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BOIL.GB Baron Oil Plc

0.075
0.005 (7.14%)
19 Apr 2024 - Closed
Realtime Data
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Baron Oil Plc AQSE:BOIL.GB Aquis Stock Exchange Ordinary Share GB00B01QGH57
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.005 7.14% 0.075 0.065 0.085 0.075 0.06 0.07 116,688,653 15:08:34
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
0 0 N/A 0

Baron Oil PLC Final Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2022 (2614A)

23/05/2023 7:00am

UK Regulatory


Baron Oil (AQSE:BOIL.GB)
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TIDMBOIL

RNS Number : 2614A

Baron Oil PLC

23 May 2023

23 May 2022

Baron Oil Plc

("Baron Oil", "Baron", the "Company", or the "Group")

Final Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2022

Baron Oil (AIM: BOIL), the AIM-quoted oil and gas exploration company, is pleased to announce its audited financial results for the year ended 31 December 202 2.

Operational Highlights (including post period)

 
 --   During the year, both the Chuditch PSC and Dunrobin projects, 
       were subject to intensive technical work aimed at maturing 
       the assets to "drill ready" status. 
 --   Delivery of the reprocessed Chuditch 3D seismic data and 
       its interpretation significantly improved the subsurface 
       image, enabling for the first time, the delineation of the 
       Chuditch discovery and its adjacent prospects. 
 --   The key Dunrobin technical work components of the Phase A 
       commitments - those of seismic reprocessing plus geochemical 
       studies - were delivered during second half of 2022 on time 
       and budget. Detailed seismic attribute analysis, designed 
       to investigate candidate direct hydrocarbon indicators, followed 
       in early 2023. 
 --   In early 2023 two Competent Person's Reports ("CPRs") were 
       published which validate both projects to the industry standard 
       SPE PRMS Contingent and/or Prospective Resource estimates. 
 --   Throughout the period the Company kept updated Virtual Datarooms 
       for the benefit of potentially interested funding partners 
       for the next phase of both Chuditch and P2478 projects, a 
       process which continues. 
 
 

Financial Highlights

 
 --   Two oversubscribed funding events in 2022, as a result we 
       have a well-funded balance sheet covering our current activities 
       and commitments. 
 --   Cash Reserves at 31 December 2021 were GBP 5,807,000 (31 
       December 2021: GBP1,650,000). 
 --   Exploration and evaluation expenditure of GBP213,000 (2021: 
       GBP218,000). 
 --   Administration expenses for the year were GBP1,191,000 (2021: 
       GBP1,321,000), an overall reduction on the prior year of 
       GBP130,000. 
 --   Loss after taxation o f GBP 1,387,000 (2021: GBP1,127,000 
       loss). 
 

Commenting on the results, John Wakefield, Non-executive Chairman, said: " 2022 was a year of considerable progress for Baron. O ur overriding task was to progress our two material projects, Chuditch and Dunrobin, to their key evaluation points which was achieved with the publication of CPRs on both projects in early 2023. The considerable and potentially transformative value for shareholders in the Company's assets offshore Timor-Leste and in the UK is now clearly defined and our efforts are now focused on the drilling decisions to be made in 2023 for a Chuditch-1 appraisal well and a Dunrobin West exploration well.

"Both assets continue to attract attention via our active farmout campaigns and presentations at relevant industry events. In particular, there are a number of ongoing discussions with third parties regarding participation in the Chuditch appraisal well and future activities. We are grateful for the support of our investors through the two funding events which took place during the year and as a result, we have a well-funded balance sheet covering our current activities and commitments.

"Baron is highly encouraged by the developments being made and I look forward to reporting on our further progress in due course."

Posting of Annual Report and Notice of AGM

The Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements, for the year ended 31 December 2022, will be available for download from the Company's website (https://www.baronoilplc.com/) later today and will be despatched by post shortly to those shareholders that have requested a hard copy.

The Company will hold its Annual General Meeting at 11 a.m. BST on 29 June 2022 at 38-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE and the Notice of Annual General Meeting to that effect will be sent to shareholders shortly and will be available on the Company's website.

Online Investor Q&A

Baron intends to hold an investor Q&A session for existing and potential new shareholders around mid-June 2023. Further details of the date and time will be released in due course.

For further information, please contact:

 
Baron Oil Plc                                                      +44 (0) 20 7117 2849 
Andy Yeo, Chief Executive 
 
Allenby Capital Limited                                            +44 (0) 20 3328 5656 
Nominated Adviser and Broker 
Alex Brearley, Nick Harriss, George Payne (Corporate 
 Finance) 
 Kelly Gardiner (Sales and Corporate Broking) 
IFC Advisory Limited                                               +44 (0) 20 3934 6630 
Financial PR and IR                                       baronoil@investor-focus.co.uk 
Tim Metcalfe, Florence Chandler 
 
 

Qualified Person's Statement

Pursuant to the requirements of the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil and Gas Companies, the technical information and resource reporting contained in this announcement has been reviewed by Jon Ford BSc, Fellow of the Geological Society, Technical Director of the Company. Mr Ford has more than 40 years' experience as a petroleum geoscientist. He has compiled, read and approved the technical disclosure in this regulatory announcement and indicated where it does not comply with the Society of Petroleum Engineers' standard.

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT & OPERATIONS REPORT

Financial Review

The net result for the year was a loss before taxation of GBP1,387,000, which compares to a loss of GBP1,127,000 for the preceding financial year; the loss after taxation attributable to Baron Oil shareholders was GBP1,387,000, compared to a loss of GBP1,127,000 in the preceding year, representing a loss of 0.01p per share (2021: loss of 0.012p). It should be noted that the results for 2021 included a one-off non-cash gain on the deemed disposal of an associated undertaking amounting to GBP302,000.

Turnover for the year was GBPnil (2021: GBPnil), there being no sales activity during the period.

Exploration and evaluation expenditure incurred included in the Income Statement amounts to GBP213,000 (2021: GBP218,000). The Impairment provision in respect of Peru Block XXI was released and offset against the write off of the accumulated cost on the project. The Directors judged that no other exploration assets required impairment.

Administration expenses for the year were GBP1,191,000 (2021: GBP1,321,000), an overall reduction on the preceding year of GBP130,000. This is made up of a number of pluses and minuses. As anticipated last year, administration costs arising in SundaGas (Timor-Leste Sahul) Pte. Ltd. ("TLS") have increased from GBP285,000 previously to GBP441,000 this year as we moved to a full 12 month reporting period at the Group level and the Dili office in Timor-Leste is now fully operational. There were also non-recurring support costs of GBP65,000 in Peru. Directors and UK staff salaries and related costs are lower than 2021 by GBP37,000 with the earlier year including a severance payment to a former director. Finally, there have been no share-based payment charges this year (2021: GBP286,000).

Throughout 2022, the Pound Sterling weakened considerably against the US Dollar, with an opening rate of $1.35 and a closing rate of $1.21. This has given rise to a gain on holdings of US Dollar denominated balances of GBP43,000 (2021: gain of GBP22,000).

At the end of the financial year, cash reserves of the Group had increased to GBP5,807,000 from a level at the preceding year end of GBP1,650,000. The proceeds from the issue of new shares in the year amounting to GBP7,131,000 gross (GBP6,619,000 net of costs) bolstered the Company's cash reserves. The Group's investment in exploration and evaluation assets in the UK and Timor-Leste amounted to GBP806,000 in the period, and GBP602,000 was repaid to SundaGas Pte Ltd to settle the outstanding amount of the remaining share of the Timor-Leste Bank Guarantee resulting from the Company's acquisition of the remaining interest in TLS, as announced on 15 November 2022. In the case of the guarantee bond held in Peru, this was released in full on the relinquishment of the Block XXI licence resulting in a cash inflow of GBP128,000. After taking into account these items, operating cash outflow amounted to GBP1,182,000.

The Group continues to take a conservative view of its asset impairment policy, giving it a Statement of Financial Position that consists of significant net current assets and what the Board considers to be a realistic value for its exploration assets. The Board will continue to take a prudent approach in entering into new capital expenditures beyond those expected to be committed to existing ventures.

Report On Operations

Introduction

During 2022 both projects were subject to intensive technical work aimed at maturing the assets to "drill ready" status, which culminated in early 2023 with the publication of two Competent Person's Reports ("CPRs") which validate the projects to the industry standard SPE PRMS Contingent and/or Prospective Resource estimates.

Southeast Asia: Timor-Leste TL-SO-19-16 PSC ("Chuditch PSC" or "PSC") (Baron 75% interest)

Background

The Chuditch PSC is located approximately 185 kilometres south of Timor-Leste, 100 kilometres east of the producing Bayu-Undan field, 50 kilometres south of the potential Greater Sunrise development and covers approximately 3,571 km(2) in water depths of 50-100 metres. The Chuditch-1 discovery well, drilled by Shell in 1998 in 64 metres water depth, encountered a 25 metre gas column in Jurassic Plover Formation sandstone reservoirs at a depth of around 3,000 metres on the flank of a large faulted structure. The discovery and neighbouring prospects are largely covered by a 3D seismic survey acquired in 2012.

Baron holds a 75% working interest and operates the PSC through its wholly owned subsidiary company SundaGas Banda Unipessoal Lda. ("Banda"), with the remaining 25% held by TIMOR GAP Chuditch Unipessoal Lda. ("TIMOR GAP"), a subsidiary of the state-owned national oil company, whose share of PSC expenditure is carried until first production.

The technical work programme obligations in the first two years of the initial three-year term of the PSC include the reprocessing of legacy seismic data, aimed at addressing reservoir imaging issues caused by sea-bed topography and shallow geological features, and for which a US$1 million Bank Guarantee is in place. The commitment within the PSC for contract year 3 is for the drilling of one appraisal well to the Plover Formation, subject to seismic reprocessing supporting the presence of a significant structure associated with the Chuditch discovery.

2022 and subsequent activities

The most significant component of the technical work programme in 2022 was the delivery of the reprocessed 3D seismic data and its interpretation. The reprocessing was performed to a high standard using the most modern Pre-Stack Depth Migration ("PSDM") techniques. We have significantly improved the subsurface image, enabling for the first time, the delineation of the Chuditch discovery and its adjacent prospects. This technical evaluation was enhanced through the completion of a number of further geological and engineering studies.

In October 2022, Baron announced its preliminary evaluation arising from the reprocessed data. The resultant mapping indicated a significant increase in management's aggregate Gas-in-Place and Recoverable Gas Resource estimates for the Chuditch PSC. In particular, it indicated a greater concentration of resources into the Chuditch-1 discovery in a simplified and robust structure. The understanding of the adjacent prospectivity was also matured, with three low-risk exploration targets confirmed on the Chuditch trend.

Consultancy group ERC Equipoise Ltd ("ERCE") was engaged to prepare a CPR to provide an independent assessment of the Chuditch resource to a SPE PRMS compliant standard. The CPR was released on 28 February 2023. For the Chuditch-1 discovery, ERCE assessed gross Pmean Contingent Resources of 1.16Tcf of gas. The recognition of the resources as being Contingent, rather than Prospective, is a major milestone and sets the foundation for the next stage of the project cycle. This phase typically includes pre-development feasibility studies and preliminary work on gas sales arrangements alongside the drilling of an appraisal well. Baron believes that the Chuditch-1 Contingent Resources are potentially sufficiently large to be economically viable to be developed standalone or in parallel with other developments in the region.

In addition, aggregated gross Pmean Prospective Resources attributable to the licence according to the CPR amounted to 1,562 Bscf gas across three prospects, Chuditch SW, Chuditch NE and Quokka. Geological Chances of Success ("GCOS") for these prospects range from 52% to 26%, providing substantial follow on, low risk exploration potential to any Chuditch-1 development. It is notable that Baron's in-house probabilistic estimates of aggregated gross Prospective gas Resources for these prospects, at 2,128 Bscf of gas, are higher that ERCE's estimates. This arises mainly through the Company's preferred use of the latest reprocessed seismic data velocity model to define the extent of the prospects.

