $2.1 million (2019: nil) for the supply of COVID-19-related medical equipment for Ukrainian authorities and charitable foundations .

The tax charge for the year reduced by 65% to $3.3 million (2019: $9.6 million charge) mainly due to the decrease in profit before tax, and comprises a current tax charge of $3.0 million (2019: $4.8 million charge) and a deferred tax charge of $0.3 million (2019: $4.8 million charge).

A deferred tax asset relating to the Group's provision for decommissioning at 31 December 2020 of $0.2 million (2019: $0.3 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 at 31 December 2020 of $2.9 million (2019: $2.5 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 MEX-GOL and SV fields, and its tax base.

A deferred tax asset relating to the Group's provision for decommissioning at 31 December 2020 of $0.3 million (2019: $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 at 31 December 2020 of $0.2 million (2019: $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 $18.2 million reflects the investment in the Group's oil and gas development and production assets during the year (2019: $17.7 million), primarily relating to the drilling of the SV-54 and SV-25 wells. The carrying value of the Group's assets was reviewed at the year end as a result of the significant drop in gas prices during the year, which did not result in any impairment of assets.

Cash and cash equivalents held at 31 December 2020 were $61.0 million (2019: $62.5 million). The Group's cash and cash equivalents balance at 29 March 2021 was $60.9 million, held as to $22.8 million equivalent in Ukrainian Hryvnia and the balance of $38.1 million equivalent predominantly in US Dollars, Euros and Pounds Sterling.

Between early 2014 and 2019, the Ukrainian Hryvnia devalued significantly against the US Dollar, falling from UAH8.3/$1.00 on 1 January 2014 to UAH23.7/$1.00 on 31 December 2019, which resulted in substantial foreign exchange translation losses for the Group over that period, and in turn adversely impacted the carrying value of the MEX-GOL and SV asset due to the translation of two of the Group's subsidiaries from their functional currency of Ukrainian Hryvnia to the Group's presentation currency of US Dollars. During 2020, global financial markets became extremely volatile due to a combination of a significant fall, and then gradual recovery, in oil prices and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Ukrainian Hryvnia weakened against the US Dollar with the exchange rate at 31 December 2020 being UAH28.3/$1.00. The impact of this devaluation was $15 million of foreign exchange losses (2019: $12 million of foreign exchange gain). Further devaluation of the Ukrainian Hryvnia against the US Dollar may affect the carrying value of the Group's assets in the future.

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 in 2021 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 the 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 cash resources at the end of the period of $61 million, and annual running costs of less than $8 million, the Group remains in a very strong position should any local or global shocks occur to the industry and/or the Group. In making this assessment, the Group has forecast future cash flows under severe but reasonably plausible downside scenarios.

The Parent Company has recorded credit of $87.3 million, being the net change in credit loss allowance for loans issued to subsidiaries in its statement of profit or loss for the year ended 31 December 2020 (see Note 3). This credit was calculated following a review of the underlying cash flow forecasts of the subsidiaries and is due to an increase in gas prices forecast and the termination of the proposed acquisition of PJSC Science and Production Concern Ukrnaftinvest. The Parent Company has also recorded a loss of $30.1 million, being the net change in credit loss allowance for shares in subsidiary undertakings.

In 2020, after a Group restructuring, the Parent Company transferred $40 million from loans to subsidiaries to investments in subsidiaries as a result of the offsetting of payables for corporate rights, which did not impact the consolidated financial statements. Further details can be found in Note 19 below.

On 25 February 2021, the Company completed a reduction of its share capital through the cancellation of its entire share premium account. This reduction of capital creates distributable reserves of the Company, which enable the Company to make distributions to its shareholders in the future, subject to the Company's financial performance. However, the Company is not indicating any commitment, and does not have any current intention, to make any distributions to 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 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 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 a 
  political risks than it would be                 strong working relationship with 
  in other jurisdictions. Emerging                 the Ukrainian regulatory authorities. 
  economies are generally subject                  The Group also maintains a significant 
  to a volatile political and economic             proportion of its cash holdings 
  environment, which makes them vulnerable         in international banks outside Ukraine. 
  to market downturns elsewhere in 
  the world and could adversely impact 
  the Group's ability to operate 
  in the market. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Regional conflict 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Ukraine continues to have a strained             As the Group has no assets in Crimea 
  relationship with Russia, following              or the areas of conflict in the 
  Ukraine's agreement to join a free               east of Ukraine, nor do its operations 
  trade area with the European Union,              rely on sales or costs incurred 
  which resulted in the implementation             there, the Group has not been directly 
  of mutual trade restrictions between             affected by the conflict. However, 
  Russia and Ukraine on many key                   the Group continues to monitor the 
  products. Further, the conflict                  situation and endeavours to procure 
  in parts of eastern Ukraine has                  its equipment from sources in other 
  not been resolved to date, and                   markets. The disputes and interruption 
  Russia continues to occupy Crimea.               to the supply of gas from Russia 
  This conflict has put further pressure           has indirectly encouraged Ukrainian 
  on relations between Ukraine and                 Government support for the development 
  Russia, and the political tensions               of the domestic production of hydrocarbons 
  have had an adverse effect on the                since Ukraine imports a significant 
  Ukrainian financial markets, hampering           proportion of its gas, which has 
  the ability of Ukrainian companies               resulted in legislative measures 
  and banks to obtain funding from                 to improve the regulatory requirements 
  the international capital and debt               for hydrocarbon extraction in Ukraine. 
  markets. This strained relationship 
  between Russia and Ukraine has 
  also resulted in disputes and interruptions 
  in the supply of gas from Russia. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 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 since 2013 in Ukraine have 
  depreciation, changing regulations               significantly weakened the Ukrainian 
  and other economic pressures generally,          banking sector. In light of this, 
  and so the risks associated with                 the Group has taken and continues 
  the banks in Ukraine have been                   to take steps to diversify its banking 
  significant, including in relation               arrangements between a number of 
  to the banks with which the Group                banks in Ukraine. These measures 
  has operated bank accounts. However,             are designed to spread the risks 
  following remedial action imposed                associated with each bank's creditworthiness, 
  by the National Bank of Ukraine,                 and the Group endeavours to use 
  Ukraine's banking system has improved            banks that have the best available 
  moderately. Nevertheless, Ukraine                creditworthiness. Nevertheless, 
  continues to be supported by funding             and despite the recent improvements, 
  from the International Monetary                  the Ukrainian banking sector remains 
  Fund.                                            weakly capitalised and so the risks 
                                                   associated with the banks in Ukraine 
                                                   remain significant, including in 
                                                   relation to the banks with which 
                                                   the Group operates bank accounts. 
                                                   As a consequence, the Group also 
                                                   maintains a significant proportion 
                                                   of its cash holdings in international 
                                                   banks outside Ukraine. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Geopolitical environment in Ukraine 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Although there have been 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 its ongoing             may affect its business. In addition, 
  effects are difficult to predict                 the involvement of Smart Holding 
  and likely to continue to affect                 (Cyprus) Limited, as an indirect 
  the Ukrainian economy and potentially            major shareholder with extensive 
  the Group's business. Whilst not                 experience in Ukraine, is considered 
  materially affecting the Group's                 helpful to mitigate such risks. 
  production operations, the instability 
  has disrupted 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, which was established 
  and increased costs of operation                 in 2020, is specifically tasked 
  through increasing regulatory oversight          with overseeing measuring, benchmarking 
  and controls, including potential                and mitigating the Group's environmental 
  effective or actual loss of licence              and climate impact, which will be 
  to operate. As a diligent operator               reported on in future periods. At 
  aware and responsive to its good                 this stage, the Group does not consider 
  stewardship responsibilities, the                climate change to have any material 
  Group not only needs to monitor                  implications on the Group's financial 
  and modify its business plans and                statements, including the accounting 
  operations to react to changes,                  estimates. 
  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 consequence of the 
  As evidenced by events in 2020,                  COVID-19 pandemic the Group is re-visiting 
  pandemics also pose a risk to operations,        processes and controls intended 
  by potential illness and threat                  to ensure protection of all our 
  to life of employees and contractors,            stakeholders and minimise any disruption 
  and the associated disruptions                   to our business. Whilst possible 
  in staffing levels, operations                   to only a limited extent in field 
  and supply chain.                                operations, we have invested in 
                                                   technology that will allow 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 development             engages with suitably qualified 
  programmes depends on a number                   local and international geological, 
  of uncertainties, including the                  geophysical and engineering experts 
  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 2016, the Group engaged external 
  are generally characterised by                   technical consultants to undertake 
  declining production rates which                 a comprehensive review and re-evaluation 
  vary depending upon reservoir characteristics    study of the MEX-GOL and SV fields 
  and other factors. Future production             in order to gain an improved understanding 
  of the Group's gas and condensate                of the geological aspects of the 
  reserves, and therefore the Group's              fields and reservoir engineering, 
  cash flow and income, are highly                 drilling and completion techniques, 
  dependent on the Group's success                 and the results of this study and 
  in operating existing producing                  further planned technical work is 
  wells, drilling new production                   being used by the Group in the future 
  wells and efficiently developing                 development of these fields. The 
  and exploiting any reserves, and                 Group has established an ongoing 
  finding or acquiring additional                  relationship with such external 
  reserves. The Group may not be                   technical consultants to ensure 
  able to develop, find or acquire                 that technical management and planning 
  reserves at acceptable costs. The                is of a high quality in respect 
  experience gained from drilling                  of all development activities on 
  undertaken to date highlights such               the Group's fields. 
  risks as the Group targets the 
  appraisal and production of these 
  hydrocarbons. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Risks relating to 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 delivery            the aim of managing the risks associated 
  of equipment in Ukraine, failure                 with the further development of 
  of key equipment, lower than expected            the Group's fields in Ukraine. This 
  production from wells that are                   includes detailed review and consideration 
  currently producing, or new wells                of available subsurface data, utilisation 
  that are brought on-stream, problematic          of modern geological software, and 
  wells and complex geology which                  utilisation of engineering and completion 
  is difficult to drill or interpret.              techniques developed for the fields. 
  The generation of significant operational        With operational activities, the 
  cash is dependent on the successful              Group ensures that appropriate equipment 
  delivery and completion of the                   and personnel is available for the 
  development and operation of the                 operations, and that operational 
  fields.                                          contractors are appropriately supervised. 
                                                   In addition, the Group performs 
                                                   a review of its oil and gas assets 
                                                   for impairment 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              The Group does not currently have 
  proportion of the future capital                 any loans outstanding, internal 
  requirements of the Group is expected            financial projections are regularly 
  to be derived from operational                   made based on the latest estimates 
  cash generated from production,                  available, and various scenarios 
  including from wells yet to be                   are run to assess the robustness 
  drilled, there is a risk that in                 of the liquidity of the Group. However, 
  the longer term insufficient operational         as the risk to future capital funding 
  cash is generated, or that additional            is inherent in the oil and gas exploration 
  funding, should the need arise,                  and development industry and reliant 
  cannot be secured.                               in part on future development success, 
                                                   it is difficult for the Group to 
                                                   take any other measures to further 
                                                   mitigate this risk, other than tailoring 
                                                   its development activities to its 
                                                   available capital funding from time 
                                                   to time. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Ensuring appropriate business practices 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group operates in Ukraine,                   The Group maintains anti-bribery 
  an emerging market, where certain                and corruption policies in relation 
  inappropriate business practices                 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.              long-term offtake arrangements, 
  These revenues are subject to commodity          which include pricing formulae so 
  price volatility and political                   as to ensure that it achieves market 
  influence. A prolonged period of                 prices for its products, as well 
  low gas, condensate and LPG prices               utilising the electronic market 
  may impact the Group's ability                   platforms in Ukraine to achieve 
  to maintain its long-term investment             market prices for its remaining 
  programme with a consequent effect               products. However, hydrocarbon prices 
  on its growth rate, which in turn                in Ukraine are implicitly linked 
  may impact the share price or any                to world hydrocarbon prices and 
  shareholder returns. Lower gas,                  so the Group is subject to external 
  condensate and LPG prices may not                price trends. 
  only decrease the Group's revenues 
  per unit, but may also reduce the 
  amount of gas, condensate and LPG 
  which the Group can produce economically, 
  as would increases in costs associated 
  with hydrocarbon production, such 
  as subsoil taxes and royalties. 
  The overall economics of the Group's 
  key assets (being the net present 
  value of the future cash flows 
  from its Ukrainian projects) 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. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 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 UAH28.3/$1.00               thus the currency of revenue and 
  on 31 December 2020. This devaluation            costs are largely matched. In light 
  through to 2020 was a significant                of the previous devaluation and 
  contributor to the imposition of                 volatility of the Ukrainian Hryvnia 
  the banking restrictions by the                  against major world currencies, 
  National Bank of Ukraine over recent             and since the Ukrainian Hryvnia 
  years. In addition, the geopolitical             does not benefit from the range 
  events in Ukraine over recent years,             of currency hedging instruments 
  are likely to continue to impact                 which are available in more developed 
  the valuation of the Ukrainian                   economies, the Group has adopted 
  Hryvnia against major world currencies.          a policy that, where possible, funds 
  Further devaluation of the Ukrainian             not required for use in Ukraine 
  Hryvnia against the US Dollar will               be retained on deposit in the United 
  affect the carrying value of the                 Kingdom and Europe, principally 
  Group's assets.                                  in US Dollars. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Counterparty and credit risk 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The challenging political and economic           The Group monitors the financial 
  environment in Ukraine means that                position and credit quality of its 
  businesses can be subject to significant         contractual counterparties and seeks 
  financial strain, which can mean                 to manage the risk associated with 
  that the Group is exposed to increased           counterparties by contracting with 
  counterparty risk if counterparties              creditworthy contractors and customers. 
  fail or default in their contractual             Hydrocarbon production is sold on 
  obligations to the Group, including              terms that limit supply credit and/or 
  in relation to the sale of its                   title transfer until payment is 
  hydrocarbon production, resulting                received . 
  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 difficulties,                   and so the Group is subject to external 
  and more particularly the events                 price movements. The Group holds 
  that have occurred in Ukraine over               a significant proportion of its 
  recent years. This has led to extreme            cash reserves in the United Kingdom 
  foreign exchange movements in the                and Europe, mostly in US Dollars, 
  Ukrainian Hryvnia , high inflation               with reputable financial institutions. 
  and interest rates, and increased                The financial status of counterparties 
  credit risk relating to the Group's              is carefully monitored to manage 
  key counterparties.                              counterparty risks. Nevertheless, 
                                                   the risks 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 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Ukraine 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. 
  The Group is challenging this Order 
  through legal proceedings, during 
  which production from the licence 
  is continuing, but this matter 
  remains unresolved. In 2020, LLC 
  Arkona Gas-Energy ("Arkona") faced 
  a challenge from NJSC 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. 
  All such challenges affecting the 
  Group have thus far been successfully 
  defended through the Ukrainian 
  legal system. However, the 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, 
                                                   who are used to provided specialist 
                                                   services as required. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 