Detailed tabulations of the resources assessed within the Chuditch PSC and further commentary can be accessed via the Company's RNS announcement of 28 February 2023 and the full CPR document which is available on Baron's corporate website (www.baronoilplc.com).

Also in October 2022, we announced a six-month extension to Contract Year Two of the Chuditch PSC granted by the relevant Timor-Leste national authority, Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo e Minerais ("ANPM"). The PSC Contract now has an expiry date of 18 June 2023.

On entry into Contract Year 3 of the PSC, the commitment will be to drill an appraisal well within a 12-month period. Such an appraisal well would likely be drilled to a total depth of around 3,000 metres and would include a production test. Recent geopolitical events and post-pandemic supply chain issues have led to considerable disruption in rig availability and drilling services globally such that a drill deadline of June 2024 could prove challenging.

There continues to be an excellent working relationship between the Company, the Government Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources ("MPM"), Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo e Minerais ("ANPM"), the Government regulatory authority of petroleum and mining, and TIMOR GAP. We meet regularly with all of these bodies and provide detailed updates around our activities, plans and timelines on the PSC. The Company appreciates the support that we receive from these various state entities and will continue to work on maintaining these close relationships.

As part of our in-country activities, including the efforts of our local Dili offices, we are also undertaking various initiatives to develop the capabilities of the Timorese geological community, through relationships with local universities, welcoming student interns and sponsoring a new local chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

More generally in Timor-Leste, there was increased E&P activity during the year as Timor Resources Pty Ltd commenced an onshore drilling campaign, the first in 50 years. In addition, the Greater Sunrise development project continued to move towards development with negotiations between its many stakeholders. In April successful bidders of five blocks in the Second Licencing Round were announced by the Timor-Leste authorities, including Block P, which sits between the Chuditch PSC and Greater Sunrise, to a subsidiary of the Italian major ENI.

Throughout the period the Company hosted and kept updated a Virtual Dataroom for the benefit of potentially interested funding partners for the next phase of the Chuditch project, a process which continues.

United Kingdom Offshore Licence P2478 ("Dunrobin") (Baron 32% interest)

Background

Innovate Licence P2478, awarded in September 2019, is currently held by a joint operation comprising Reabold North Sea Limited ("Reabold", Licence Administrator, interest 36%), Baron (32%), and Upland Resources (UK Onshore) Limited (32%). The licence covers blocks 12/27c, 17/5, 18/1 and 18/2 in the Inner Moray Firth area of the North Sea and contains the Dunrobin and Golspie prospects, in a province where regional and local petroleum systems are considered by the partners to be proven. Target depths are as shallow as 660 metres subsea and water depths are less than 100 metres.

The work commitments on the Licence are to undertake reprocessing of legacy 3D and 2D seismic data and perform other studies, in order to better understand the subsurface risks, reduce the range of volumetric uncertainty, as well as providing drilling location candidates ahead of making a decision whether to proceed beyond the end of the Phase A evaluation stage of the licence on 14 July 2023.

2022 and subsequent activities

The key technical work components of the Phase A commitments - those of seismic reprocessing plus geochemical studies - were delivered during second half of 2022 on time and budget. Detailed seismic attribute analysis, designed to investigate candidate direct hydrocarbon indicators, followed in early 2023. A thorough revised evaluation of the prospectivity of P2478 is now finalised, with the UK's North Sea Transition Authority ("NSTA") recording that the work programme was fully complete during March 2023. Baron maintained direct technical involvement during 2022.

Towards the end of 2022, consultancy group RPS was engaged by the joint operation to prepare a CPR to provide an independent validation of resource estimates to a SPE PRMS compliant standard. The CPR was announced and published on Baron's website on 16 February 2023.

The CPR provided independent confirmation of the Company's belief that the western part of the Dunrobin complex had matured into a drillable prospect where a relatively low-cost exploration well can target more than 100 MMbbl of gross Pmean Prospective Resources with low geological risk. The key points from the CPR can be summarised as follows:

 
      --   201mmboe gross unrisked Pmean Prospective Resources on 
            licence when aggregated; 
      --   the Dunrobin West prospect ("Dunrobin West") estimated 
            to contain 119mmboe gross unrisked Pmean Prospective 
            Resources aggregated across the Jurassic and Triassic 
            stacked targets; 
      --   34% Geological Probability of Success (GPoS) at the Dunrobin 
            West Jurassic primary target, with an estimated 71mmbbl 
            (gross) of Pmean Prospective Resources. 
 

The CPR estimates indicate that Baron's farm-up arrangement of August 2021 increased the Company's share of aggregate net Pmean Prospective Resources on the Licence from 30mmboe to 64mmboe at a capped cost to Baron of GBP160,000.

Detailed tabulations of the resources assessed within the P2478 licence, and further commentary, can be accessed via the Company's RNS announcement of 16 February 2023, along with the full CPR document which is available on Baron's corporate website (www.baronoilplc.com).

During the first quarter of 2023, the Licence Administrator, on behalf of the joint operation, hosted a Virtual Dataroom in order to attract funding for an exploration well on the Dunrobin West prospect, a process which continues.

Current gross cost estimates for an exploration well to be drilled to a total depth of approximately 700 metres are approximately US$10 million on a dry hole basis.

Block XXI, Peru

In April 2022, Baron requested the relinquishment of the legacy Licence Block XXI in Peru. The Licence had been largely under Force Majeure for a variety of reasons since 2017 and the Company had been frustrated in its attempts to access the area in order to carry out operations. The Bank Guarantee of US$160,000 was released in full to Baron in June. We continue to work with the Peruvian authorities to establish and file an Abandonment Plan. Ongoing costs are minimal and we hope to complete our withdrawal from Peru by the end of 2023.

New Ventures

In line with our strategy, the Company continued to screen early stage opportunities. In this context, in January 2023 the Company announced that, as a joint venture non-operating partner, it had submitted an application in the UK's 33rd Offshore Licensing Round.

Further potential new ventures remain under consideration in both our existing areas of activity and elsewhere.

Corporate

In April 2022, the Company completed an oversubscribed Placing and Subscription of new ordinary shares at 0.06p to raise GBP1.65 million (gross). The monies were to be applied to support the Chuditch PSC (Timor-Leste) and P2478 (UK) projects as they moved towards their key milestones.

In November 2022, the Company completed an oversubscribed Placing and Subscription and Rex Retail Offer of new ordinary shares at 0.12p, double the funding price achieved in April, to raise GBP5.36 million (gross). These monies were predominantly raised to support workstreams underpinning the ongoing farm-out discussions and to provide working capital into 2023.

The Company was pleased to announce on 15 November 2022 the appointment of Keith Bush, the former Chief Executive Officer of Cabot Energy Plc (previously known as Northern Petroleum Plc), as an independent non-executive Director. Keith has a petroleum engineering background, with significant experience in the oil and gas sector. He is a member of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.

Conclusions

I am pleased to report that Baron's overriding task during 2022 - to progress our two material projects, Chuditch and Dunrobin, to their key evaluation points - was achieved, as signaled by the publication of CPRs on both assets in early 2023. This represents the culmination of large volumes of detailed, diligent and high quality technical work carried out by Baron's team of global consultants, employees and joint operation partners.

The considerable and potentially transformative value for shareholders in the Company's assets offshore Timor-Leste and UK is now clearly defined. We are now directing our efforts onto the drilling decisions to be made in 2023 for a Chuditch-1 appraisal well and a Dunrobin West exploration well.

In Timor-Leste, the independent assessment of approximately 1.1Tcf of gross Pmean Contingent Resources for the Chuditch-1 discovery underpins the viability of the project. We are updating the development and gas export option studies and commencing environmental baseline studies in preparation for a drilling campaign. The Board currently believes that a single appraisal well may be sufficient to determine commerciality without the need for an immediate follow-on exploration campaign.

In the UK an exploration well on Dunrobin West will be designed to test gross Pmean Prospective Resources of 71mmbbl in the primary, regionally proven, Jurassic target, and 45mmbbl in the vertically underlying secondary Triassic target. Due to the shallow target depths, gross drilling costs to test such a substantial volume are likely to be relatively modest. Success at Dunrobin West would de-risk the potential follow up targets Dunrobin Central & East plus Golspie, which are directly analogous prospects.

Both assets continue to attract attention via our active farmout campaigns and presentations at relevant industry events. In particular, there are a number of ongoing discussions with third parties regarding participation in the Chuditch appraisal well and future activities. We look forward to updating shareholders on progress as and when appropriate.

Our search for new venture opportunities to enhance and complement the existing portfolio resulted in an application as a non-operating partner for a licence in the offshore UK 33(rd) Round of Licensing and we continue to actively pursue other material new business opportunities.

We are grateful for the support of our investors through the two funding events in 2022. As a result we have a well-funded balance sheet covering our current activities and commitments. As at 31 December 2022 we had cash reserves of GBP5.8 million (2021: GBP1.65 million). The addition of Mr Keith Bush as an independent non-executive Director in 2022 also strengthens and broadens the Board's talents as we enter a decisive phase of operations.

John Wakefield

Non-executive Chairman

22 May 2023

 
 CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT 
  FOR THE YEARED 31 DECEMBER 2022 
 
 
 
                                           Notes                             2022                             2021 
                                                                          GBP'000                          GBP'000 
 
 Revenue                                                                        -                                - 
 
 Cost of sales                                                                  -                                - 
 
 Gross profit                                                                   -                                - 
 
 Exploration and evaluation expenditure                                     (213)                            (218) 
 Intangible asset impairment                 9                                  -                             (17) 
 Property, plant and equipment 
  impairment 
  and depreciation                           8                               (33)                             (11) 
 Receivables and inventory impairment        3                                  -                              (7) 
 Administration expenses                                                  (1,191)                          (1,321) 
 Gain on exchange                            3                                 43                               22 
 Other operating income                      3                                  -                               89 
 
 Operating loss                              3                            (1,394)                          (1,463) 
 
 Income from associated undertaking         11                                  -                               29 
 Gain on disposal of associated 
  undertaking                                                                   -                              302 
 
 Loss before interest 
  and taxation                                                            (1,394)                          (1,132) 
 
 Finance cost                                5                                (5)                             ( 2) 
 Finance income                              5                                 12                                7 
 
 Loss on ordinary activities 
    before taxation                                                       (1,387)                          (1,127) 
 
 Income tax expense                          6                                  -                                - 
 
 Loss on ordinary activities 
    after taxation                                                        (1,387)                          (1,127) 
 
 Dividends                                                                      -                                - 
 
 Loss for the year                                                        (1,387)                          (1,127) 
----------------------------------------  ------  -------------------------------  ------------------------------- 
 
 Loss on ordinary activities 
    after taxation is attributable 
     to: 
 Equity shareholders                                                      (1,387)                          (1,127) 
 Non-controlling interests                                                      -                                - 
 
                                                                          (1,387)                          (1,127) 
  --------------------------------------  ------  -------------------------------  ------------------------------- 
 
 Earnings per ordinary share - 
  continuing operations                      7 
   Basic                                                                 (0.010p)                         (0.012p) 
   Diluted                                                               (0.010p)                         (0.012p) 
 
 
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE 
  INCOME FOR THE YEARED 31 DECEMBER 2022 
 
 
                                                             Restated 
                                                      2022       2021 
                                                   GBP'000    GBP'000 
 
 Loss on ordinary activities after taxation 
  attributable to the parent                       (1,387)    (1,127) 
 
 Other comprehensive income: items 
  which may subsequently be reclassified 
  to profit or loss: 
 Exchange difference on translating foreign 
  operations                                           174         33 
 
 Total comprehensive loss for the year             (1,213)    (1,094) 
-----------------------------------------------   --------  --------- 
 
 Total comprehensive loss attributable 
  to 
  Owners of the parent                             (1,213)    (1,094) 
------------------------------------------------  --------  --------- 
 
 
 
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 
  AT 31 DECEMBER 2022                                                                   Restated 
                                           Notes                     2022                   2021 
                                                                  GBP'000                GBP'000 
 Assets 
 Non current assets 
 Property plant and equipment 
 --- oil and gas assets                      8                          -                      - 
 --- others                                  8                         78                     34 
 Intangible fixed assets                     9                      3,696                  2,736 
 Goodwill                                    10                         -                      - 
 Associated undertaking                      11                         -                      - 
 
                                                                    3,774                  2,770 
  -------------------------------------  ---------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 Current assets 
 Trade and other receivables                 13                       101                     54 
 Performance bond guarantee deposit          14                       827                    859 
 Cash and cash equivalents                   15                     5,807                  1,650 
 
                                                                    6,735                  2,563 
  -------------------------------------  ---------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
 Total assets                                                      10,509                  5,333 
---------------------------------------  ---------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
 Equity and liabilities 
 Capital and reserves attributable 
  to owners of the parent 
 Share capital                               18                     4,730                  2,896 
 Share premium account                       19                    38,846                 34,061 
 Share option reserve                        19                       332                    388 
 Foreign exchange translation 
  reserve                                    19                     1,735                  1,561 
 Retained earnings                           19                  (35,555)               (34,224) 
 
 Total equity                                                      10,088                  4,682 
---------------------------------------  ---------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables                    16                       377                    620 
 Taxes payable                               16                        14                     12 
 
                                                                      391                    632 
  -------------------------------------  ---------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Lease finance                               17                        30                     19 
---------------------------------------  ---------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
 Total equity and liabilities                                      10,509                  5,333 
---------------------------------------  ---------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
 The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue 
  by the Board of Directors on 22 May 2023 and were signed on 
  its behalf by: 
 
 
 
                                          Andrew 
 John Wakefield                            Yeo 
 Director                                 Director 
 
 Company number: 05098776 
 
 
 COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AT 31 DECEMBER 2022 
                                               Notes           2022       2021 
                                                            GBP'000    GBP'000 
 Assets 
 Non current assets 
 Property plant and equipment 
 --- oil and gas 
  assets                                                          -          - 
 --- others                                      8               21         33 
 Intangible fixed 
  assets                                         9              159         68 
 Investments                                     12           5,002      3,029 
 
                                                              5,182      3,130 
  ---------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 Current assets 
 Trade and other 
  receivables                                    13              61         46 
 Cash and cash equivalents                       15           5,625      1,527 
 
                                                              5,686      1,573 
  ---------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Total assets                                                10,868      4,703 
-----------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Equity and liabilities 
 Capital and reserves attributable 
  to owners of the parent 
 Share capital                                   18           4,730      2,896 
 Share premium account                           19          38,846     34,061 
 Share option reserve                            19             332        388 
 Foreign exchange translation 
  reserve                                        19           (163)      (163) 
 Retained earnings                               19        (33,085)   (32,586) 
 
 Total equity                                                10,660      4,596 
-----------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other 
  payables                                       16             185         76 
 Taxes payable                                   16              14         12 
 
                                                                199         88 
  ---------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Lease finance                                   17               9         19 
-----------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Total equity and 
  liabilities                                                10,868      4,703 
-----------------------------------------  -------------  ---------  --------- 
 
 As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Parent 
  Company's income statement has not been included in these financial 
  statements. The loss of the Parent Company for the year was 
  GBP555,000 (2021: loss of GBP1,096,000). 
 
 The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue 
  by the Board of Directors on 22 May 2023 and were signed on 
  its behalf by: 
 
 
 
 John Wakefield                             Andrew Yeo 
 Director                                   Director 
 
 Company number: 
  05098776 
 

CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEARED 31 DECEMBER 2022

 
                                                                                                                                                                               Foreign 
                                                                                                                                                Share 
                                             Share                            Share                         Retained                           option                         exchange                 Total 
                                           capital                          premium                         earnings                          reserve                      translation                equity 
 Group                                     GBP'000                          GBP'000                          GBP'000                          GBP'000                          GBP'000               GBP'000 
 As at 1 
  January 
  2021                                       1,107                           32,156                         (33,130)                              135                            1,528                 1,796 
---------------  ---------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------- 
 
 Shares issued 
  (net 
  of 
  transaction 
  costs)                                     1,789                            1,905                                -                                -                                -                 3,694 
---------------                                                                                                                                                                         -------------------- 
 Transactions 
  with 
  owners                                     1,789                            1,905                                -                                -                                -                 3,694 
---------------  ---------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------- 
 Loss for the 
  year 
  attributable 
  to 
  equity 
  shareholders                                   -                                -                          (1,127)                                -                                -               (1,127) 
 Share based 
  payments                                       -                                -                                -                              286                                -                   286 
 Share option 
  reserve 
  released                                       -                                -                               33                             (33)                                -                     - 
 Foreign 
  exchange 
  translation 
  adjustments                                    -                                -                                -                                -                               33                    33 
---------------                                                                                                       -------------------------------                                   -------------------- 
 Total 
  comprehensive 
  income for 
  the period                                     -                                -                          (1,094)                              253                               33                 (808) 
                 ---------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------- 
 As at 1 
  January 
  2022                                       2,896                           34,061                         (34,224)                              388                            1,561                 4,682 
---------------  ---------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------- 
 
 Shares issued 
  (net 
  of 
  transaction 
  costs)                                     1,834                            4,785                                -                                -                                -                 6,619 
---------------                                                                                                                                                                         -------------------- 
 Transactions 
  with 
  owners                                     1,834                            4,785                                -                                -                                -                 6,619 
---------------  ---------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------- 
 (Loss) for the 
  year 
  attributable 
  to 
  equity 
  shareholders                                   -                                -                          (1,387)                                -                                -               (1,387) 
 Share option 
  reserve 
  released                                       -                                -                               56                             (56)                                -                     - 
 Foreign 
  exchange 
  translation 
  adjustments                                    -                                -                                -                                -                              174                   174 
---------------                                                                                                       -------------------------------                                   -------------------- 
 Total 
  comprehensive 
  income for 
  the period                                     -                                -                          (1,331)                             (56)                              174               (1,213) 
---------------  ---------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------- 
 
 As at 31 
  December 
  2022                                       4,730                           38,846                         (35,555)                              332                            1,735                10,088 
---------------  ---------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------- 
 
 
 
 CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
  FOR THE YEARED 31 DECEMBER 2022 - continued 
 
                                                                                                                        Share                          Foreign 
                                               Share                              Share          Retained              option                         exchange               Total 
                                             capital                            premium          earnings             reserve                      translation              equity 
                                             GBP'000                            GBP'000           GBP'000             GBP'000                          GBP'000             GBP'000 
 Company 
 As at 1 
  January 
  2021                                         1,107                             32,156          (31,523)                 135                            (163)               1,712 
---------------  -----------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ----------------  ------------------  -------------------------------  ------------------ 
 Shares issued 
  (net 
  of 
  transaction 
  costs)                                       1,789                              1,905                 -                   -                                -               3,694 
--------------- 
 Transactions 
  with 
  owners                                       1,789                              1,905                 -                   -                                -               3,694 
---------------  -----------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ----------------  ------------------  -------------------------------  ------------------ 
 
 Profit for the 
  year                                             -                                  -           (1,096)                   -                                -             (1,096) 
 Share based 
  payments                                         -                                  -                 -                 286                                -                 286 
 Share option 
  reserve 
  released                                         -                                  -                33                (33)                                -                   - 
 Total 
  comprehensive 
  income for 
  the period                                       -                                  -           (1,063)                 253                                -               (810) 
---------------  -----------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ----------------  ------------------  -------------------------------  ------------------ 
 
 As at 1 
  January 
  2022                                         2,896                             34,061          (32,586)                 388                            (163)               4,596 
---------------  -----------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ----------------  ------------------  -------------------------------  ------------------ 
 
 Shares issued 
  (net 
  of 
  transaction 
  costs)                                       1,834                              4,785                 -                   -                                -               6,619 
--------------- 
 Transactions 
  with 
  owners                                       1,834                              4,785                 -                   -                                -               6,619 
---------------  -----------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ----------------  ------------------  -------------------------------  ------------------ 
 Loss for the 
  year                                             -                                  -             (555)                   -                                -               (555) 
 Share option 
  reserve 
  released                                         -                                  -                56                (56)                                -                   - 
 Total 
  comprehensive 
  income for 
  the period                                       -                                  -             (499)                (56)                                -               (555) 
---------------  -----------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ----------------  ------------------  -------------------------------  ------------------ 
 
 As at 31 
  December 
  2022                                         4,730                             38,846          (33,085)                 332                            (163)              10,660 
---------------  -----------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ----------------  ------------------  -------------------------------  ------------------ 
 
 Share capital is the amount subscribed for shares at nominal 
  value. 
 Share premium represents the excess of the amount subscribed 
  for share capital over the nominal value of those shares net 
  of share issue expenses. 
 Retained earnings represents the cumulative loss of 
  the Group attributable to equity shareholders. 
 Foreign exchange translation occurs on consolidation of the 
  translation of the subsidiaries balance sheets at the closing 
  rate of exchange and their income statements at the average 
  rate. 
 
 
 CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 
  FOR THE 
 YEARED 31 DECEMBER 2022 
                                                                                       Restated 
                                                  Group               Company             Group              Company 
                                                   2022                  2022              2021                 2021 
--------------------------------   --------------------  --------------------  ----------------  ------------------- 
                                                GBP'000               GBP'000           GBP'000              GBP'000 
 
 Operating activities                           (1,750)                 (582)           (1,179)                (681) 
 
 Investing activities 
 Return from investment and 
  servicing 
  of finance                                         12                    11                 7                    7 
 Advances to subsidiary and 
  associated 
  undertakings                                        -               (1,848)               323                (707) 
 Performance bond guarantee 
 deposit 
 returned                                           128                     -                 -                    - 
 Additions to exploration and 
  evaluation assets                               (806)                  (91)           (1,356)                 (50) 
 Acquisition of tangible assets                    (17)                     -               (1)                  (1) 
 Investment in associated 
  undertaking                                         -                     -              (93)              (1,909) 
 
                                                  (683)               (1,928)           (1,120)              (2,660) 
 --------------------------------  --------------------  --------------------  ----------------  ------------------- 
 
 Financing activities 
 Net proceeds from issue of share 
  capital                                         6,619                 6,619             2,768                3,694 
 Lease financing                                   (29)                  (11)               (9)                  (9) 
                                                  6,590                 6,608             2,759                3,685 
                                   --------------------  --------------------  ----------------  ------------------- 
 
 Net cash inflow                                  4,157                 4,098               460                  344 
 
 Cash and cash equivalents at 
  the beginning of the year                       1,650                 1,527             1,190                1,183 
 
 Cash and cash equivalents at 
  the end of the year                             5,807                 5,625             1,650                1,527 
---------------------------------  --------------------  --------------------  ----------------  ------------------- 
 
 
 
 
 
 Note to the Consolidated and 
  Company Statement of Cash Flow 
                                                                                        Restated 
                                                Group               Company                Group             Company 
                                                 2022                  2022                 2021                2021 
-------------------------------   -------------------  --------------------  -------------------  ------------------ 
                                              GBP'000               GBP'000              GBP'000             GBP'000 
 Operating activities 
 Loss for the year 
  attributable to controlling 
  interests                                   (1,387)                 (555)              (1,127)             (1,096) 
 Depreciation, amortisation and 
  impairment charges                               33                    55                   28                 135 
 Share based payments                               -                     -                  286                 286 
 Finance income shown as an 
  investing 
  activity                                       (12)                  (11)                  (7)                 (7) 
 Interest on lease liability                        4                     1                    -                   - 
 Gain on disposal of associated 
  undertaking                                       -                     -                (163)                   - 
 Income from associated 
 undertaking                                        -                     -                 (29)                   - 
 Foreign exchange 
  translation                                    (74)                 (205)                   19                (19) 
 
 Operating cash outflows before 
  movements in working capital                (1,436)                 (715)                (993)               (701) 
--------------------------------  -------------------  --------------------  -------------------  ------------------ 
 
 (Increase)/decrease 
  in receivables                                 (47)                    22                (743)                   6 
 (Decrease)/increase in payables                (267)                   111                  557                  14 
 
 Net cash outflows from 
  operating 
  activities                                  (1,750)                 (582)              (1,179)               (681) 
--------------------------------  -------------------  --------------------  -------------------  ------------------ 
 
 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

General Information

Baron Oil Plc is a company incorporated in England and Wales and quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. The address of the registered office is disclosed on page 2 of the financial statements. The principal activity of the Group is described in the Strategic Report in section 4 on page 9.