Consolidated Income Statement

for the year ended 31 December 2020

 
 
                                                         2020       2019 
                                             Note        $000       $000 
 
 Revenue                                      5        47,251     55,931 
                                                     (31, 511 
 Cost of sales                                6             )   (32,415) 
------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  --------- 
 Gross profit                                         15, 740     23,516 
 Administrative expenses                      7       (7,791)    (7,396) 
 Other operating gains, (net)                 10       1, 821      4,973 
------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  --------- 
 Operating profit                                      9, 770     21,093 
 Finance income                               11            -      3,487 
 Finance costs                                12      (1,418)      (450) 
 Net impairment gains on financial assets                  24         32 
 Other losses (net)                           13      (1,856)    (2,394) 
------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  --------- 
 Profit before taxation                                6, 520     21,768 
 Income tax expense                           14      (3,332)    (9,569) 
------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  --------- 
 Profit for the year                                   3, 188     12,199 
------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  --------- 
 
   Earnings per share (cents) 
 Basic and diluted                            16         1.0c       3.8c 
------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  --------- 
 

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 2020

 
                                                     2020     2019 
                                                     $000     $000 
 
 Profit for the year                               3, 188   12,199 
 
 Other comprehensive (expense)/income 
  : 
 Items that may be subsequently reclassified 
  to profit or loss: 
 
  Equity - foreign currency translation          (15,050)   12,089 
 Items that will not be subsequently 
  reclassified to profit or loss: 
 Re-measurements of post-employment benefit 
  obligations                                        (73)      165 
 
 
 Total other comprehensive (expense)/income      (15,123)   12,254 
 
 
 Total comprehensive (expense)/income              (1 1 , 
  for the year                                      935 )   24,453 
----------------------------------------------  ---------  ------- 
 

Company Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the year ended 31 December 2020

 
                                           Note     2020       2019 
                                                    $000       $000 
 
 Profit / (loss) for the year                15   59,454   (17,507) 
----------------------------------------  -----  -------  --------- 
 
 
 Total comprehensive income / (expense) 
  for the year                                    59,454   (17,507) 
----------------------------------------  -----  -------  --------- 
 

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

Consolidated Balance Sheet

as at 31 December 2020

 
 
                                               2020        2019 
                                  Note         $000        $000 
 Assets 
 Non-current assets 
 Property, plant and equipment     17       65, 662      70,052 
 Intangible assets                 18        12,232       5,197 
 Right-of-use assets               19           512         940 
 Prepayment for shares                            -         500 
 Corporation tax receivable                       9          10 
 Deferred tax asset                26           167           - 
-------------------------------  -----  -----------  ---------- 
                                            78, 582      76,699 
 
 Current assets 
 Inventories                       21         1,541       4,813 
 Trade and other receivables       22         4,847      10,937 
 Cash and cash equivalents         23        60,993      62,474 
-------------------------------  -----  -----------  ---------- 
                                             67,381      78,224 
 
 Total assets                              145, 963     154,923 
-------------------------------  -----  -----------  ---------- 
 
 Liabilities 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables          24       (6,641)     (3,968) 
 Lease liabilities                 19         (245)       (454) 
 Corporation tax payable                    (1,062)     (2,221) 
                                            (7,948)     (6,643) 
 
 Net current assets                          59,433      71,581 
-------------------------------  -----  -----------  ---------- 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Provision for decommissioning     25       (6,819)     (7,447) 
 Lease liabilities                 19         (371)       (515) 
 Defined benefit liability                    (530)       (480) 
 Deferred tax liability            26       (2,705)     (2,288) 
 Other non-current liabilities     4        (1,975)           - 
                                           (12,400)    (10,730) 
 
 Total liabilities                         (20,348)    (17,373) 
-------------------------------  -----  -----------  ---------- 
 
 Net assets                                125, 615     137,550 
-------------------------------  -----  -----------  ---------- 
 
 Equity 
 Called up share capital           27        28,115      28,115 
 Share premium account                      555,090     555,090 
 Foreign exchange reserve          28     (105,222)    (90,172) 
 Other reserves                    28         4,273       4,273 
                                              (356, 
 Accumulated losses                           641 )   (359,756) 
 Total equity                              125, 615     137,550 
-------------------------------  -----  -----------  ---------- 
 

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

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

as at 31 December 2020

 
 
                             Called      Share                     Capital 
                           up share    premium     Merger    contributions   Foreign exchange   Accumulated      Total 
                            capital    account    Reserve          reserve           reserve*        losses     equity 
                               $000       $000       $000             $000               $000          $000       $000 
 
 As at 1 January 
  2019                       28,115    555,090    (3,204)            7,477          (102,261)     (372,120)    113,097 
 Profit for the year              -          -          -                -                  -        12,199     12,199 
 Other comprehensive 
  income 
  - exchange 
  differences                     -          -          -                -             12,089             -     12,089 
 - re-measurements 
  of post-employment 
  benefit obligations             -          -          -                -                  -           165        165 
-----------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ---------------  -----------------  ------------  --------- 
 Total comprehensive 
  income                          -          -          -                -             12,089        12,364     24,453 
-----------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ---------------  -----------------  ------------  --------- 
 As at 31 December 
  2019                       28,115    555,090    (3,204)            7,477           (90,172)     (359,756)    137,550 
-----------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ---------------  -----------------  ------------  --------- 
 
                             Called      Share                     Capital 
                           up share    premium     Merger    contributions   Foreign exchange   Accumulated      Total 
                            capital    account    Reserve          reserve           reserve*        losses     equity 
                               $000       $000       $000             $000               $000          $000       $000 
 
 As at 1 January 
  2020                       28,115    555,090    (3,204)            7,477           (90,172)     (359,756)    137,550 
 Profit for the year              -          -          -                -                  -        3, 188     3, 188 
 Other comprehensive 
  expense 
  - exchange 
  differences                     -          -          -                -           (15,050)             -   (15,050) 
 - re-measurements 
  of post-employment 
  benefit obligations             -          -          -                -                  -          (73)       (73) 
-----------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ---------------  -----------------  ------------  --------- 
                                                                                                                  (1 1 
 Total comprehensive                                                                                             , 935 
  expense                         -          -          -                -           (15,050)        3, 115          ) 
-----------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ---------------  -----------------  ------------  --------- 
 As at 31 December                                                                                (356, 641       125, 
  2020                       28,115    555,090    (3,204)            7,477          (105,222)             )        615 
-----------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ---------------  -----------------  ------------  --------- 
 
   * 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 2020

 
                                                                 2020       2019 
                                                      Note       $000       $000 
 
 Operating activities 
                                                               2 3 ,7 
 Cash generated from operations                        29          64     24,708 
                                                                           ( 107 
 Charitable donations                                  13     (2,077)          ) 
 Income tax paid                                              (3,850)    (3,963) 
 Interest received                                              1,487      4,809 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Net cash inflow from operating activities                     19,324     25,447 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 
 Investing activities 
 Disposal of subsidiary                                             -        (7) 
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment                   (12,749)   (19,050) 
 Purchase of intangible assets                                (4,348)      (124) 
 Proceeds from return of prepayments for 
  shares                                                          250          - 
 Prepayment for shares                                              -      (500) 
 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and 
  equipment                                                         4         16 
 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from investing 
  activities                                                 (16,843)   (19,665) 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 
 Financing activities 
 Payment of principal portion of lease liabilities              (543)      (488) 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Net cash outflow from financing activities                     (543)      (488) 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 
 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                      1,938      5,294 
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of 
  year                                                         62,474     53,222 
 ECL of cash and cash equivalents                                 (6)        (7) 
 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes                      (3,413)      3,965 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year              23      60,993     62,474 
---------------------------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 

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 2020 or 2019, 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 statutory accounts for 2020 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting.

While the financial information included in this preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ("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 IFRS in May/June 2021.

2. General Information and Operational Environment

Enwell Energy plc (formerly named Regal Petroleum 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 of 31 December 2020 and 2019, the Company's immediate parent company was Smart Energy (CY) Ltd (formerly named Pelidona Services Ltd) , which is 100% owned by Smart Holding (Cyprus) Ltd (formerly named Lovitia Investments Ltd) which is 100% owned by Mr Vadym Novynskyi. Accordingly, the Company was ultimately controlled by Mr Vadym Novynskyi.

The Group's gas, condensate and LPG extraction and production facilities are located in Ukraine. The ongoing political and economic instability in Ukraine, which commenced in late 2013, 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, although there have been some gradual improvements recently.

The macroeconomic situation in Ukraine during the first months of 2020 was reasonably stable, and this facilitated stability of the financial system. During 2020, consumer inflation in Ukraine was 5% (compared to 4.1% in 2019). However, internal and external factors that began to impact the Ukrainian economy in the second half of 2019, and which significantly strengthened in 2020, resulted in devaluation of the Ukrainian Hryvnia. As at 31 December 2020, the official National Bank of Ukraine ("NBU") exchange rate of the Ukrainian Hryvnia against the US Dollar was UAH28.27/$1.00, compared with UAH23.69/$1.00 as at 31 December 2019.

The repayment period of the sovereign debt owed by Ukraine to maintain the liquidity position during the crisis periods is being continually extended. The foreign currency sovereign debt repayments remain concentrated. In 2020-2022, the foreign currency repayments of the Ukrainian Government and the NBU including interest payments will cumulatively exceed $24 billion. The major portion of this amount is expected to be refinanced in external markets.

In the subsequent periods, the key macroeconomic risk is represented by significant sovereign debt repayments. Accordingly, implementation of the new International Monetary Fund programme and terms of cooperation with other international financial organisations remain critically important.

As of the end of 2019, the NBU set its discount rate at 13.5%. During 2020, the monetary policy was further eased and the NBU's discount rate was decreased to 6% as at the end of the year. On 4 March 2021, the NBU increased the discount rate to 6.5%. Rapid developments driven by the coronavirus spread resulted in liquidity gaps of certain banks and a growth in demand for interbank credit facilities. To support financial stability, the NBU changed the operational design of its monetary policy, implemented long-term refinancing of banks, supported banks with foreign currency, postponed formation of the capital buffer by banks, and proposed that banks implement a special grace period of loan servicing over the coronavirus quarantine period for both consumers and businesses.

A significant number of companies in Ukraine had to terminate or limit their operations for the coronavirus quarantine restriction period. Measures taken to constrain the spread of the coronavirus, including quarantine, social distancing and suspension of social infrastructure activities, have impacted economic activities of companies in Ukraine, including the Group.

The Ukrainian Government formed after parliamentary elections in July 2019 was dissolved on 4 March 2020 and a new Government was appointed. Amid political changes, the degree of uncertainty including in respect of the future direction of the reforms in Ukraine remains very high. In addition, negative trends in global markets due to the coronavirus pandemic may further affect the Ukrainian economy. The final resolution and the ongoing effects of the political and economic situation are difficult to predict but they may have further severe effects on the Ukrainian economy and the Group's business .

As at 30 March 2021, the official NBU exchange rate of the Ukrainian Hryvnia against the US Dollar was UAH27.97/$1.00, compared with UAH28.27/$1.00 as at 31 December 2020.

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

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

The Group has prepared its consolidated financial statements and the Company's financial statements in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the "framework") and the applicable legal requirements of the Companies Act 2006. These consolidated financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by certain financial instruments measured in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are set out below.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with the framework 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.

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.

The Directors are carefully monitoring the evolving situation with respect to the coronavirus pandemic and maintain a significant level of financial flexibility to modify the Group's development plans as may be required in order to preserve cash resources, using base, low and high cases for liquidity management.

As part of their Going Concern review conducted in mid-March 2021, the Directors have analysed the Group's cash flow forecasts and considered a severe but possible downside case scenario, being: a low case production profile; forward curve commodity prices being reduced by 20%; and all non-production costs being maintained at current levels with no reduction as would otherwise be possible.

In the Directors' view, while this scenario constitutes a remote possibility, it demonstrates that the Group would be able to operate well within its current financing arrangements.

New and amended standards adopted by the Group

A number of new or amended standards became applicable for the current reporting period. The following amendments to standards, which are relevant to the Group's consolidated financial statements, have been issued:

Definition of a business - Amendments to IFRS 3 (issued on 22 October 2018 and effective for acquisitions from the beginning of annual reporting period that starts on or after 1 January 2020). The amendments revise the definition of a business. A business must have inputs and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. The new guidance provides a framework to evaluate when an input and a substantive process are present, including for early stage companies that have not generated outputs. An organised workforce should be present as a condition for classification as a business if there are no outputs. The definition of the term 'outputs' is narrowed to focus on goods and services provided to customers, generating investment income and other income, and it excludes returns in the form of lower costs and other economic benefits. It is also no longer necessary to assess whether market participants are capable of replacing missing elements or integrating the acquired activities and assets. An entity can apply a 'concentration test'. The assets acquired would not represent a business if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single asset (or a group of similar assets).

COVID-19-Related Rent Concessions Amendment to IFRS 16 issued on 28 May 2020 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 June 2020. The amendment provides lessees with relief in the form of an optional exemption from assessing whether a rent concession related to COVID-19 is a lease modification. Lessees can elect to account for rent concessions in the same way as if they were not lease modifications. The practical expedient only applies to rent concessions occurring as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and only if all of the following conditions are met: the change in lease payments results in revised consideration for the lease that is substantially the same as, or less than, the consideration for the lease immediately preceding the change; any reduction in lease payments affects only payments due on or before 30 June 2021; and there is no substantive change to the other terms and conditions of the lease.

The Group had to change its accounting policies as a result of the adoption of amendments to IFRS 3, however this change had no impact on the reporting period.

The following amended standards became effective from 1 January 2020, but did not have a material impact on the Group c onsolidated or Company's financial statements :

 
 --        Amendments to the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting 
            (issued on 29 March 2018 and effective for annual periods 
            beginning on or after 1 January 2020). 
 --        Definition of materiality - Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 
            8 (issued on 31 October 2018 and effective for annual periods 
            beginning on or after 1 January 2020). 
 --        Interest rate benchmark reform - Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 
            39 and IFRS 7 (issued on 26 September 2019 and effective 
            for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020). 
 

Impact of standards issued but not yet applied by the Group

Certain new standards and interpretations have been issued that are mandatory for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2021 or later, and which the Group has not early adopted.

 
 I)   Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its 
       Associate or Joint Venture - Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 
       28 (issued on 11 September 2014 and effective for annual periods 
       beginning on or after a date to be determined by the IASB) 
 

These amendments address an inconsistency between the requirements in IFRS 10 and those in IAS 28 in dealing with the sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture. The main consequence of the amendments is that a full gain or loss is recognised when a transaction involves a business. A partial gain or loss is recognised when a transaction involves assets that do not constitute a business, even if these assets are held by a subsidiary.

 
 II)   IFRS 17 "Insurance Contracts" (issued on 18 May 2017 and 
        effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 
        2021) 
 

IFRS 17 replaces IFRS 4, which has given companies dispensation to carry on accounting for insurance contracts using existing practices. As a consequence, it was difficult for investors to compare and contrast the financial performance of otherwise similar insurance companies. IFRS 17 is a single principle-based standard to account for all types of insurance contracts, including reinsurance contracts that an insurer holds. The standard requires recognition and measurement of groups of insurance contracts at: (i) a risk-adjusted present value of the future cash flows (the fulfilment cash flows) that incorporates all of the available information about the fulfilment cash flows in a way that is consistent with observable market information; plus (if this value is a liability) or minus (if this value is an asset), and (ii) an amount representing the unearned profit in the group of contracts (the contractual service margin). Insurers will be recognising the profit from a group of insurance contracts over the period they provide insurance coverage, and as they are released from risk. If a group of contracts is or becomes loss-making, an entity will be recognising the loss immediately.

 
 III)   Amendments to IFRS 17 and an amendment to IFRS 4 (issued 
         on 25 June 2020 and effective for annual periods beginning 
         on or after 1 January 2023) 
 

The amendments include a number of clarifications intended to ease implementation of IFRS 17, simplify some requirements of the standard and transition. The amendments relate to eight areas of IFRS 17, and they are not intended to change the fundamental principles of the standard. The following amendments to IFRS 17 were made:

 
 --   Effective date: The effective date of IFRS 17 (incorporating 
       the amendments) has been deferred by two years to annual 
       reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023; 
       and the fixed expiry date of the temporary exemption from 
       applying IFRS 9 in IFRS 4 has also been deferred to annual 
       reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. 
 --   Expected recovery of insurance acquisition cash flows: 
       An entity is required to allocate part of the acquisition 
       costs to related expected contract renewals, and to recognise 
       those costs as an asset until the entity recognises the 
       contract renewals. Entities are required to assess the recoverability 
       of the asset at each reporting date, and to provide specific 
       information about the asset in the notes to the financial 
       statements. 
 --   Contractual service margin attributable to investment services 
       : Coverage units should be identified, considering the quantity 
       of benefits and expected period of both insurance coverage 
       and investment services, for contracts under the variable 
       fee approach and for other contracts with an 'investment-return 
       service' under the general model. Costs related to investment 
       activities should be included as cash flows within the boundary 
       of an insurance contract, to the extent that the entity 
       performs such activities to enhance benefits from insurance 
       coverage for the policyholder. 
 

Reinsurance contracts held - recovery of losses: When an entity recognises a loss on initial recognition of an onerous group of underlying insurance contracts, or on addition of onerous underlying contracts to a group, an entity should adjust the contractual service margin of a related group of reinsurance contracts held and recognise a gain on the reinsurance contracts held. The amount of the loss recovered from a reinsurance contract held is determined by multiplying the loss recognised on underlying insurance contracts and the percentage of claims on underlying insurance contracts that the entity expects to recover from the reinsurance contract held. This requirement would apply only when the reinsurance contract held is recognised before or at the same time as the loss is recognised on the underlying insurance contracts.

Other amendments : Other amendments include scope exclusions for some credit card (or similar) contracts, and some loan contracts; presentation of insurance contract assets and liabilities in the statement of financial position in portfolios instead of groups; applicability of the risk mitigation option when mitigating financial risks using reinsurance contracts held and non-derivative financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss; an accounting policy choice to change the estimates made in previous interim financial statements when applying IFRS 17; inclusion of income tax payments and receipts that are specifically chargeable to the policyholder under the terms of an insurance contract in the fulfilment cash flows; and selected transition reliefs and other minor amendments.