   (1)      Significant 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 periods presented, unless otherwise stated.

Going concern basis

The Directors have prepared a cash ow forecast covering a period extending beyond 12 months from the date of these nancial statements which contains certain assumptions about the development and strategy of the business. The Directors are aware of the risks and uncertainties facing the business but the assumptions used are the Directors' best estimate of its future development.

After considering the forecasts and the risks, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For these reasons, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual nancial statements.

The nancial statements do not include any adjustments that would result if the Group was unable to continue as a going concern.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standards and IFRIC interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

Changes in accounting policies and disclosures

Adoption of new and revised standards

During the year the Group adopted the following IFRS amendments and standards for the first time:

 
 *    Onerous contracts (Amendments to IAS 37) 
 
 
        *    Property, plant and equipment (Amendments to IAS 16) 
 
        *    Annual Improvements 2018-2020 cycle (IFRS 1, IFRS 9, 
             IFRS 16 and IAS 41), and 
 
       *    References to Conceptual Framework (Amendments to 
            IFRS 3) 
 

Details of the impact of these standards on the Group are as follows:

Onerous Contracts - Cost of Fulfilling a Contract (Amendments to IAS 37)

IAS 37 defines an onerous contract as a contract in which the unavoidable costs (costs that the Group has committed to as part of the contract) of meeting the obligations under the contract exceed the economic benefits expected to be received under it. The amendments to IAS 37.68A clarify that the costs relating directly to the contract consist of both:

-- The incremental costs of fulfilling that contract- e.g. direct labour and material; and

-- an allocation of other costs that relate directly to fulfilling contracts: e.g. allocation of depreciation charge on property, plant and equipment used in fulfilling the contract.

The Board has assessed that under the revised definition the Group held no onerous contracts in the current or comparative periods.

Property, Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before Intended Use (Amendments to IAS 16)

The amendment to IAS 16 prohibits an entity from deducting from the cost of an item of PP&E any proceeds received from selling items produced while the entity is preparing the asset for its intended use (for example, the proceeds from selling samples produced during the testing phase of a manufacturing facility after it is being constructed but before start of commercial production). The proceeds from selling such samples, together with the costs of producing them, are now recognised in profit or loss. The Board considers that there is no material impact of this amendment.

Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018-2020 (Amendments to IFRS 1, IFRS 9, IFRS 16 & IAS 41) .

-- IFRS 1: Subsidiary as a First-time Adopter (FTA)

-- IFRS 9: Fees in the '10 per cent' Test for Derecognition of Financial liabilities

-- IAS 41: Taxation in Fair Value Measurements

The Board considers that there is no material impact of this amendment.

References to Conceptual Framework (Amendments to IFRS 3)

In May 2020, the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 3, which update a reference to the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting without changing the accounting requirements for business combinations. The Board considers that there is no material impact of this amendment.

   a)     New standards, interpretations and amendments not yet effective 

The following IFRSs and amendments have been issued by the IASB but are not effective until a future period.

 
 
        *    IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts and Initial Application 
             of IFRS 17 and IFRS 9, Comparative Information 
             (Amendments to IFRS 17) 
 
        *    Disclosure of Accounting Policies (Amendments to IAS 
             1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2) 
 
        *    Definition of Accounting Estimates (Amendments to IAS 
             8) 
 
        *    Deferred Tax Relating to Assets and Liabilities 
             arising from a Single Transaction (Amendments to IAS 
             12) 
 
        *    IFRS 16 Leases (Amendment, Liability in a Sale and 
             Leaseback) (not yet endorsed by the UK Endorsement 
             Board) 
 
        *    IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements 
             (Amendments to Classification of Liabilities as 
             Current or Non-current) (not yet endorsed by the UK 
             Endorsement Board) 
 
        *    IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements (Amendment 
             to Non-current liabilities with covenants). 
 

The Board is currently assessing the impact of these new amendments on the Group's financial reporting for future periods. However, the board does not expect any of the above to have a material impact on future results.

Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and associated undertakings.

Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are all entities over which Baron Oil Plc has the power to govern the financial and operating policies generally accompanying a shareholding of more than one half of the voting rights, or where Baron Oil Plc exercises effective operational control. The existence and effect of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are considered when assessing whether the Group controls another entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Company. They are de-consolidated from the date that control ceases.

Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealised losses are also eliminated but considered an impairment indicator of the asset transferred. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

Impairment of non-financial assets

At each statement of financial position date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. An intangible asset with an indefinite useful life is tested for impairment annually and whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a re-valued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) 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 (cash-generating unit) in prior periods. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised as income immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

Intangible Assets

Oil and gas assets: exploration and evaluation

The Group has continued to apply the 'successful efforts' method of accounting for Exploration and Evaluation ("E&E") costs, having regard to the requirements of IFRS 6 'Exploration for the Evaluation of Mineral Resources'.

The successful efforts method means that only the costs which relate directly to the discovery and development of specific oil and gas reserves are capitalised. Such costs may include costs of licence acquisition, technical services and studies, seismic acquisition; exploration drilling and testing but do not include costs incurred prior to having obtained the legal rights to explore the area. Under successful efforts accounting, exploration expenditure which is general in nature is charged directly to the income statement and that which relates to unsuccessful drilling operations, though initially capitalised pending determination, is subsequently written off. Only costs which relate directly to the discovery and development of specific commercial oil and gas reserves will remain capitalised and to be depreciated over the lives of these reserves. The success or failure of each exploration effort will be judged on a well-by-well basis as each potentially hydrocarbon-bearing structure is identified and tested. Exploration and evaluation costs are capitalised within intangible assets. Capital expenditure on producing assets is accounted for in accordance with SORP 'Accounting for Oil and Gas Exploration'. Costs incurred prior to obtaining legal rights to explore are expensed immediately to the income statement.

All lease and licence acquisition costs, geological and geophysical costs and other direct costs of exploration, evaluation and development are capitalised as intangible or property, plant and equipment according to their nature. Intangible assets comprise costs relating to the exploration and evaluation of properties which the Directors consider to be unevaluated until reserves are appraised as commercial, at which time they are transferred to tangible assets as 'Developed oil and gas assets' following an impairment review and depreciated accordingly. Where properties are appraised to have no commercial value, the associated costs are treated as an impairment loss in the period in which the determination is made.

Costs are amortised on a field by field unit of production method based on commercial proven and probable reserves, or to the expiry of the licence, whichever is earlier.

The calculation of the 'unit of production' amortisation takes account of the estimated future development costs and is based on the current period and un-escalated price levels. Changes in reserves and cost estimates are recognised prospectively.

E&E costs are not amortised prior to the conclusion of appraisal activities.

Property, plant and equipment

Non oil and gas assets

Non oil and gas assets are stated at cost of acquisition less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis at rates calculated to write off the cost less the estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful economic life. The residual value is the estimated amount that would currently be obtained from disposal of the asset if the asset were already of the age and in the condition expected at the end of its useful life.

Buildings, plant and equipment unrelated to production are depreciated using the straight-line method based on estimated useful lives.

The annual rate of depreciation for each class of depreciable asset is:

Equipment and machinery 4-10 years

The carrying value of tangible fixed assets is assessed annually and any impairment is charged to the income statement.

Investments

Investments are stated at cost less provision for any impairment in value.

Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for impairment is established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. Significant financial difficulties of the debtor, probability that the debtor will enter bankruptcy or financial reorganisation, and default or delinquency in payments are considered indicators that the trade receivable is impaired.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held on call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities on the statement of financial position.

Taxation

Income tax

Income tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit or loss for the year. Taxable profit or loss differs from profit or loss as reported in the same income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other periods and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Company's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the statement of financial position date.

Deferred tax

Deferred tax is recognised 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 statement of financial position 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 taxable profit nor the accounting profit.

The carrying amount of deferred tax is reviewed at each statement of financial position date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited to 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.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Company intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

Trade and other payables

Trade payables are not interest bearing and are stated at their nominal value. Trade and other payables are initially recognised at fair value. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the effect of discounting would be immaterial, in which case they are stated at cost.

Fair values

The carrying amounts of the financial assets and liabilities such as cash and cash equivalents, receivables and payables of the Group at the statement of financial position date approximated their fair values, due to the relatively short term nature of these financial instruments.

Share-based compensation

The fair value of the employee and suppliers services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognised as an expense. The total amount to be expensed over the vesting period is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted, excluding the impact of any non-market vesting conditions (for example, profitability and sales growth targets). Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the number of options that are expected to vest. At each statement of financial position date, the entity revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest. It recognises the impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, in the income statement, with a corresponding adjustment to equity.

The proceeds received net of any directly attributable transaction costs are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium when the options are exercised.

Share based payments (Note 20)

The fair value of share-based payments recognised in the income statement is measured by use of the Black Scholes model, which takes into account conditions attached to the vesting and exercise of the equity instruments. The expected life used in the model is adjusted based on management's best estimate, for the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations. The share price volatility percentage factor used in the calculation is based on management's best estimate of future share price behaviour and is selected based on past experience, future expectations and benchmarked against peer companies in the industry.

Equity instruments

Ordinary shares are classified as equity.

Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from proceeds.

Loans and receivables

The Group classifies all its financial assets as trade and other receivables. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired.

Trade receivables and other receivables that have fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market are classified as loans and receivables financial assets. Loans and receivables financial assets are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment loss.

The Group's loans and receivables financial assets comprise other receivables (excluding prepayments) and cash and cash equivalents included in the Statement of Financial Position.

Lease accounting

 
 At the commencement date, the Group measures the lease liability 
  at the present value of the lease payments unpaid at that 
  date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease 
  if that rate is readily available or the Group's incremental 
  borrowing rate. 
 Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability 
  are made up of xed payments (including in substance xed), 
  variable payments based on an index or rate, amounts expected 
  to be payable under a residual value guarantee and payments 
  arising from options reasonably certain to be exercised. 
 Subsequent to initial measurement, the liability will be reduced 
  for payments made and increased for interest. It is remeasured 
  to re ect any reassessment or modi cation, or if there are 
  changes in in-substance xed payments. 
 When the lease liability is remeasured, the corresponding 
  adjustment is re ected in the right-of-use asset, or pro t 
  and loss if the right-of-use asset is already reduced to zero. 
 Interest payable and similar charges include interest payable, 
  nance charges on shares classi ed as liabilities and nance 
  leases recognised in pro t or loss using the effective interest 
  method, unwinding of the discount on provisions, and net foreign 
  exchange losses that are recognised in the pro t and loss 
  account. 
 On the statement of nancial position, lease liabilities have 
  been included in current and non-current liabilities. 
 

Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are recognised when, and only when, the Group becomes a party to the contracts which give rise to them and are classified as financial liabilities at fair value through the profit and loss or loans and payables as appropriate. The Group's loans and payables comprise trade and other payables.

When financial liabilities are recognised initially, they are measured at fair value plus directly attributable transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method other than those categorised as fair value through income statement.

The Group determines the classification of its financial liabilities at initial recognition and re-evaluates the designation at each financial year end.

A financial liability is derecognised when the obligation under the liability is discharged, cancelled or expires.

When an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same party on substantially different terms, or the terms of an existing liability are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as a de-recognition of the original liability and the recognition of a new liability, and the difference in the respective carrying amounts is recognised in the income statement.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Company has a present obligation as a result of a past event, and it is probable that the Company will be required to settle that obligation. Provisions are measured at the Directors' best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the statement of financial position date and are discounted to present value where the effect is material.

Financial instruments

Non-derivative financial instruments comprise investments in equity and debt securities, trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, loans and borrowings, and trade and other payables.

Non-derivative financial instruments are recognised initially at fair value plus, for instruments not at fair value through profit or loss, any directly attributable transactions costs, except as described below. Subsequent to initial recognition non-derivative financial instruments are measured as described below.

A financial instrument is recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets are derecognised if the Group's contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial assets expire or if the Group transfers the financial assets to another party without retaining control or substantially all risks and rewards of the asset. Regular purchases and sales of financial assets are accounted for at trade date, i.e. the date that the Group commits itself to purchase or sell the asset. Financial liabilities are derecognised if the Group's obligations specified in the contract expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Foreign currencies

   i)                  Functional and presentation currency 

Items included in the financial statements of the Group are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the functional currency), which are mainly in Pounds Sterling (GBP) and US Dollars (USD). The financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling (GBP), which is the Group's presentation currency.

   ii)                 Transactions and balances 

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the presentational currency using exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at period-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the income statement.

   iii)                Group companies 

The results and financial position of all Group entities (none of which has the currency of a hyper-inflationary economy) that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

 
      a)   assets and liabilities for each statement of financial 
            position presented are translated at the closing rate 
            at the date of that statement of financial position; 
      b)   income and expenses for each income statement are translated 
            at average 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 as 
            a separate component of equity. On consolidation, exchange 
            differences arising from the translation of the net investment 
            in foreign operations, and of borrowings and other currency 
            instruments designated as hedges of such investments, 
            are taken to shareholders' equity. When a foreign operation 
            is partially disposed of or sold, exchange differences 
            that were recorded in equity are recognised in the income 
            statement as part of the gain or loss on sale. 
 

Management of capital

The Group's policy is to ensure that it will always have sufficient cash to allow it to meet its liabilities when they become due. To achieve this aim, it seeks to raise new equity finance and debt sufficient to meet the next phase of exploration and where relevant development expenditure.

The Board receives cash flow projections on a regular basis as well as information on cash balances. The Board will not commit to material expenditure in respect of its ongoing exploration work prior to being satisfied that sufficient funding is available to the Group to finance the planned programmes.

Dividends cannot be issued until there are sufficient reserves available.

Critica l accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions concerning the future that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, differ from the related actual results.

Carrying value of intangible exploration and evaluation assets

Valuation of oil and gas properties: judgements regarding timing of regulatory approval, the general economic environment, and the ability to finance future activities has an impact on the impairment analysis of intangible exploration and evaluation assets. All these factors may impact the viability of future commercial production from unproved properties, and therefore may be a need to recognise an impairment. The timing of an impairment review and the judgement of when there could be a significant change affecting the carrying value of the intangible exploration and evaluation asset is a critical accounting judgement in itself.

The Board also assesses potential impairment of the Company's net investment in subsidiaries by reference to the same judgements around the circumstances of the Group's oil and gas exploration projects. At year end the Group's exploration assets which the board reviewed for impairment were carried at GBP3.7m and the Company's net investment in subsidiaries was held at GBP5.0m. Further details are given in Notes 9 and 12 respectively.

Commercial reserves estimates

Oil and gas reserve estimates: estimation of recoverable reserves include assumptions regarding commodity prices, exchange rates, discount rates, production and transportation costs all of which impact future cashflows. It also requires the interpretation of complex geological and geophysical models in order to make an assessment of the size, shape, depth and quality of reservoirs and their anticipated recoveries. The economic, geological and technical factors used to estimate reserves may change from period to period. Changes in estimated reserves can impact developed and undeveloped property carrying values, asset retirement costs and the recognition of income tax assets, due to changes in expected future cash flows.

 
 2. Segmental 
 information 
 In the opinion of the Directors the Group has one class of 
  business, being the exploration for, and development and 
  production of, oil and gas reserves, and other related activities. 
 
 The Group's primary reporting format is determined to be 
  the geographical segment according to the location of the 
  oil and gas asset. There are currently three geographic reporting 
  segments: South East Asia where production, development and 
  exploration activity is being assessed, South America, which 
  has previously been involved in production, development and 
  exploration activity but is now being phased out, and the 
  United Kingdom being the head office and where exploration 
  activity is taking place. 
 
 Exploration and production year ended 31 December 
  2022 
                                              United                              South                              South 
                                                                                                                      East 
                                             Kingdom                            America                               Asia                            Total 
                                             GBP'000                            GBP'000                            GBP'000                          GBP'000 
 Revenue                                           -                                  -                                  -                                - 
 Cost of sales                                     -                                  -                                  -                                - 
 
 Gross profit                                      -                                  -                                  -                                - 
 
 Exploration and 
  evaluation 
  expenditure                                   (67)                                (8)                              (138)                            (213) 
 Property, plant 
  and equipment 
  impairment and 
  depreciation                                  (12)                                                                  (21)                             (33) 
 Administration 
  expenses                                     (686)                               (64)                              (441)                          (1,191) 
 Gain on exchange                                 43                                  -                                  -                               43 
 
 Loss before 
  interest and 
  taxation                                     (722)                               (72)                              (600)                          (1,394) 
 
 Finance cost                                    (1)                                  -                                (4)                              (5) 
 Finance income                                   11                                  1                                  -                               12 
 
 Loss before 
  taxation                                     (712)                               (71)                              (604)                          (1,387) 
 Income tax 
 expense                                           -                                  -                                  -                                - 
 
 Loss after 
  taxation                                     (712)                               (71)                              (604)                          (1,387) 
-----------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ------------------------------- 
 
 Assets and 
 liabilities 
 Segment assets                                  298                                  1                              4,403                            4,702 
 Cash and cash 
  equivalents                                  5,625                                  5                                177                            5,807 
 
 Total assets                                  5,923                                  6                              4,580                           10,509 
-----------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ------------------------------- 
 
 Segment 
  liabilities                                    194                                  1                                212                              407 
 Current tax 
  liabilities                                     14                                  -                                  -                               14 
 
 Total 
  liabilities                                    208                                  1                                212                              421 
-----------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ------------------------------- 
 
 Other segment 
 items 
 Capital 
  expenditure                                     92                                  -                                794                              886 
 Depreciation, 
  amortisation 
  and impairment 
  charges                                         12                                  -                                 21                               33 
 
 
 
 
 Exploration and production year ended 31 December 2021 
  (restated) 
                                              United                              South                              South 
                                                                                                                      East 
                                             Kingdom                            America                               Asia                            Total 
                                             GBP'000                            GBP'000                            GBP'000                          GBP'000 
 Revenue                                           -                                  -                                  -                                - 
 Cost of sales                                     -                                  -                                  -                                - 
 
 Gross profit                                      -                                  -                                  -                                - 
 
 Exploration and 
  evaluation 
  expenditure                                   (50)                              (101)                               (67)                            (218) 
 Intangible asset 
  impairment                                       -                               (17)                                  -                             (17) 
 Property, plant 
  and equipment 
  impairment and 
  depreciation                                  (11)                                  -                                  -                             (11) 
 Receivables and 
  inventory 
  impairment                                       -                                (7)                                  -                              (7) 
 Administration 
  expenses                                   (1,031)                                (5)                              (285)                          (1,321) 
 Gain on exchange                                 22                                  -                                  -                               22 
 Other operating 
  income                                           -                                  -                                 89                               89 
 
 Operating 
  (loss)/profit                              (1,070)                              (130)                              (263)                          (1,463) 
 
 Income from 
  associated 
  undertaking                                      -                                  -                                 29                               29 
 Gain on disposal 
  of associated 
  undertaking                                      -                                  -                                302                              302 
 
 Loss before 
  interest and 
  taxation                                   (1,070)                              (130)                                 68                          (1,132) 
 
 Finance costs                                   (2)                                  -                                  -                              (2) 
 Finance income                                    7                                  -                                  -                                7 
 
 (Loss)/Profit 
  before 
  taxation                                   (1,065)                              (130)                                 68                          (1,127) 
 Income tax 
 expense                                           -                                  -                                  -                                - 
 
 Loss/(Profit) 
  before 
  taxation                                   (1,065)                              (130)                                 68                          (1,127) 
-----------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ------------------------------- 
 
 Assets and 
 liabilities 
 Segment assets                                2,816                                  4                                863                            3,683 
 Cash and cash 
  equivalents                                  1,527                                  5                                118                            1,650 
 
 Total assets                                  4,343                                  9                                981                            5,333 
-----------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ------------------------------- 
 
 Segment 
  liabilities                                     94                                  3                                542                              639 
 Current tax 
  liabilities                                     12                                  -                                  -                               12 
 
 Total 
  liabilities                                    106                                  3                                542                              651 
-----------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ------------------------------- 
 
 Other segment 
 items 
 Capital 
  expenditure                                     50                                  -                              1,307                            1,357 
 Depreciation, 
  amortisation 
  and impairment 
  charges                                         11                                 24                                  -                               35 
 
 
 
 3. Operating loss                                                   2022                   2021 
                                                       ------------------  --------------------- 
                                                                  GBP'000                GBP'000 
 The operating loss is stated 
  after charging: 
 
 Auditor' remuneration 
  Audit of group and company financial statements 
   - current year                                                      29                     25 
  Audit of group and company financial statements 
   - prior year                                                         4                      - 
  Non-audit services: Tax compliance                                    2                      2 
  Non-audit services: Other assurance 
   services                                                             2                      1 
 Exploration and evaluation expenditure                               213                    218 
 Impairment of intangible 
  assets                                                                -                     17 
 Depreciation of property, plant 
  and equipment                                                        33                     11 
 Impairment of foreign tax receivables                                  -                      7 
 Gain on exchange                                                    (43)                   (22) 
 Other operating 
  income                                                                -                   (89) 
 
 Other operating income in 2021 arose on the capitalisation 
  into cost of investment of development costs written off in 
  prior years in respect of Chuditch, Timor-Leste. This was due 
  to a reconstruction of the balance sheet of SundaGas (Timor-Leste 
  Sahul) Pty Ltd ("TLS") when the Group took majority control 
  in TLS. 
 