 
 IV)   Classification of liabilities as current or non-current - 
        Amendments to IAS 1 (issued on 23 January 2020 and effective 
        for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2022) 
 

These narrow scope amendments clarify that liabilities are classified as either current or non-current, depending on the rights that exist at the end of the reporting period. Liabilities are non-current if the entity has a substantive right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement for at least twelve months. The guidance no longer requires such a right to be unconditional. Management's expectations whether they will subsequently exercise the right to defer settlement do not affect classification of liabilities. The right to defer only exists if the entity complies with any relevant conditions as of the end of the reporting period. A liability is classified as current if a condition is breached at or before the reporting date even if a waiver of that condition is obtained from the lender after the end of the reporting period. Conversely, a loan is classified as non-current if a loan covenant is breached only after the reporting date. In addition, the amendments include clarifying the classification requirements for debt a company might settle by converting it into equity. 'Settlement' is defined as the extinguishment of a liability with cash, other resources embodying economic benefits or an entity's own equity instruments. There is an exception for convertible instruments that might be converted into equity, but only for those instruments where the conversion option is classified as an equity instrument as a separate component of a compound financial instrument.

 
 V)   Classification of liabilities as current or non-current, 
       deferral of effective date - Amendments to IAS 1 (issued on 
       15 July 2020 and effective for annual periods beginning on 
       or after 1 January 2023) 
 

The amendment to IAS 1 on classification of liabilities as current or non-current was issued in January 2020 with an original effective date of 1 January 2022. However, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the effective date was deferred by one year to provide companies with more time to implement classification changes resulting from the amended guidance.

 
 VI)   Proceeds before intended use, Onerous contracts - cost of fulfilling 
        a contract, Reference to the Conceptual Framework - narrow scope amendments 
        to IAS 16, IAS 37 and IFRS 3, and Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2018-2020 
        - amendments to IFRS 1, IFRS 9, IFRS 16 and IAS 41 (issued on 14 May 
        2020 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 
        2022) 
 

The amendment to IAS 16 prohibits an entity from deducting from the cost of an item of PPE any proceeds received from selling items produced while the entity is preparing the asset for its intended use. The proceeds from selling such items, together with the costs of producing them, are now recognised in profit or loss. An entity will use IAS 2 to measure the cost of those items. Cost will not include depreciation of the asset being tested because it is not ready for its intended use. The amendment to IAS 16 also clarifies that an entity is 'testing whether the asset is functioning properly' when it assesses the technical and physical performance of the asset.

The financial performance of the asset is not relevant to this assessment. An asset might therefore be capable of operating as intended by management and subject to depreciation before it has achieved the level of operating performance expected by management.

The amendment to IAS 37 clarifies the meaning of 'costs to fulfil a contract'. The amendment explains that the direct cost of fulfilling a contract comprises the incremental costs of fulfilling that contract; and an allocation of other costs that relate directly to fulfilling. The amendment also clarifies that, before a separate provision for an onerous contract is established, an entity recognises any impairment loss that has occurred on assets used in fulfilling the contract, rather than on assets dedicated to that contract. IFRS 3 was amended to refer to the 2018 Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting, in order to determine what constitutes an asset or a liability in a business combination. Prior to the amendment, IFRS 3 referred to the 2001 Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting. In addition, a new exception in IFRS 3 was added for liabilities and contingent liabilities. The exception specifies that, for some types of liabilities and contingent liabilities, an entity applying IFRS 3 should instead refer to IAS 37 or IFRIC 21, rather than the 2018 Conceptual Framework. Without this new exception, an entity would have recognised some liabilities in a business combination that it would not recognise under IAS 37. Therefore, immediately after the acquisition, the entity would have had to derecognise such liabilities and recognise a gain that did not depict an economic gain. It was also clarified that the acquirer should not recognise contingent assets, as defined in IAS 37, at the acquisition date. The amendment to IFRS 9 addresses which fees should be included in the 10% test for derecognition of financial liabilities. Costs or fees could be paid to either third parties or the lender. Under the amendment, costs or fees paid to third parties will not be included in the 10% test. Illustrative Example 13 that accompanies IFRS 16 was amended to remove the illustration of payments from the lessor relating to leasehold improvements. The reason for the amendment is to remove any potential confusion about the treatment of lease incentives. IFRS 1 allows an exemption if a subsidiary adopts IFRS at a later date than its parent. The subsidiary can measure its assets and liabilities at the carrying amounts that would be included in its parent's consolidated financial statements, based on the parent's date of transition to IFRS, if no adjustments were made for consolidation procedures and for the effects of the business combination in which the parent acquired the subsidiary. IFRS 1 was amended to allow entities that have taken this IFRS 1 exemption to also measure cumulative translation differences using the amounts reported by the parent, based on the parent's date of transition to IFRS. The amendment to IFRS 1 extends the above exemption to cumulative translation differences, in order to reduce costs for first-time adopters. This amendment will also apply to associates and joint ventures that have taken the same IFRS 1 exemption.

The requirement for entities to exclude cash flows for taxation when measuring fair value under IAS 41 was removed. This amendment is intended to align with the requirement in the standard to discount cash flows on a post-tax basis

 
 VII)   Interest rate benchmark (IBOR) reform - phase 2 amendments 
         to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 (issued on 
         27 August 2020 and effective for annual periods beginning 
         on or after 1 January 2021) 
 

The Phase 2 amendments address issues that arise from the implementation of the reforms, including the replacement of one benchmark with an alternative one. The amendments cover the following areas:

 
 --   Accounting for changes in the basis for determining contractual 
       cash flows as a result of IBOR reform: For instruments to 
       which the amortised cost measurement applies, the amendments 
       require entities, as a practical expedient, to account for 
       a change in the basis for determining the contractual cash 
       flows as a result of IBOR reform by updating the effective 
       interest rate using the guidance in paragraph B5.4.5 of 
       IFRS 9. As a result, no immediate gain or loss is recognised. 
       This practical expedient applies only to such a change and 
       only to the extent it is necessary as a direct consequence 
       of IBOR reform, and the new basis is economically equivalent 
       to the previous basis. Insurers applying the temporary exemption 
       from IFRS 9 are also required to apply the same practical 
       expedient. IFRS 16 was also amended to require lessees to 
       use a similar practical expedient when accounting for lease 
       modifications that change the basis for determining future 
       lease payments as a result of IBOR reform. 
 --   End date for Phase 1 relief for non contractually specified 
       risk components in hedging relationships: The Phase 2 amendments 
       require an entity to prospectively cease to apply the Phase 
       1 reliefs to a non-contractually specified risk component 
       at the earlier of when changes are made to the non-contractually 
       specified risk component, or when the hedging relationship 
       is discontinued. No end date was provided in the Phase 1 
       amendments for risk components. 
 --   Additional temporary exceptions from applying specific 
       hedge accounting requirements: The Phase 2 amendments provide 
       some additional temporary reliefs from applying specific 
       IAS 39 and IFRS 9 hedge accounting requirements to hedging 
       relationships directly affected by IBOR reform. 
 

Additional IFRS 7 disclosures related to IBOR reform: The amendments require disclosure of: (i) how the entity is managing the transition to alternative benchmark rates, its progress and the risks arising from the transition; (ii) quantitative information about derivatives and non-derivatives that have yet to transition, disaggregated by significant interest rate benchmark; and (iii) a description of any changes to the risk management strategy as a result of IBOR reform. #

Unless otherwise described above, the 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 exploration activities should be expensed unless they meet the definition of an asset. An entity recognises an asset when it is probable that economic benefits will flow to the entity 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 within property, plant and equipment in single field cost centres.

The capitalisation point is the earlier of:

 
 (a)   the point at which the fair value less costs to sell 
        of the property can be reliably determined as 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 at 31 December 2020 were $1:UAH28.3 (2019: $1:UAH23.7), $1:GBP0.8 (2019: $1:GBP0.8), $1:EUR0.81 (2019: $1:EUR0.9).

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 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.

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 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). Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are deemed to have occurred

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.

Amortised cost ("AC") is the amount at which the financial instrument was recognised at 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 contract assets. The Group measures ECL and recognises Net impairment losses on financial and contract 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 contract 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 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, 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.

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 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 payment 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 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.

Operating lease

Where the Group is a lessor in a lease which does not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership to the lessee (i.e. operating lease), lease payments from operating leases are recognised as other income on a straight-line basis.

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 no significant loss of interest. 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.

The Group classifies its financial assets as at amortised cost only if both of the following criteria are met:

 
 --   the asset is held within a business model whose objective 
       is to collect the contractual cash flows, and 
 --   the contractual terms give rise to cash flows that are 
       solely payments of principal and interest. 
 

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

Significant judgement

Acquisition of LLC Arkona Gas-Energy

The Group acquired control of LLC Arkona Gas-Energy ("Arkona") on 24 March 2020. This acquisition required a determination to be made as to whether the acquisition should be treated as a business or asset acquisition. Following such determination, the transaction has been treated as an asset acquisition as there were no employees or production operations acquired. In applying the concentration test under amended IFRS 3 Business Combinations, the fair value of the acquired Svystunivsko-Chervonolutske licence ("SC Licence") comprises the majority amount (more than 90%) of the consideration. The SC Licence is classified as an exploration and evaluation intangible asset at the acquisition date. The Group believes no impairment indicators exist at the reporting date, and note the following:

 
 --   the SC Licence is valid until 18 May 2037; and 
 --   further exploration and evaluation plans are included 
       in the Group's Budgets. 
 

The following table provides the allocation of the fair value of the consideration to Arkona's assets and liabilities at their relative fair values at the date of acquisition:

 
                                                              $000 
 
 Property, plant and equipment                                  88 
 Trade and other receivables                                    35 
 Trade and other payables                                    (291) 
----------------------------------------------------------  ------ 
 Net liabilities - at the acquisition date, excluding 
  licence                                                    (168) 
----------------------------------------------------------  ------ 
 Gross value of consideration (1st, 2nd and 3rd tranches)    8,469 
----------------------------------------------------------  ------ 
 Discounting effect                                          (306) 
----------------------------------------------------------  ------ 
 Fair value of consideration (1st, 2nd and 3rd tranches)     8,163 
----------------------------------------------------------  ------ 
 Fair value of licence at the acquisition date               8,331 
 

Under the terms of the sale and purchase agreement for Arkona, the total consideration payable is $8,630,000, with payment divided into three tranches. The first tranche of $4,315,000 was paid on 24 March 2020 upon completion of the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of Arkona.

The second and third tranches of $2,157,500 respectively were contingent on satisfaction of certain conditions, including the favourable resolution of the legal proceedings brought by NJSC Ukrnafta against Arkona relating to the SC Licence (the "Licence Case"), the absence of any contractual, warranty or indemnity claims, and the delivery of certain documentation by the sellers of Arkona, with provision that if such conditions are not satisfied, then neither the second tranche nor the third tranche would become payable.

The second tranche is stated at its fair value at the date of acquisition and the estimated date of the relevant Court`s decision in the Licence Case was assumed to be before 31 December 2020. The Group assumes that the financing effect between the estimated date and the actual adjudication described in Note 31 is immaterial.

The third tranche is payable in twelve months from the date of payment of the second tranche. At the date of acquisition, the fair value of the third tranche amounts to the discounted value at the effective interest rate, being the Company's effective borrowing rate of 9%. The Group recognised $306,000 of discounting effect calculated against the value of the acquired assets.

The total consideration comprising the three tranches estimated at the date of acquisition amounts to $8,163,000. Other non-current liabilities as at 31 December 2020 of $1,975,000 comprise the non-current portion of the Arkona consideration, being $1,852,000, and $12 3 ,000 of other liabilities of Arkona for infrastructure development. The current portion of the Arkona consideration of $2,157,500 is reflected in trade and other payables giving the total outstanding balance related to the acquisition of $4,009,500.

Estimates

Recoverability of Oil and Gas Development and Production Assets in Ukraine

According to the Group's accounting policies, costs capitalised as assets are assessed for impairment at each balance sheet date if impairment indicators exist. In assessing whether an impairment loss has occurred, the carrying value of the asset or cash-generating unit ("CGU") is compared to its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the greater of fair value less costs to dispose and value in use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets. 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 and the respective impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately. A previously recognised impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset's recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognised. If that is the case, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to its recoverable amount (assessed using estimates for oil and gas prices, production and reserves), but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. Such reversals are recognised as income immediately.

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 and SV fields continue until the end of the economic life of the fields, which is assessed to be 2038 and 2042 respectively, based on the assessment contained in the DeGolyer & MacNaughton reserves report for these fields. The licences for each of these fields have recently been extended until 2040, and therefore the inputs used to determine the depreciation charge for the SV field assume that the SV licence can be

further extended until the end of its economic life in 2042.

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 at 31 December 2020 was 3.70% (31 December 2019: 3.68%). 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.

The change in estimate applied to calculate the provision as at 31 December 2020 resulted from the revision of the estimated costs of decommissioning (increase of $248,000 in provision) and an increase in the discount rate applied (decrease of $22,000 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 (31 December 2019: by 2038 on the MEX-GOL field, by 2042 on the SV field and 2028 on the VAS field respectively), which is the end of the estimated economic life of the respective fields.

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 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 2020, the Company considered all reasonable and supportable forward looking information available as of 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 subsidiary 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. For the purpose of the assessment of loans, these 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 in a longer perspective. As of 31 December 2020, the present value of future net cash flows to be generated by the subsidiary operating in Ukraine during 2021 - 2025, adjusted for the subsidiaries' working capital as at 31 December 2020 and estimated amounts reserved by the Group for investment projects in the time horizon was calculated. The increase in the net present value of future net cash flows as at 31 December 2020 in comparison with 31 December 2019 was affected by the increase in gas prices forecast and termination of the proposed acquisition of PJSC Science and Production Concern Ukrnaftinvest. For the purpose of the assessment of investments, these 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, was compared to the discounted cash flows and net financial assets of the subsidiaries as at 31 December 2020. As such, the Company has recorded $57,122,000 of income, being the net change in credit loss allowance for loans issued to and investments in subsidiaries in the Company's statement of profit or loss for the year ended 31 December 2020.

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.

Exchange Differences on Intra-group Balances with Foreign Operations

As at 31 December 2019, a Group subsidiary, Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited, planned to settle $4,500,000 of intra-group liability by the end of 2020 and $4,317,000 was settled in the period. A further amount of $3,102,000 is planned to be settled by the end of 2021. As such, a foreign exchange difference of $1,031,000 accumulated on the intra-group balance of $165,906,000 since the date of de-designation of this balance as part of the Company's net investment in the foreign operation up to 31 December 2020 was recognised in profit or loss in these consolidated financial statements. No reclassification of the foreign exchange difference accumulated in equity prior to de-designation was made as there has been no change in the Company's proportionate ownership interest in the foreign operation and therefore no disposal or partial disposal of the foreign operation. There were no changes in management's plans or intentions regarding the payment of intra-group balances not settled as at 31 December 2020, other than the abovementioned amount of $4,500,000, and as such, a foreign exchange difference related to the balance designated as net investment in a foreign operation was recognised in other comprehensive income in the Company Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year ended 31 December 2020.

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.

 
                                                United 
                                    Ukraine    Kingdom       Total 
                                       2020       2020        2020 
                                       $000       $000        $000 
 
 Revenue 
 Gas sales                           32,309          -      32,309 
 Condensate sales                    11,418          -      11,418 
 Liquefied Petroleum Gas sales        3,524          -       3,524 
-------------------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------- 
 Total revenue                       47,251          -      47,251 
 
 Segment result                      25,473    (3,053)      22,420 
 Depreciation and amortisation 
  of non-current assets            (12,650)          -    (12,650) 
 Operating profit                                            9,770 
 
 Segment assets                     106,587     39,376    145, 963 
 
 Capital additions*                  18,167          -      18,167 
 

*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 2020, 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 is ultimately controlled by Mr Vadym Novynskyi, who through an indirect 82.65% majority shareholding, ultimately controls 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 last 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 current 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 has agreed to combine the Group's gas production with its own gas production, and to sell such

gas as combined volumes, which is intended to result in higher sales prices due to the larger sales volumes. At the commencement of this sales arrangement, 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 0.5% to the gas sales prices achieved by Smart Energy, who sold the combined volumes in line with market prices. Due to changes in the regulatory regime in Ukraine, which has increased the burden of administration and regulatory compliance obligations involved in the sale of gas, and in order to ensure that the Group is compliant with current transfer pricing regulations in Ukraine, the Group and Smart Energy agreed in 2019 to increase the discount on the price at which the Group sells its gas to Smart Energy from 0.5% to 2%. The terms of sale for the Group's gas to Smart Energy are (i) payment for one third of the estimated monthly volume of gas by the 20(th) of the month of delivery, and (ii) payment of the remaining balance by the 10th of the month following the month of delivery.

 
                                               United 
                                   Ukraine    Kingdom      Total 
                                      2019       2019       2019 
                                      $000       $000       $000 
 
 Revenue 
 Gas sales                          38,345          -     38,345 
 Condensate sales                   13,724          -     13,724 
 Liquefied Petroleum Gas sales       3,862          -      3,862 
-------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Total revenue                      55,931          -     55,931 
 
 Segment result                     33,218    (1,935)     31,283 
 Depreciation and amortisation 
  of non-current assets           (10,190)          -   (10,190) 
 Operating profit                                         21,093 
 
 Segment assets                    114,722     42,408    157,130 
 
 Capital additions*                 17,672          -     17,672 
 

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

6. Cost of Sales

 
                                                     2020     2019 
                                                     $000     $000 
 
 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment     11,546    9,102 
 Production taxes                                   9,361   11,636 
 Staff costs (Note 9)                               3,202    2,450 
 Rent expenses                                       3,15    5,317 
 Cost of inventories recognised as an expense        1,22    1,158 
 Transmission tariff for Ukrainian gas system         824      673 
 Amortisation of mineral reserves                      48      510 
 Other expenses                                     1,712    1,569 
-----------------------------------------------  --------  ------- 
                                                  31, 511   32,415 
 

The main reason for the increase in depreciation in 2020 was the growth of production in the period. A transmission tariff for use of the Ukrainian gas transit system of UAH101.93/Mm3 of gas was applicable to the Group (2019: UAH91.87/Mm3). The reduction in production taxes and rent expenses is a function of those charges being price-linked, with hydrocarbon prices having fallen significantly in the period.

7. Administrative Expenses

 
                                                 2020    2019 
                                                 $000    $000 
 
 Staff costs (Note 9)                           4,521   4,282 
 Consultancy fees                               1,271     869 
 Depreciation of other fixed assets               456     449 
 Auditors' remuneration                           394     327 
 Rent expenses                                    154     138 
 Amortisation of other intangible assets          160     129 
 Other expenses                                   835   1,202 
---------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
                                                7,791   7,396 
 
 
 
                                                 2020    2019 
                                                 $000    $000 
 
 
 Audit of the Company and subsidiaries            176     119 
 Audit of subsidiaries in Ukraine                 123     108 
 Audit related assurances services - interim 
  review                                           47      28 
---------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 Total assurance services                         346     255 
 
 
   Tax compliance services                          3      24 
 Legal services                                     -      12 
 Tax advisory services                             45      36 
 Total non-audit services                          48      72 
---------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 
 Total audit and other services                   394     327 
 

All amounts shown as Auditors' remuneration in 2020 and 2019 were payable to the Group Auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and other member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

8. Remuneration of Directors

 
                           2020   2019 
                           $000   $000 
 
 Directors' emoluments    1,026    977 
-----------------------  ------  ----- 
 

The emoluments of the individual Directors were as follows:

 
                                   Total         Total 
                              Emoluments    emoluments 
                                    2020          2019 
                                    $000          $000 
 Executive Directors: 
 Sergii Glazunov                     370           448 
 Bruce Burrows                       354           206 
 
 Non-executive Directors: 
 Chris Hopkinson                     128           128 
 Alexey Pertin                        58            57 
 Yuliia Kirianova                     58            57 
 Dmitry Sazonenko                     58            57 
 Bruce Burrows                         -            24 
                                   1,026           977 
 

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 on a full-time equivalent basis during the year (including Executive Directors) and the aggregate staff costs of such employees were as follows:

 
                                                       Number of employees 
 
                                                         2020         2019 
 Group 
 Management / operational                                 147          144 
 Administrative support                                    78           69 
--------------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------- 
                                                          225          213 
 
                                                         2020         2019 
                                                         $000         $000 
 
 Wages and salaries                                     6,664        5,874 
 Pension costs                                            953          772 
 Social security costs                                    106           86 
                                                        7,723        6,732 
 
 

10. Other Operating Gains, (net)

 
                                                   2020    2019 
                                                   $000    $000 
 
 Interest income on cash and cash equivalents     1,421   4,751 
 Contractor penalties applied                         -      15 
 Reversal of impairment of property, plant           81       - 
  and equipment 
 Gain on sales of current assets                     26       - 
 Other operating income, net                       2 93     207 
                                                 1, 821   4,973 
 

11. Finance Income

During 2020, the Group recognised foreign exchange gains less losses of $nil (2019: $3,487,000).

12. Finance Costs

 
                                                2020   2019 
                                                $000   $000 
 
 Foreign exchange losses less gains            1,058      - 
 Unwinding of a discount on provision for 
  decommissioning (Note 25)                      234    273 
 Unwinding of discount on lease liabilities      126    177 
                                               1,418    450 
 

13. Other Losses, (net)

 
                                      2020    2019 
                                      $000    $000 
 
 Charitable donations                2,077     107 
 Foreign exchange (gains)/losses     (340)   1,508 
 Unconfirmed tax credit on VAT           -     473 
 Other losses, net                    1 19     306 
                                    1,85 6   2,394 
 

Charitable donations for the year ended 31 December 2020 comprise the supply of medical equipment and COVID-19 testing equipment to Ukrainian authorities and charitable foundations.