 
 The analysis of development and administrative expenses in 
  the consolidated income statement by nature of expense is: 
                                                                     2022                   2021 
   --------------------------------------------------  ------------------  --------------------- 
                                                                  GBP'000                GBP'000 
 Employee benefit 
  expense                                                             632                    521 
 Share based payments                                                   -                    261 
 Exploration and evaluation expenditure                               213                    218 
 Depreciation, amortisation and 
  impairment charges                                                   33                     35 
 Legal and professional 
  fees                                                                410                    454 
 (Gain) on exchange                                                  (43)                   (22) 
 Other expenses                                                       149                     85 
 
                                                                    1,394                  1,552 
   --------------------------------------------------  ------------------  --------------------- 
 
 
 
 4. Staff numbers 
  and cost 
 The average number of persons employed by the Group (including 
  directors) during the year, analysed by category, were as follows: 
                                                   2022                                     2021 
                              ---------------------------------------------  --------------------------------- 
                                               Group                Company                    Group   Company 
                                              Number                 Number                   Number    Number 
 
 Directors                                         3                      3                        3         3 
 Technical and production                          4                      -                        - 
 Administration                                    2                      1                        2         1 
 
 Total                                             9                      4                        5         4 
 
 
 The aggregate payroll 
  costs of these persons 
  were as follows:                           GBP'000                GBP'000                  GBP'000   GBP'000 
 
 Wages and salaries                              206                     49                       96        80 
 Directors' fees, salaries 
  and benefits                                   390                    390                      349       349 
 Share based payments                              -                      -                      286       286 
 Social security 
  costs                                           47                     47                       51        51 
 
                                                 643                    486                      782       766 
 ---------------------------  ----------------------  ---------------------  -----------------------  -------- 
 
 
     5. Finance income and expenses                   2022               2021 
-----------------------------------    -------------------  ----------------- 
                                                   GBP'000            GBP'000 
 Bank and other interest received                       12                  7 
 Interest on lease liability                           (4)                (2) 
 Other finance cost                                    (1)                  - 
 
 Total                                                   7                  5 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Income tax expense                                                2022                       2021 
----------------------------------------------------  --------------------  ------------------------- 
                                                                   GBP'000                    GBP'000 
 The tax charge on the loss on ordinary 
  activities was:- 
 
 UK Corporation Tax 
  - current                                                              -                          - 
 Foreign taxation                                                        -                          - 
 
                                                                         -                          - 
   -------------------------------------------------  --------------------  ------------------------- 
 
 
 The total charge for the year can be reconciled 
  to the accounting result as follows: 
                                                                      2022                       2021 
   -------------------------------------------------  --------------------  ------------------------- 
                                                                   GBP'000                    GBP'000 
 (Loss) before tax 
 Continuing operations                                             (1,387)                    (1,127) 
 
 Tax at composite group rate of 18.6% 
  (2021: 22.4%)                                                      (258)                      (253) 
 
 Effects of: 
 Losses not subject 
  to tax                                                               163                        123 
 Movement on capital allowances                                       (76)                       (97) 
 Increase in tax 
  losses                                                               171                        227 
 Foreign taxation                                                        -                          - 
 
 Tax expense                                                             -                          - 
----------------------------------------------------  --------------------  ------------------------- 
 
 At 31 December 2022, the Group had estimated tax losses of 
  GBP36,011,000 (2021 - GBP32,933,000) to carry forward against 
  future profits. The potential deferred tax asset on these tax 
  losses at a composite group rate of 29.5% of GBP10,636,000 
  (2021: at 18.1%, GBP5,964,000) has not been recognised due 
  to uncertainty over the timing and existence of future taxable 
  profits. The current tax reconciliation has been prepared using 
  a blended rate of 18.6% (2021: 22.4%) based on prevailing headline 
  taxation rates as applied to the Group's taxable entities in 
  the year. The rate assessed for the unrecognised deferred tax 
  asset reflects management's best estimate of the applicable 
  rates which would apply to oil and gas revenues in the Group's 
  respective countries of operation. 
 
 
 7. Earnings per 
  share 
                                                       2022               2021 
   -------------------------------------  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Loss per ordinary 
  share 
 - Basic                                           (0.010p)           (0.012p) 
 - Diluted                                         (0.010p)           (0.012p) 
 
 
 Earnings per ordinary share is based on the Group's loss attributable 
  to controlling interests for the year of GBP1,387,000 (2021: 
  GBP1,127,000). 
 The weighted average number of shares used in the calculation 
  is the weighted average ordinary shares in issue during the 
  year of 13,784,079,264 (2021: 9,460,727,853). 
 
 Due to the Group's results, the diluted earnings per share 
  was deemed to be the same as the basic earnings per share for 
  that year. 
 
 
 8. Property, plant and equipment 
                                                       Equipment                Right of 
                                                             and                     use 
                                                       machinery                  assets                Total 
                                                         GBP'000                 GBP'000              GBP'000 
 Group 
 Cost 
 At 1 January 2021                                            29                       -                   29 
 Foreign exchange translation adjustment                       1                       -                    1 
 Additions                                                     1                      45                   46 
 
 At 1 January 2022                                            31                      45                   76 
 Foreign exchange translation adjustment                       4                       -                    4 
 Additions                                                    17                      62                   79 
 Disposals                                                  (34)                       -                 (34) 
 
 At 31 December 2022                                          18                     107                  125 
------------------------------------------  --------------------  ----------------------  ------------------- 
 
 Depreciation 
 At 1 January 2021                                            29                       2                   31 
 Charge for the period                                         -                      11                   11 
 
 At 1 January 2022                                            29                      13                   42 
 Foreign exchange translation adjustment                       5                       1                    6 
 Charge for the period                                         5                      28                   33 
 Disposals                                                  (34)                       -                 (34) 
 
 At 31 December 2022                                           5                      42                   47 
------------------------------------------  --------------------  ----------------------  ------------------- 
 
 Net book value 
 At 31 December 2022                                          13                      65                   78 
 
 
 At 31 December 2021                                           2                      32                   34 
 
 
 
 Included in the above line items are Right of Use assets of 
  GBP65,000 (2021: GBP32,000) in respect of a motor vehicle and 
  an office lease. 
 
 
 
                                                              Equipment                Right of 
                                                                    and                     use 
                                                              machinery                   asset                  Total 
                                                                GBP'000                 GBP'000                GBP'000 
 Company 
 Cost 
 At 1 January 2021                                                    -                      45                     45 
 Additions                                                            1                       -                      1 
 
 At 1 January and 31 December 2022                                    1                      45                     46 
---------------------------------------      --------------------------  ----------------------  --------------------- 
 
 Depreciation 
 At 1 January 2021                                                    -                       2                      2 
 Charge for the period                                                -                      11                     11 
 
 At 1 January 2022                                                    -                      13                     13 
 Charge for the period                                                -                      12                     12 
 
 At 31 December 2022                                                  -                      25                     25 
---------------------------------------      --------------------------  ----------------------  --------------------- 
 
 Net book value 
 At 31 December 2022                                                  1                      20                     21 
 
 
 At 31 December 2021                                                  1                      32                     33 
 
 
 
 
 Included in the above line items are Right of Use assets of 
  GBP20,000 (2021: GBP32,000) in respect of a motor vehicle. 
 
 
 9. Intangible fixed 
  assets                                                  Exploration 
                                                       and evaluation 
                                                               assets                              Total 
                                                              GBP'000                            GBP'000 
 Group 
 Cost 
 At 1 January 2021                                              2,319                              2,319 
 Foreign exchange translation 
  adjustment                                                       17                                 17 
 Additions                                                      1,356                              1,356 
 Consolidation of single asset 
  company                                                       1,362                              1,362 
 At 1 January 2022                                              5,054                              5,054 
 Foreign exchange translation 
  adjustment                                                      275                                275 
 Additions                                                        806                                806 
 Disposals                                                    (2,439)                            (2,439) 
 At 31 December 2022                                            3,696                              3,696 
----------------------------------  ---------------------------------  --------------------------------- 
 
 Impairment 
 At 1 January 2021                                              2,301                              2,301 
 Foreign exchange translation 
  adjustment                                                        -                                  - 
 Charge for the period                                             17                                 17 
----------------------------------  ---------------------------------  --------------------------------- 
 At 1 January 2022                                              2,318                              2,318 
 Foreign exchange translation 
  adjustment                                                      121                                121 
 Charge for the period                                              -                                  - 
 Disposals                                                    (2,439)                            (2,439) 
 At 31 December 2022                                                -                                  - 
-------------------------------     ---------------------------------  --------------------------------- 
 
 Net book value 
 At 31 December 2022                                            3,696                              3,696 
 
 
 At 31 December 2021                                            2,736                              2,736 
 
 
 
 
                                                    Exploration 
                                                 and evaluation 
                                                         assets                           Total 
                                                        GBP'000                         GBP'000 
 Company 
 Cost 
 At 1 January 2021                                          653                             653 
 Additions                                                   50                              50 
 At 1 January 2022                                          703                             703 
 Additions                                                   91                              91 
 Disposals                                                (635)                           (635) 
 At 31 December 2022                                        159                             159 
-------------------------------  ------------------------------  ------------------------------ 
 
 Impairment 
 At 1 January 2021 and 2022                                 635                             635 
 Disposals                                                (635)                           (635) 
 At 31 December 2022                                          -                               - 
----------------------------     ------------------------------  ------------------------------ 
 
 Net book value 
 At 31 December 2022                                        159                             159 
 
 At 31 December 2021                                         68                              68 
 
 
 Exploration and evaluation assets represent amounts capitalised 
  in progressing the Group's interest in licences for the exploration 
  of oil and gas in the UK and Timor-Leste. 
 The Directors have performed an assessment of impairment as 
  at the balance sheet date in respect of exploration and evaluation 
  assets, taking account of the facts and circumstances which 
  existed at that date. Impairment reviews were performed at 
  the Operating Segment level and therefore separate tests were 
  performed for the Chuditch and Inner Moray Firth P2478 exploration 
  assets. The directors concluded that the facts did not give 
  rise to an impairment and therefore no impairment charge has 
  been reflected in 2022 (2021: GBP17,000). 
 During the previous year, the Group increased its holding in 
  SundaGas (Timor-Leste Sahul) Pty. Ltd ("TLS") from 33.33% to 
  100%. As a consequence of the increased holding in TLS, the 
  Company was consolidated into the Group Income Statement and 
  Statement of Financial Position. As TLS is a single asset company 
  in pre-production phase, it is included as an oil and gas asset 
  purchase rather than as a business combination, and its carrying 
  value is included in intangible assets. 
 Block XXI Peru: this licence was fully impaired in 2018 and 
  was relinquished in April 2022. 
 
 
                                                                                                    Goodwill 
 10. Goodwill                                                                                             on 
                                                                                               consolidation 
                                                                                             of subsidiaries 
                                                                                                     GBP'000 
 Group 
 Cost 
 At 1 January 2021 and 1 January 
  2022                                                                                                    81 
 Goodwill written off                                                                                   (81) 
 At 31 December 2022                                                                                       - 
-------------------------------------     -------------------------------  --------------------------------- 
 
 Impairment 
 At 1 January 2021 and 1 January 
  2022                                                                                                    81 
 Adjustment on write off of goodwill                                                                    (81) 
 At 31 December 2022                                                                                       - 
-------------------------------------     -------------------------------  --------------------------------- 
 
 Net book value 
 At 31 December 2022                                                                                       - 
 
 
 At 31 December 2021                                                                                       - 
 
 
 The carrying value of goodwill represents the purchase of shares 
  in Gold Oil Peru SAC. This has been written off during the period 
  as there is no prospect of recovery. 
 
 11. Associated undertaking 
                                                                   Shares 
                                                                       in 
                                                               associated 
                                                              undertaking                              Total 
                                                                  GBP'000                            GBP'000 
 Group 
 Gross investment 
  value 
 At 1 January 2021                                                    151                                151 
 Additions                                                             93                                 93 
 Share of post acquisition net 
  result                                                               29                                 29 
 Disposal                                                           (273)                              (273) 
 
 At 1 January and 31 
  December 2022                                                         -                                  - 
----------------------------------------  -------------------------------  --------------------------------- 
 
 Impairment 
 At 1 January 2021, 1 January 
  and 31 December 2022                                                  -                                  - 
--------------------------------------    -------------------------------  --------------------------------- 
 
 Carrying value 
 At 31 December 2022                                                    -                                  - 
 
 
 At 31 December 2021                                                    -                                  - 
 
 
 On 27 April 2020, the Group acquired a 33.33% interest in SundaGas 
  (Timor-Leste Sahul) Pte. Ltd, incorporated in Singapore at a 
  gross cost of GBP195,000. In accordance with IAS28, the Group 
  accounted for its investment in this company using the equity 
  method. 
 During the preceding period, the Company increased its stake 
  in SundaGas (Timor-Leste Sahul) Limited ("TLS") from 33.33% 
  to 100%. In accordance with IFRS3, this is treated as an effective 
  disposal of the interest in the associated undertaking requiring 
  a remeasurement of its cost to fair value. This resulted in 
  a gain on disposal of GBP302,000 in 2021. 
 