14. Income Tax Expense

a) Income tax expense and (benefit):

 
 
 
                                  2020    2019 
                                  $000    $000 
 Current tax 
 UK - prior year                   555       - 
 Overseas - current year         2,770   4,768 
 Overseas - prior year           (329)       - 
 
 Deferred tax (Note 26) 
 UK - current year                 640   3,211 
 UK - prior year                     -   1,996 
 Overseas - current year         (304)   (406) 
 Income tax expense              3,332   9,569 
 

b) Factors affecting tax charge for the year:

The tax assessed for the year is different from the blended rate of 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:

 
 
                                                        2020     2019 
                                                        $000     $000 
 
 
 Profit before taxation                                6,520   21,768 
-------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------- 
 Tax charge at UK tax rate of 19.00% (2019: 
  19.00%)                                              1,239    4,136 
 
 Tax effects of: 
 Lower foreign corporate tax rates in Ukraine 
  (18.00%) (2019: 18.00%)                               (95)    (242) 
 Disallowed expenses and non-taxable income           22,648    3,598 
 Changes in tax losses previously not recognised 
  as deferred tax asset                             (21,015)       81 
 Adjustments in respect of prior periods                 555    1,996 
-------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------- 
 Total tax expense for the year                        3,332      9,569 
 

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

15. 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 profit after tax was $59,454,000 for the year ended 31 December 2020 (2019: loss $17,507,000).

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 (2019: 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

 
                                          2020                                                     2019 
                         Oil and                                          Oil and 
                             Gas       Oil and                                Gas 
                     Development           Gas                        Development   Oil and Gas 
                             and   Exploration                                and   Exploration 
                      Production           and     Other               Production           and        Other 
                          assets    Evaluation     fixed                   assets    Evaluation        fixed 
                         Ukraine        Assets    assets      Total       Ukraine        Assets       assets     Total 
  Group                     $000          $000      $000       $000                        $000         $000      $000 
 
  Cost 
  At beginning of 
   year                  143,127         2,571     2,103    147,801       104,809         1,259        1,293   107,361 
  Additions               17,241           213       713     18,167        16,132           962          578    17,672 
  Change in 
   decommissioning 
   provision                 372             -         -        372         3,207             -            -     3,207 
  Disposals                (443)             -      (73)      (516)         (130)             -         (17)     (147) 
  Exchange                                         (52 6      (25,2 
   differences          (24,331)         (422)         )       79 )        19,109           350          249    19,708 
------------------  ------------  ------------  --------  ---------  ------------  ------------  -----------  -------- 
                                                    2,21     140,54 
  At end of year         135,966         2,362         7          5       143,127         2,571        2,103   147,801 
------------------  ------------  ------------  --------  ---------  ------------  ------------  -----------  -------- 
 
  Accumulated depreciation and 
   impairment 
  At beginning of 
   year                   76,802             -       947     77,749        56,567             -          602    57,169 
  Charge for year        10, 450             -       319    10, 769         9,983             -          237    10,220 
  Disposals                (327)             -      (30)      (357)          (85)             -         (15)     (100) 
  Exchange                (13,10 
   differences               9 )             -     (169)   (13,278)        10,337             -          123    10,460 
------------------  ------------  ------------  --------  ---------  ------------  ------------  -----------  -------- 
                                                    1,06      74,88 
  At end of year          73,816             -         7          3        76,802             -          947    77,749 
------------------  ------------  ------------  --------  ---------  ------------  ------------  -----------  -------- 
 Net book value at 
  beginning 
  of year                 66,325         2,571     1,156     70,052        48,242         1,259          691    50,192 
------------------  ------------  ------------  --------  ---------  ------------  ------------  -----------  -------- 
 Net book value at 
  end of 
  year                   62, 150         2,362     1,150    65, 662        66,325         2,571        1,156    70,052 
------------------  ------------  ------------  --------  ---------  ------------  ------------  -----------  -------- 
 

In accordance with the Group's accounting policies, the oil and gas development and producing assets are tested for impairment at each balance sheet date if impairment indicators exist. As at 31 December 2020, no impairment indicators were identified.

18. Intangible Assets

 
                                                       2020                                     2019 
                                         Exploration           Other 
                            Mineral   and evaluation      intangible              Mineral            Other 
                            reserve       intangible          assets              reserve       intangible 
                             rights           assets                     Total     rights           assets     Total 
  Group                        $000             $000            $000      $000       $000             $000      $000 
 
  Cost 
  At beginning of year        7,843                -             572     8,415      6,709              330     7,039 
  Additions                       -            8,331             224     8,555          -              137       137 
  Disposals                       -                -            (85)      (85)          -                -         - 
  Exchange differences      (1,273)             (45)            (95)   (1,413)      1,134              105     1,239 
------------------------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  --------  ---------  ---------------  -------- 
  At end of year              6,570            8,286             616    15,472      7,843              572     8,415 
------------------------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  --------  ---------  ---------------  -------- 
 
  Accumulated amortisation and 
   impairment 
  At beginning of year        2,851                -             367     3,218      1,965              194     2,159 
  Charge for year               488                -             166       654        509              130       639 
  Disposals                       -                -            (85)      (85)          -                -         - 
  Exchange differences        (484)                -            (63)     (547)        377               43       420 
------------------------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  --------  ---------  ---------------  -------- 
  At end of year              2,855                -             385     3,240      2,851              367     3,218 
------------------------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  --------  ---------  ---------------  -------- 
 Net book value at 
  beginning 
  of year                     4,992                -             205     5,197      4,744              136     4,880 
------------------------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  --------  ---------  ---------------  -------- 
 Net book value at end 
  of 
  year                        3,715            8,286             231    12,232      4,992              205     5,197 
------------------------  ---------  ---------------  --------------  --------  ---------  ---------------  -------- 
 
 
 

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 new hydrocarbon production licence relating to the Svystunivsko-Chervonolutske ("SC") field 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 production licence relating to the SC field 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 to determine if impairment indicators exist. As at 31 December 2020, no impairment indicators were identified.

19. Leases

This note provides information for leases where the Group is a lessee.

Amount recognised in the balance sheet:

 
 
                        2020   2019 
                        $000   $000 
 Right-of-use assets 
 Properties              108    423 
 Land                    236    299 
 Wells                  16 8    218 
---------------------  -----  ----- 
                         512    940 
 
 
 
                      2020   2019 
                      $000   $000 
 Lease liabilities 
 Current               245    454 
 Non-current           371    515 
-------------------  -----  ----- 
                       616    969 
 

Additions to the right-of-use assets during the 2020 financial year were $56,000 (2019: $170,000).

Amounts recognised in the statement of profit or loss:

 
 
                                                       2020      2019 
                                                       $000      $000 
 Depreciation charge 
 Properties                                           (308)     (297) 
 Land                                                  (15)      (16) 
 Wells                                                 (35)      (39) 
-------------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
                                                    (35 8 )     (352) 
 
 Interest expense (included in finance cost)          (126)     (177) 
 Expense relating to short-term leases (included 
  in cost of sales and administrative expenses)       (139)     (123) 
 Expense relating to variable lease payments 
  not included in lease liabilities (included 
  in cost of sales and administrative expenses)     (3,101)   (5,283) 
 Expense relating to lease payments for land 
  under wells not included in lease liabilities 
  (included in cost of sales)                          (65)      (49) 
 

The total cash outflow for leases in 2020 was $3,456,000 (2019: $7,934,000).

20. Investments and Loans to Subsidiary Undertakings

 
                                             Shares in        Loans to 
                                            subsidiary      subsidiary 
                                          undertakings    undertakings      Total 
                                                  $000            $000       $000 
 Company 
 At 1 January 2019                              17,279          47,552     64,831 
 Additions including accrued interest                -           3,162      3,162 
 Repayment of interests and loans                    -        (20,616)   (20,616) 
 Impairment of loans to subsidiary                   -        (15,450)   (15,450) 
 Exchange differences                                -           (467)      (467) 
--------------------------------------  --------------  --------------  --------- 
 At 31 December 2019                            17,279          14,181     31,460 
--------------------------------------  --------------  --------------  --------- 
 
 At 1 January 2020                              17,279          14,181     31,460 
 Additions including accrued interest            8,163           4,336     12,499 
 Transfers                                      39,987        (39,987)          - 
 Repayment of interests and loans                    -         (4,318)    (4,318) 
 (Impairment)/reversal of impairment          (30,142)          87,264     57,122 
 Exchange differences                                -           1,352      1,352 
--------------------------------------  --------------  --------------  --------- 
 At 31 December 2020                            35,287          62,828     98,115 
--------------------------------------  --------------  --------------  --------- 
 

The Company has recorded a credit of $87,264,000, being the net change in credit loss allowance for loans issued to subsidiaries in the Company's statement of profit or loss for the year ended 31 December 2020 (Note 4). This credit was calculated following a review of the underlying cash flow forecasts of the subsidiaries and is due to an increase in gas prices forecast and the termination of the proposed acquisition of PJSC Science and Production Concern Ukrnaftinvest. The Company also recorded a loss of $30,142,000, 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:

 
                                           Recoverable            Gross   Impairment 
                                                amount          balance 
                                                          of investment 
                                                  $000             $000         $000 
 ---------------------------------------  ------------  ---------------  ----------- 
 31 December 2020                               35,287           65,429     (30,142) 
 
   Sensitivities: 
                                                                          ( 33 , 022 
      1. 10% reduction in gas price             32,407          65, 429            ) 
      2. 10% increase in gas price              38,166          65, 429     (27,263) 
      3. 1% reduction in discount rate          36,154          65, 429     (29,275) 
      4. 1% increase in discount rate           34,477          65, 429     (30,952) 
 

In 2020, after a Group restructuring, the Company transferred $39,987,000 from loans to subsidiary undertakings to shares in subsidiary undertakings as a result of the offsetting of payables for corporate rights.

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 2020:

 
                               Credit loss allowance                            Gross carrying amount 
                       Stage       Stage        Stage       Total        Stage       Stage        Stage      Total 
                           1           2            3                        1           2            3 
                                                       ----------                                        --------- 
                  (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 
 
 At 1 January 
  2020                     -           -    (167,072)   (167,072)            -          --      181,253    181,253 
---------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  --------- 
 
 Movements with 
 impact on 
 credit 
 loss allowance 
 charge for the 
 period: 
 
 Modification 
  of 
  loans                    -           -       72,412      72,412            -           -     (72,412)   (72,412) 
 Additions 
  including 
  accrued 
  interest                 -           -            -           -            -           -        4,336      4,336 
 Transfers                 -           -            -           -            -           -     (39,987)   (39,987) 
 Payment of 
  interest                 -           -            -           -            -           -      (4,318)    (4,318) 
 Repayment of              -           -            -           -            -           -            -          - 
 loans 
 Exchange 
  difference               -           -     (12,979)    (12,979)            -           -       14,331     14,331 
 Changes to ECL 
  measurement 
  model 
  assumptions              -           -       87,264      87,264            -           -            -          - 
---------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  --------- 
 
 Total 
  movements 
  with impact 
  on 
  credit loss 
  allowance 
  charge for 
  the 
  period                   -           -      146,697     146,697            -           -     (98,050)   (98,050) 
---------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  --------- 
 
 At 31 December 
  2020                     -           -     (20,375)    (20,375)            -           -       83,203     83,203 
---------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  --------- 
 

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 2019:

 
                                  Credit loss allowance                             Gross carrying amount 
                          Stage        Stage        Stage       Total        Stage       Stage        Stage      Total 
                              1            2            3                        1           2            3 
                                                           ----------                                        --------- 
                     (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 
 
 At 1 January 2019            -            -    (193,386)   (193,386)            -           -      240,938    240,938 
------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  --------- 
 
 Movements with 
  impact on credit 
  loss allowance 
  charge for the 
  period: 
 
 Modification of 
  loans                       -            -       42,733      42,733            -           -     (42,733)   (42,733) 
 Additions 
  including 
  accrued interest            -            -      (3,572)     (3,572)            -           -        6,734      6,734 
 Payment of 
  interest                    -            -            -           -            -           -      (7,221)    (7,221) 
 Repayment of 
  loans                       -            -            -                        -           -     (13,395)   (13,395) 
 Exchange 
  difference                  -            -        2,603       2,603            -           -      (3,070)    (3,070) 
 Changes to ECL 
  measurement 
  model 
  assumptions                 -            -     (15,450)    (15,450)            -           -            -          - 
------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  --------- 
 
 Total movements 
  with impact on 
  credit loss 
  allowance 
  charge for the 
  period                      -            -       26,314      26,314            -           -     (59,685)   (59,685) 
------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  --------- 
 
 At 31 December 
  2019                        -            -    (167,072)   (167,072)            -           -      181,253    181,253 
------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  --------- 
 

ECL - Expected credit losses

SICR - Significant increase in credit risk*

Subsidiary undertakings

At 31 December 2020, the Company's subsidiary undertakings, all of which are included in the consolidated financial statements, were:

 
                       Registered address         Country         Country of         Principal        % of 
                                                     of            operation          activity        shares 
                                               incorporation                                           held 
 
                      3(rd) Floor, 
                       Charter Place, 
 Regal Petroleum       23-27 Seaton 
  Corporation          Place, St Helier,                                          Oil & Natural 
  Limited              Jersey, JE4 0WH        Jersey            Ukraine            Gas Extraction    100% 
 
                      16 Old Queen 
 Regal Group           Street, London,                                            Service 
  Services Limited     SW1H 9HP               United Kingdom    United Kingdom     Company           100% 
 
                      3(rd) Floor, 
                       Charter Place, 
                       23-27 Seaton 
 Regal Petroleum       Place, St Helier,                                          Holding 
  (Jersey) Limited     Jersey, JE4 0WH        Jersey            United Kingdom     Company           100% 
 
                      162 Shevchenko 
 Regal Petroleum       Str., Yakhnyky 
  Corporation          Village, Lokhvytsya 
  (Ukraine)            District, Poltava                                          Service 
  Limited              Region, 37212          Ukraine           Ukraine            Company           100% 
 
 LLC Prom-Enerho      3 Klemanska Str.,                                           Oil & Natural 
  Produkt              Kiev, 02081            Ukraine           Ukraine            Gas Extraction    100% 
                      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% 
 
 

The Parent Company, Enwell Energy plc, holds direct interests in 100% of the share capital of Regal Petroleum Corporation Limited, Regal Group Services Limited, Regal Petroleum (Jersey) Limited, Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited and LLC Arkona Gas-Energy, 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 Group acquired 100% of the share capital of LLC Arkona Gas-Energy on 24 March 2020 (Note 4).

Regal Group Services Limited, company number 5252958, has taken advantage of the subsidiary audit exemption allowed under section 479A of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2020.

21. Inventories

 
                                  Group 
                               2020    2019 
                               $000    $000 
 Current 
 Materials and spare parts    1,445   1,791 
 Finished goods                  96   3,022 
---------------------------  ------  ------ 
                              1,541   4,813 
 

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 as at 31 December 2020, production raw materials and fuel at the storage facility. Finished goods as at 31 December 2020 consist of produced gas held in underground gas storage facilities and condensate and LPG held at the processing facility prior to sale.

All inventories are measured at the lower of cost or net realisable value. There was no write down of inventory as at 31 December 2020 or 2019.

22. Trade and Other Receivables

 
                                                 Group               Company 
                                         2020      2019       2020       2019 
                                         $000      $000       $000       $000 
 
 Trade receivables                      1,936     2,881          -          - 
 Other financial receivables            1,053     1,718        304          - 
 Less credit loss allowance             (133)     (155)          -          - 
-----------------------------------  --------  --------  ---------  --------- 
 Total financial receivables            2,856     4,444        304          - 
 
 Prepayments and accrued 
  income                                1,387     5,959         55          8 
 Other receivables                        604       534         76         93 
-----------------------------------  --------  --------  ---------  --------- 
 Total trade and other receivables      4,847    10,937        435        101 
 

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.

At 31 December 2020, the Group's total trade receivables amounted to $1,806,000 and 100% were denominated in Ukrainian Hryvnia (31 December 2019: $2,726,000 and 100% were denominated in Ukrainian Hryvnia). Further description of financial receivables is disclosed in Note 30.

The majority of the trade receivables are from a related party, LLC Smart Energy, that purchases all of the Group's gas production (see Note 4). The applicable payment terms are payment for one third of the estimated monthly volume of gas by the 20(th) of the month of delivery, and payment of the remaining balance by the 10th of the month following the month of delivery. The trade receivables were paid in full after the end of the period.

Prepayments and accrued income mainly consist of prepayments of $926,000 relating to the development of the SV field (31 December 2019: of $3,987,000 relating to the development of the SV field and $1,094,000 relating to the development of the VAS field).

Analysis by credit quality of financial trade and other receivables and expected credit loss allowance as at 31 December 2020 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%            1,804         (3)      1,801          party 
 
                                                                                number of days 
 Trade receivables                                                              the asset past 
  - credit impaired            100%              127       (127)          -           due 
 
                                                                                  historical 
 Trade receivables                                                               credit losses 
  - other                     0.21%                5           -          5       experienced 
 
 Other financial                                                                  individual 
  receivables                 0.42%            1,053         (3)      1,050      default rates 
 
 Total trade and 
  other receivables 
  for which individual 
  approach for 
  ECL is used                                  2,989       (133)      2,856 
 

Analysis by credit quality of financial trade and other receivables and expected credit loss allowance as at 31 December 2019 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%            2,644         (3)      2,641          party 
 
                                                                                  number of days 
 Trade receivables                                                                the asset past 
  - credit impaired              100%              152       (152)          -           due 
 
                                                                                    historical 
 Trade receivables                                                                 credit losses 
  - other                       0.36%               85         (0)         85       experienced 
 
 Other financial                                                                    individual 
  receivables             0.92%-2.05%            1,718         (0)      1,718      default rates 
 
 Total trade and 
  other receivables 
  for which individual 
  approach for 
  ECL is used                                    4,599       (155)      4,444 
 

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 annual period:

 
                                             2020   2019 
                                             $000   $000 
 Trade receivables 
 Balance at 1 January                         155     99 
 New originated or purchased                    -      3 
 Financial assets derecognised during the 
  period                                        -      - 
 Changes in estimates and assumptions           3     30 
 Foreign exchange movements                  (25)     23 
------------------------------------------  -----  ----- 
 Balance at 31 December                      13 3    155 
 

23. Cash and Cash Equivalents

 
                                           Group            Company 
                                        2020     2019     2020     2019 
                                        $000     $000     $000     $000 
 
 Cash and Cash Equivalents 
 Cash at bank                         53,710   28,089   38,619   23,656 
 Demand deposits and term deposits 
  with maturity less than 3 months     7,283   34,385        -   18,015 
                                      60,993   62,474   38,619   41,671 
 
 

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.

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

 
                                          Demand deposits 
                                        and term deposits 
                   Cash at bank and    with maturity less      Total cash and 
                            on hand         than 3 months    cash equivalents 
                               2020                  2020                2020 
                               $000                  $000                $000 
 
  A- to A+ rated             38,615                     -              38,615 
  B- to B+ rated                  1                 5,477               5,478 
         Unrated             15,094                 1,806              16,900 
                             53,710                 7,283              60,993 
 
 
                                          Demand deposits 
                                        and term deposits 
                   Cash at bank and    with maturity less      Total cash and 
                            on hand         than 3 months    cash equivalents 
                               2019                  2019                2019 
                               $000                  $000                $000 
 
 A- to A+ rated              23,655                18,015              41,670 
 B- to B+ rated                   2                 8,048               8,050 
 Unrated                      4,432                 8,322              12,754 
                             28,089                34,385              62,474 
 

For cash and cash equivalents, 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 "B" as of 31 December 2020 for non-rated banks. Based on this assessment, the Group concluded that the identified impairment loss was immaterial.

24. Trade and Other Payables

 
                                                       2020           2019 
                                                       $000           $000 
 
 Accruals and other payables                          4,037          2,418 
 Taxation and social security                        1,3 96          1,092 
 Trade payables                                         843            277 
 Advances received                                      365            181 
                                                    6, 6 41          3,968 
 
 

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

 
                                     2020    2019 
                                     $000    $000 
 Group 
 At beginning of the year           7,447   3,137 
 Amounts provided                     146     355 
 Unwinding of discount                234     273 
 Change in estimate                   226   2,852 
 Effect of exchange difference    (1,234)     830 
-------------------------------  --------  ------ 
 At end of the year                 6,819   7,447 
 
 

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 $6,819,000 (31 December 2019: $7,447,000) represents a provision for the decommissioning of the Group's MEX-GOL, SV and VAS production facilities, including site restoration.

The change in estimates applied to calculate the provision as at 31 December 2020 is explained in Note 4.

The principal assumptions used are as follows:

 
                                         31 December   31 December 
                                                2020          2019 
 
 Discount rate (%)                             3.70%         3.68% 
 Average cost of restoration per well 
  ($000)                                         342           406 
--------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

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 
                                                 2020            2019 
                                                 $000            $000 
 
 Discount rate (increase)/decrease 
  by 1%                                   (948)/1,143   (1,086)/1,319 
 Change in average cost of restoration 
  increase/ (decrease) by 10%               469/(469)       523/(523) 
--------------------------------------- 
 

26. Deferred Tax

 
 
 
                                                         2020             2019 
                                                         $000             $000 
Deferred tax asset recognised on tax losses 
At beginning of year                                        -            2,134 
Charged to Income Statement - current year                  -          (2,134) 
                                                   ---------- 
At end of year                                              -                - 
 
                                                         2020             2019 
                                                         $000             $000 
Deferred tax (liability)/asset recognised 
 relating to oil and gas development 
 and production assets at MEX-GOL-SV 
 fields and provision for decommissioning 
At beginning of year                                  (2,141)            1,149 
Charged to Income Statement - current 
 year                                                   (640)          (1,077) 
Charged to Income Statement - prior 
 year                                                       -          (1,996) 
Effect of exchange difference                              76            (217) 
At end of year                                        (2,705)          (2,141) 
 
                                                         2020             2019 
                                                         $000             $000 
Deferred tax asset/(liability) recognised 
 relating to development and production 
 assets at VAS field and provision for 
 decommissioning 
At beginning of year                                    (147)            (504) 
Credited to Income Statement - current 
 year                                                     304              406 
Effect of exchange difference                              10             (49) 
At end of year                                            167            (147) 
 
 

There was a further $73,661,000 (31 December 2019: $85,000,000) of unrecognised UK tax losses carried forward for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised. These losses can be carried forward indefinitely, subject to certain rules regarding capital transactions and changes in the trade of the Company.