 
 
 12. Investments 
                                                                Shares                   Shares 
                                     Loans to                       in                       in 
                                        group                    group               associated 
                                  undertaking              undertaking              undertaking                Total 
                                      GBP'000                  GBP'000                  GBP'000              GBP'000 
 Company 
 Cost 
 At 1 January 2021                        775                    5,444                      195                6,414 
 Exchange rate 
  adjustment                               19                        -                        -                   19 
 Additions                                  -                    2,104                       93                2,197 
 Net loan movements                     1,030                        -                        -                1,030 
 Disposals                                  -                        -                    (288)                (288) 
 At 1 January 2022                      1,824                    7,548                        -                9,372 
 Exchange rate 
  adjustment                              205                        -                        -                  205 
 Net loan movements                     1,811                        -                        -                1,811 
---------------------  ----------------------  -----------------------  -----------------------  ------------------- 
 At 31 December 2022                    3,840                    7,548                        -               11,388 
---------------------  ----------------------  -----------------------  -----------------------  ------------------- 
 
 Impairment 
 At 1 January 2021                        775                    5,444                        -                6,219 
 Chargefor the year                       124                        -                        -                  124 
---------------------  ----------------------  -----------------------  -----------------------  ------------------- 
 At 1 January 2022                        899                    5,444                        -                6,343 
 Charge for the year                       43                        -                        -                   43 
 At 31 December 2022                      942                    5,444                        -                6,386 
---------------------  ----------------------  -----------------------  -----------------------  ------------------- 
 
 Carrying value 
 At 31 December 2022                    2,898                    2,104                        -                5,002 
 
 
 At 31 December 2021                      925                    2,104                        -                3,029 
 
 
 The Company elected to recognise the investment in associate 
  in respect of SundaGas (Timor-Leste Sahul) Pte. Ltd. under the 
  cost model. 
 The Company makes loans to its subsidiary operations as part 
  of its longer term strategy of undertaking exploration activities. 
  Whilst the loans are made on informal terms, the board considers 
  that such loans form part of the Company's net investment in 
  its subsidiaries and therefore are presented within investments 
  and treated as non-current. No interest is charged on intercompany 
  loans. 
 
 The Company has made provision on the investment in Gold Oil 
  Peru S.A.C. of GBP6,386,000 (2021: GBP6,343,000). 
 
 
 
 The Company's subsidiary undertakings at the 
  year end were as follows: 
                                       Place of      Proportion    Proportion 
                                  incorporation    of ownership     of voting         Nature 
 Subsidiary                       and operation        interest    power held    of business 
                                                              %             % 
                               ----------------  --------------  ------------  ------------- 
 SundaGas (Timor-Leste                                                           Exploration 
  Sahul) Pte. Ltd.                                                                    of oil 
  8 Chang Charn Road                  Singapore             100           100        and gas 
 #02-01 
  Link (Thim) Building 
 Singapore 159637 
 
 SundaGas Banda Unipessoal, 
  Lda *                                                                          Exploration 
  Timor Plaza Pisso 3.                                                                of oil 
  #337                              Timor-Leste             100           100        and gas 
 Av. President Nicolau 
  Lobato 
 20 de Setembro, Bebonuk, 
  Dom Aleixo 
 Dili, Timor-Leste 
 
 Gold Oil Peru S.A.C                                                             Exploration 
  Jr. General Julian Arias                                                            of oil 
  Araguez 250                              Peru             100           100        and gas 
 Miraflores, Lima-18, Peru 
 All shareholdings are in ordinary, 
  voting shares. 
 * A direct subsidiary of SundaGas (Timor-Leste Sahul) 
  Pte. Ltd. 
 
 
 13. Trade and 
  other 
  receivables                                  2022                                                                2021 
                ------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
                                            Group                          Company                              Group                          Company 
                                          GBP'000                          GBP'000                            GBP'000                          GBP'000 
 
 Trade 
  receivables                                   -                                -                                  -                                - 
 Other 
  receivables                                  24                               24                                 12                               12 
 Prepayments 
  and accrued 
  income                                       77                               37                                 42                               34 
 
                                              101                               61                                 54                               46 
 -------------  ---------------------------------  -------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ------------------------------- 
 
 
 
 14. Bank guarantee bond                       2022                          2021 
                                  -----------------------------  ---------------------------- 
                                     Group              Company     Group             Company 
                                   GBP'000              GBP'000   GBP'000             GBP'000 
 
 Bank guarantee bond at 31 
  December 2022                        827                    -       859                   - 
--------------------------------  --------  -------------------  --------  ------------------ 
 
 The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, SundaGas Banda Unipessoal, 
  Lda ("Banda"), has provided a performance guarantee to Autoridade 
  Nacional do Petróleo e Minerais ("ANPM") in respect of 
  the offshore Timor-Leste TL-SO-19-16 Production Sharing Contract 
  ("PSC"). This performance guarantee is secured by a bank guarantee 
  given by United Overseas Bank Limited of Singapore ("UOB") 
  backed by a cash deposit of US$1 million. This arrangement 
  was originally put in place in November 2019 at the outset 
  of the PSC, was extended in November 2022, and now expires 
  on 1 August 2023. It is anticipated that the bank guarantee 
  will be released following the conclusion of the current phase 
  of the PSC which is currently 18 June 2023 as the Directors 
  consider that all work commitments to the end of the current 
  phase will have been met. 
 
 The original bond was set up by SundaGas Pte. Ltd ("SGPL"), 
  the former owners of Banda, and has remained in their name 
  beyond the acquisition of Banda by the Company, so as not to 
  disrupt the contractual position of the PSC. As a result, the 
  bond will be initially released to SGPL which is contractually 
  bound by the Relationship Agreement that exists between the 
  parties to account for the funds released to Banda. 
 
 As the bond represents a financial asset with contractual cash 
  flows, the Directors have had regard to the credit risk associated 
  with the recovery of the asset. In taking account of the Group's 
  close working relationship with both ANPM and SGPL along with 
  the Group's history of dealings with them, the Directors consider 
  that any credit risk associated with the bond asset is immaterial 
  and therefore no provision for credit loss has been made. 
 
                                                                           Restated 
 15. Cash and cash equivalents                 2022                          2021 
                                  -----------------------------  ---------------------------- 
                                     Group              Company     Group             Company 
                                   GBP'000              GBP'000   GBP'000             GBP'000 
 
 Bank current accounts                 837                  655       238                 120 
 Bank deposit accounts               4,970                4,970     1,412               1,407 
 
                                     5,807                5,625     1,650               1,527 
 -------------------------------  --------  -------------------  --------  ------------------ 
 
 Bank deposit accounts comprise cash held by the Group and short-term 
  bank deposits with an original maturity of three months or 
  less and earn interest at respective short-term deposit rates. 
  The carrying amount of these assets approximates to their fair 
  value. 
 
 
 
 16. Trade and other 
  payables                                      2022                                      2021 
                              ----------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------- 
                                            Group              Company             Group                 Company 
                                          GBP'000              GBP'000           GBP'000                 GBP'000 
 
 Trade payables                                67                   66                19                      18 
 Other payables                                 -                    -               495                       - 
 Accruals                                     274                  109                96                      48 
 Lease finance liabilities 
  due within 12 months                         36                   10                10                      10 
 Taxation                                      14                   14                12                      12 
 
                                              391                  199               632                      88 
 ---------------------------  -------------------  -------------------  ----------------  ---------------------- 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Lease finance liabilities 
  due after 12 months                          30                    9                19                      19 
----------------------------  -------------------  -------------------  ----------------  ---------------------- 
 
 
 17. Lease finance 
 Lease liabilities are presented in the statement 
  of nancial position as follows: 
                                         2022                   2021 
 ---------------------------  -------------------------  ------------------ 
                                     Group      Company     Group   Company 
                                   GBP'000      GBP'000   GBP'000   GBP'000 
 Current                                36           10        10        10 
 Non-current                            30            9        19        19 
 
                                        66           19        29        29 
 ---------------------------  ------------  -----------  --------  -------- 
 
 
 
 18. Share capital                                             2022       2021 
--------------------------------------------------------  ---------  --------- 
                                                            GBP'000    GBP'000 
 Allotted, called up and fully 
  paid 
 Equity:18,920,260,428 (2021: 11,583,612,461) 
  ordinary shares of GBP0.00025 each                          4,730      2,896 
 
                                                              4,730      2,896 
   -----------------------------------------------------  ---------  --------- 
 
 The Company issued the following new shares for cash during the 
  year. 
 (i) 2,750,000,000 new ordinary shares of GBP0.00025 each at GBP0.0006 
  per share on 9 May 2022. 
 (ii) 117,125,001 new ordinary shares of GBP0.00025 each at GBP0.0010 
  per share on 4 November 2022. 
 (iii) 4,469,522,966 new ordinary shares of GBP0.00025 each at 
  GBP0.0012 per share on 29 November 2022. 
 
 

Ordinary shares entitle the holder to full rights as to voting, dividends and any distribution upon winding up.

 
 19. Share premium and reserves                                                       Foreign 
                                                        Share     Share              exchange                 Profit 
                                                      premium    Option           translation               and loss 
                                                      account   reserve               reserve                account 
                                                      GBP'000   GBP'000               GBP'000                GBP'000 
 Group 
--------------------------------------   --------------------  --------  --------------------  --------------------- 
 At beginning of the year                              34,061       388                 1,561               (34,224) 
 Loss for the year attributable 
  to controlling interests                                  -         -                     -                (1,387) 
 Issue of new shares                                    5,296         -                     -                      - 
 Share issue costs                                      (511)         -                     -                      - 
 Share option reserve released                              -      (56)                     -                     56 
 Foreign exchange translation 
 adjustments                                                -         -                   174                      - 
                                                       38,846       332                 1,735               (35,555) 
 --------------------------------------  --------------------  --------  --------------------  --------------------- 
 
 Company 
--------------------------------------   --------------------  --------  --------------------  --------------------- 
 At beginning of the year                              34,061       388                 (163)               (32,586) 
 Loss for the year                                          -         -                     -                  (555) 
 Issue of new shares                                    5,296         -                     -                      - 
 Share issue costs                                      (511)         -                     -                      - 
 Share option reserve released                              -      (56)                     -                     56 
                                                       38,846       332                 (163)               (33,085) 
 --------------------------------------  --------------------  --------  --------------------  --------------------- 
 
 
 