The deferred tax asset relating to the Group's provision for decommissioning at 31 December 2020 of $170,000 (31 December 2019: $326,000) 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 at 31 December 2020 of $2,875,000 (31 December 2019: $2,467,000) 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 asset relating to the Group's provision for decommissioning at 31 December 2020 of $323,000 (31 December 2019: $329,000) 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 at 31 December 2020 of $156,000 (31 December 2019: $476,000) 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 UAH1,763,494,270 ($116,622,885) at 31 December 2020 and UAH2,762,352,984 ($62,370,264) at 31 December 2019 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 2020 and 2019, 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

In the Spring Budget 2020, the UK Government announced that from 1 April 2020 the corporation tax rate would remain at 19% (rather than reducing to 17% as previously enacted) and the effect of this change is included in these consolidated financial statements.

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

 
                                                2020                   2019 
                                      Number    $000       Number    $000 
Allotted, called up and fully 
 paid 
Opening balance at 1 January     320,637,836  28,115  320,637,836  28,115 
Issued during the year                     -       -            -       - 
Closing balance 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. The share premium reserves are not available for distribution by way of dividends.

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

 
 
                                                      2020      2019 
                                                      $000      $000 
 Group 
 Operating profit                                   9, 770    21,093 
 Depreciation and amortisation                     12, 679    10,190 
 Less interest income recorded within operating 
  profit                                           (1,421)   (4,751) 
 Fines and penalties received                         (18)     (236) 
 Gain on sales of current assets, net                 (31)      (27) 
 Reversal of loss allowance on other financial 
  assets                                                 -      (46) 
 Loss from write off of non-current assets             159        47 
 Change in working capital: 
 Increase in provisions                               (55)        67 
 Decrease/(increase) in inventory                    2,499   (3,208) 
 Decrease in receivables                               359     2,447 
 Decrease in payables                                (177)     (868) 
 Cash generated from operations                     23,764    24,708 
 
 
                                                    2020       2019 
                                                    $000       $000 
Company 
Operating profit/(loss)                           58,034   (15,016) 
Interest received                                (4,336)    (3,162) 
Change in working capital: 
Movement in provisions (including impairment 
 of subsidiary loans)                           (57,122)     15,450 
Increase in receivables                            (101)      (453) 
Increase in payables                                  13        159 
                                               ---------  --------- 
Cash used in operations                          (3,512)    (3,022) 
 

30. Financial Instruments

Capital Risk Management

The Group defines its capital as equity. The primary source of the Group's liquidity has been cash generated from operations. As at 31 December 2020, primary capital was $60,993,000 (31 December 2019: $62,474,000).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 deficit.

There are no capital requirements imposed on the Group.

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, measured at amortised cost, which approximates their fair value comprise the following:

 
 Financial Assets 
                                 2020    2019 
                                 $000    $000 
 Group 
 Cash and cash equivalents     60,993  62,474 
 Trade and other receivables    2,856   4,444 
 Prepayment for shares              -     500 
                               63,849  67,418 
 
 
                                       2020    2019 
                                       $000    $000 
 Company 
 Cash and cash equivalents           38,619  41,671 
 Loans to subsidiary undertakings    62,828  14,181 
 Prepayment for shares                    -     500 
                                    101,447  56,352 
 
 
Financial Liabilities 
                               2020   2019 
                               $000   $000 
Group 
Lease liabilities               616    969 
Trade payables                  843    277 
Other financial liabilities   4,336  1,018 
                              5,795  2,264 
 
                               2020   2019 
                               $000   $000 
Company 
Other financial liabilities   4,247    256 
                              4,247    256 
 

All 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.

 
                                       2020  2019 
 Currency                              $000  $000 
 
 British Pounds                         232   301 
 Euros                                    5    33 
Net monetary assets less liabilities    237   334 
 

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.

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 2020 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 2019 would increase 
       by $159,000 in the event of 0.5% higher interest rates and 
       decrease by $159,000 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 (2019: 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 at 31 December 2020 is as follows:

 
    As at 31 December      On demand     From 1     From 3     From 12               Total 
           2020             and less   to 3 months   to 12      months       More 
                             than 1                  months   to 5 years     than 
                             month                                          5 years 
Liabilities 
                                                                                     3 , 32 
Trade and other payables     1 , 137         2,158       33            -          -       8 
Lease liabilities                 40            80      101          291        539   1,051 
Other non-current                                                                    2 , 59 
 liabilities                       -            27        -        2,569                  6 
Total future payments, 
 including future 
 principal and interest        1 , 1         2 ,26 
 payments                        7 7             5    1 3 4       2 ,860        539   6,975 
 

The maturity analysis of financial liabilities at 31 December 2019 is as follows:

 
    As at 31 December      On demand     From 1        From 3        From 12                Total 
           2019             and less   to 3 months   to 12 months     months       More 
                             than 1                                 to 5 years     than 
                             month                                                5 years 
Liabilities 
Trade and other payables     1 , 295             -              -            -          -  1 , 295 
Lease liabilities                 42            83            375          511        563    1,574 
Total future payments, 
 including future 
 principal and interest 
 payments                     1 ,337            83            375          511        563    2,869 
 

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 $38.6 million of the overall cash and cash equivalents is held (31 December 2019: $41.7 million), the Group only deposits cash surpluses with major banks of high quality credit standing (Note 23). As at 31 December 2020, the remaining balance of $22.4 million of cash and cash equivalents was held in Ukraine (31 December 2019: $20.8 million). In September 2020, Standard & Poor's affirmed Ukraine's sovereign credit rating of 'B', 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.

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        rate 
                              financial   financial           financial   financial 
Currency              Total      assets      assets   Total      assets      assets 
                       2020        2020        2020    2019        2019        2019 
                       $000        $000        $000    $000        $000        $000 
 
Euros                     5           5           -      30          30           - 
British Pounds          232         232           -     257         257           - 
Ukrainian Hryvnia    20,569           -      20,569  17,881           -      17,881 
US Dollars           40,187      40,187           -  44,306      44,306           - 
                     60,993      40,424      20,569  62,474      44,593      17,881 
 

Cash deposits included in the above balances comprise short-term deposits.

As at 31 December 2020, cash and cash equivalents of the Company of $39 million were held in US Dollars at a floating rate (2019: $42 million).

Interest Rate Risk Profile of Financial Liabilities

As at 31 December 2020 and 2019, 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:

 
                        2020    2019 
                        $000    $000 
Group 
In one year or less    3,576   1,795 
                       3,457   1,795 
 
                        2020    2019 
                        $000    $000 
Company 
In one year or less    2,395     256 
                       2,395     256 
 
 

Borrowing Facilities

As at 31 December 2020 and 2019, 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 2020 investment programme in the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields in Ukraine, but not provided for in the financial statements at 31 December 2020, were $9,052,165 (2019: $2,306,000).

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 UAH8,487,000 ($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 further legal proceedings may arise. Since, at the end of the year, the Group had 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, no liability has been recognised in these consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 (31 December 2019: nil).

On 12 March 2019 the Group announced the publication of an Order for suspension (the "Order") by the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine affecting the production licence for its VAS gas and condensate field. The Group is confident there are no violations of the terms of the licence or in relation to the operational activities of the Group that would justify the Order or the suspension of the licence. The Group has issued legal proceedings in the Ukrainian Courts to challenge the validity of the Order, and in these proceedings, on 18 March 2019, the Court made a ruling on interim measures to suspend the Order pending hearings of the substantive issues of the case to be held subsequently. The effect of this ruling is that the suspension of operational activities at the VAS licence is deferred until the result of the legal proceedings is determined. These legal proceedings are continuing through the Ukrainian Court system and the ultimate outcome is not yet known. However, the Group considers that the Order is groundless and that the outcome of the legal proceedings challenging the Order will ultimately be in favour of the Group, and consequently, the Group does not expect any negative effect on its operations in respect of this matter.

On 24 March 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of the entire share capital of LLC Arkona Gas-Energy. In July 2020, legal proceedings issued by NJSC Ukrnafta ("Ukrnafta"), as claimant, against Arkona, as defendant, relating to a claim by Ukrnafta that irregular procedures were followed in the grant of the Svystunivsko-Chervonolutskyi exploration licence (the "Licence") to Arkona in May 2017, were considered by the First Instance Court in Ukraine. Ukrnafta also brought these proceedings against the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine ("SGS"). Ukrnafta was the holder of a previous licence over a part of this area which expired prior to the grant of the Licence. Both Arkona and SGS disputed these claims. In the legal proceedings, the First Instance Court made a ruling in favour of Ukrnafta which determined that the grant of the Licence was irregular, and accordingly, the Licence would be invalid. In August 2020, Arkona filed an appeal of this decision in the Appellate Administrative Court in Kyiv, and on 29 September 2020, the Appellate Administrative Court ruled in favour of Arkona, overturning the earlier decision of the First Instance Court. In November 2020, Ukrnafta filed a further appeal in the Supreme Court in Kyiv, appealing the ruling made by the Appellate Administrative Court on 29 September 2020. In February 2021, the Supreme Court delivered its decision and written judgement on this appeal, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the arguments raised by Ukrnafta in the appeal were not substantiated, and that the proceedings against Arkona should be dismissed. The decision of the Supreme Court represents the final appeal procedure in the Ukrainian Courts, and accordingly, these legal proceedings against Arkona have now been exhausted. As a consequence, the Licence remains valid.

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:

 
                                      2020     2019 
                                      $000     $000 
 
 Sale of goods / services           32,074   38,417 
 Purchase of goods / services          890      963 
 Amounts owed by related parties     1,805    2,649 
 Amounts owed to related parties       202      137 
---------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 

All related party transactions were with subsidiaries of the ultimate Parent Company, and primarily relate to the sale of gas (see Note 4 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.

The Group operates bank accounts in Ukraine with a related party bank, Unex Bank, which is ultimately controlled by Mr Vadym Novynskyi. There were the following transactions and balances with Unex Bank during the year:

 
                                             2020   2019 
                                             $000   $000 
 
 Bank charges                                   3      1 
 Closing cash balance (as at 31 December)       1      1 
 
 

The bank charges represent cash transit fees.

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

With effect from 25 February 2021, the Company completed a reduction of capital through the cancellation of its entire share premium account, thereby creating distributable reserves, which enable the Company to make distributions to its shareholders in the future, subject to the Company's financial performance. However, the Company is not indicating any commitment, and does not have any current intention, to make any distributions to shareholders.

From 1 January 2021, after changes to Ukrainian tax legislation, the Company's subsidiary, Regal Petroleum Corporation Limited, is obliged to register as an income tax payer in Ukraine and to pay income tax instead of its branch (Representative Office) in Ukraine.

In March 2021, following the satisfaction of conditions relating to the payment of the second tranche of the consideration for the acquisition of LLC Arkona Gas-Energy, this tranche has been paid (net of an indemnity liability).

No subsequent events have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that have had a material impact on the consolidated and the Company's financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2020.

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