 Details of options and warrants issued, exercised and lapsed during the year 
  together with options and warrants outstanding at 31 December 2022 are as 
  follows: 
                                                                                                                  Lapsed 
                                              1 January                     New                                       or             31 December 
                            Exercise               2022                   Issue            Exercised           cancelled                    2022 
                 Final 
 Issue        exercise 
 date             date         price             Number                  Number               Number              Number                  Number 
----------  ----------  ------------  -----------------  ----------------------  -------------------  ------------------  ---------------------- 
 6 August     6 August 
  2019            2022    GBP0.00080         27,500,000                       -                    -        (27,500,000)                       - 
 26 March     26 March 
  2020            2023    GBP0.00100        117,125,001                       -        (117,125,001)                   -                       - 
 26 May         26 May 
  2020            2030    GBP0.00100        290,000,000                       -                    -       (165,000,000)             125,000,000 
 10                 10 
  November    November 
  2020            2030    GBP0.00100         75,000,000                       -                    -        (75,000,000)                       - 
 22 July       22 July 
  2021            2031    GBP0.00070        440,000,000                       -                    -                   -             440,000,000 
                    31 
 22 July      December 
  2021          2025 *    GBP0.00070        150,000,000                       -                    -                   -             150,000,000 
 17                 17 
  December    December 
  2021            2031    GBP0.00060        530,000,000                       -                    -                   -             530,000,000 
 14 July       14 July 
  2022            2025    GBP0.00070                  -             175,000,000                    -                   -             175,000,000 
                                          1,629,625,001             175,000,000        (117,125,001)       (267,500,000)           1,420,000,000 
  ----------------------------------  -----------------  ----------------------  -------------------  ------------------  ---------------------- 
 * These options have been granted to two external contractors who have been 
  engaged by SundaGas (Timor-Leste Sahul) Pte. Ltd. The final exercise dates 
  of these options were extended during the year from 22 July 2024 to 31 December 
  2025. 
 Details of options and warrants issued, exercised and lapsed during the year 
  together with options and warrants outstanding at 31 December 2021 are as 
  follows: 
                                              1 January                     New                                                      31 December 
                            Exercise               2021                   Issue            Exercised              Lapsed                    2021 
                 Final 
 Issue        exercise 
 date             date         price             Number                  Number               Number              Number                  Number 
----------  ----------  ------------  -----------------  ----------------------  -------------------  ------------------  ---------------------- 
 27                 27 
  November    November 
  2018            2021    GBP0.00435         20,000,000                       -                    -        (20,000,000)                       - 
 3                   3 
  December    December 
  2018            2021    GBP0.00440         10,000,000                       -                    -        (10,000,000)                       - 
 6 August     6 August 
  2019            2022    GBP0.00080         27,500,000                       -                    -                   -              27,500,000 
 26 March     26 March 
  2020            2023    GBP0.00100        117,125,001                       -                    -                   -             117,125,001 
 26 May         26 May 
  2020            2030    GBP0.00100        290,000,000                       -                    -                   -             290,000,000 
 10                 10 
  November    November 
  2020            2030    GBP0.00100         75,000,000                       -                    -                   -              75,000,000 
 22 July       22 July 
  2021            2031    GBP0.00070                  -             440,000,000                    -                   -             440,000,000 
 22 July       22 July 
  2021            2024    GBP0.00070                  -             150,000,000                    -                   -             150,000,000 
 17                 17 
  December    December 
  2021            2031    GBP0.00060                  -             530,000,000                    -                   -             530,000,000 
                                            539,625,001           1,120,000,000                    -        (30,000,000)           1,629,625,001 
  ----------------------------------  -----------------  ----------------------  -------------------  ------------------  ---------------------- 
 
 
 The number of share options which were exercisable at year end was 
  1,245,000,000 (2021: 1,099,625,001). The weighted average remaining 
  life of share options at the year end was 7 years (2021: 8 years). 
  The weighted average exercise price (in pence) applying to share 
  options during the year was as follows: 
                                                  2022                2021 
 Opening                                         0.08p               0.12p 
 Exercised                                       0.10p                   - 
 Lapsed                                          0.08p               0.44p 
 Cancelled                                       0.10p                   - 
 Issued                                          0.07p               0.07p 
 Closing                                         0.07p               0.08p 
 
 
 20. Share based 
  payments 
 
 Th e fai r value s o f th e option s and warrants 
  grante d hav e bee n calculate d usin g Black--Schole 
  s mode l assumin g th e input s show n below : 
                                 14 July    17 December       22 July       22 July          26 May 
 Grant date                         2022           2021          2021          2021            2020 
 
    Number of options or 
     warrants granted        175,000,000    530,000,000   150,000,000   440,000,000     290,000,000 
   Share price at grant 
    date                           0.07p          0.06p         0.07p         0.07p           0.05p 
   Exercise price at 
    grant date                     0.07p          0.06p         0.07p         0.07p            0.1p 
   Option life                   3 years       10 years       3 years      10 years        10 years 
   Risk free rate                  0.86%          0.86%         0.86%         0.86%           0.86% 
   Expected volatility               80%            80%           80%           80%             80% 
   Expected dividend 
    yield                             0%             0%            0%            0%              0% 
   Fair value of option           0.017p         0.025p         0.02p         0.03p           0.02p 
 
 
 
 During the year, as announced on 14 July 2022, the Company awarded 
  175,000,000 share options to a director of both SundaGas (Timor-Leste 
  Sahul) Pte. Ltd and SundaGas Banda Unipessoal Lda, the latter being 
  the operator of the 'Chuditch' Timor-Leste TL-SO-19-16 PSC. The share 
  options are exercisable at 0.07p, expire three years from grant date 
  and will only vest upon Baron Oil making an announcement that the 
  first appraisal well on the Chuditch PSC has spudded, or in certain 
  limited circumstances such as a takeover event. SundaGas (Timor-Leste 
  Sahul) Pte. Ltd and SundaGas Banda Unipessoal Lda are wholly owned 
  subsidiaries of Baron Oil Plc. 
 Given that vesting is contingent on the spudding of a well at the 
  Chuditch project and that the occurrence of this event is dependent, 
  inter alia, on events outside the control of the director, the Board 
  considered that the current degree of certainty over vesting was such 
  that no share-based payment charges were recorded in respect of these 
  options during 2022. A detailed summary of the current status and 
  future plans for the Chuditch project are given in the Chairman's 
  Statement & Operations Report. 
 

Volatility was determined by reference to the Company's historical share price volatility over a suitable period. During the year, and as announced on 12 January 2022, 240,000,000 share options were cancelled.

 
 21. Directors' 
  emoluments 
                                                                        2022                        2021 
   --------------------------------------------  ---------------------------  -------------------------- 
                                                                     GBP'000                     GBP'000 
 
 Directors' remuneration                                                 390                         349 
 Compensation for 
  loss of office                                                           -                          53 
 Share based payments                                                      -                         256 
                                                                         390                         658 
   --------------------------------------------  ---------------------------  -------------------------- 
 
 
 Highest paid director emoluments and other 
  benefits are as listed below. 
                                                                        2022                        2021 
   --------------------------------------------  ---------------------------  -------------------------- 
                                                                     GBP'000                     GBP'000 
 Remuneration                                                            214                         216 
 Post termination 
  benefits                                                                17                           - 
 Share based payments                                                      -                         145 
 
                                                                         231                         361 
   --------------------------------------------  ---------------------------  -------------------------- 
 
 
 Total remuneration in respect of key management personnel amounted 
  to GBP432,000 (2021: GBP698,000). 
 

22. Financial instruments

The Group's activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: credit risk, cash flow interest rate risk, foreign currency risk, liquidity risk, price risk and capital risk. The Group's activities also expose it to non-financial risks: market risk. The Group's overall risk management programme focuses on unpredictability and seeks to minimise the potential adverse effects on the Group's financial performance. The Board, on a regular basis, reviews key risks and, where appropriate, actions are taken to mitigate the key risks identified.

Financial instruments - Risk Management

The Group is exposed through its operations to the following risks:

 
 Ø Credit risk 
 Ø Cash flow interest rate risk 
 Ø Foreign Exchange Risk 
 Ø Liquidity risk 
 Ø Price risk 
 Ø Capital risk 
 Ø Market risk 
 

In common with all other businesses, the Group is exposed to risks that arise from its use of financial instruments. This note describes the Group's objectives, policies and processes for managing those risks and the methods used to measure them. Further quantitative information in respect of these risks is presented throughout these financial statements.

There have been no substantive changes in the Group's exposure to financial instrument risks, its objectives, policies and processes for managing those risks or the methods used to measure them from previous periods unless otherwise stated in this note.

Principal financial instruments

The principal financial instruments used by the Group, from which financial instrument risk arises are as follows:

 
 Ø Loans and receivables 
 Ø Trade and other receivables 
 Ø Cash and cash equivalents 
 Ø Trade and other payables 
 

General objectives, policies and processes

The Board has overall responsibility for the determination of the Group's risk management objectives and policies and, whilst retaining responsibility for them, it has delegated the authority for designing and operating processes that ensure the effective implementation of the objectives and policies to the Group's finance function. The Board receives regular updates from the Executive Directors through which it reviews the effectiveness of the processes put in place and the appropriateness of the objectives and policies it sets. The overall objective of the Board is to set policies that seek to reduce risk as far as possible without unduly affecting the Group's competitiveness and flexibility. Further details regarding these policies are set out below:

Credit risk

The Group's principal financial assets are bank balances and cash, and other receivables. The credit risk on liquid funds is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies. The amounts presented in the statement of financial position are net of allowance for doubtful receivables. An allowance for impairment is made where there is an identified loss event which, based on previous experiences, is evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the cash flows.

As at 31 December 2022 and 2021 there were no trade receivables.

Cash flow interest rate risk

The Group is exposed to cash flow interest rate risk from its deposits of cash and cash equivalents with banks.

The cash balances maintained by the Group are proactively managed in order to ensure that the maximum level of interest is received for the available funds but without affecting the working capital flexibility the Group requires.

The Group is not at present exposed to cash flow interest rate risk on borrowings as it has no significant debt. No subsidiary company of the Group is permitted to enter into any borrowing facility or lease agreement without the prior consent of the Company.

Interest rates on financial assets

The Group's financial assets consist of cash and cash equivalents, loans, trade and other receivables. The interest rate profile at period end of these assets was as follows:

 
 31 December 2022       Financial 
                           assets         Financial 
                         on which         assets on 
                         interest    which interest 
                           earned        not earned     Total 
                          GBP'000           GBP'000   GBP'000 
 
 UK sterling                4,802               397     5,199 
 US dollar (USD)              168             1,287     1,455 
 Singapore Dollar 
  (SGD)                         -                 4         4 
---------------------  ----------  ----------------  -------- 
 Peruvian Nuevo Sol 
  (PEN)                         -                 -         - 
--------------------   ----------  ----------------  -------- 
                            4,970             1,688     6,658 
 --------------------  ----------  ----------------  -------- 
 
 31 December 2021       Financial 
                           assets         Financial 
                         on which         assets on 
                         interest    which interest 
                           earned        not earned     Total 
                          GBP'000           GBP'000   GBP'000 
 
 UK sterling                  780               123       903 
 US dollar (USD)            1,486               174     1,660 
 Peruvian Nuevo Sol 
  (PEN)                         -                 -         - 
--------------------   ----------  ---------------- 
                            2,266               297     2,563 
 --------------------  ----------  ----------------  -------- 
 

The Group earned interest on its interest bearing financial assets at rates between 1.5% and 4% (2021 0.3% and 1%) during the period.

A change in interest rates on the statement of financial position date would increase/(decrease) the equity and the anticipated annual income or loss by the theoretical amounts presented below. The analysis is made on the assumption that the rest of the variables remain constant. The analysis with respect to 31 December 2021 was prepared under the same assumptions.

 
                               Change of 1.0% in the interest rate 
                                              as of 
                       -------------------------------------------------- 
                               31 December 2022          31 December 2021 
                       ------------------------  ------------------------ 
                          Increase     Decrease     Increase     Decrease 
                           of 1.0%      of 1.0%      of 1.0%      of 1.0% 
                       -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------- 
 Instruments bearing 
  variable interest 
  (GBP'000)                     50         (50)           10         (10) 
                       -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------- 
 

It is considered that there have been no significant changes in cash flow interest rate risk at the reporting date compared to the previous period end and that therefore this risk has had no material impact on earnings or shareholders' equity.

Foreign exchange risk

Foreign exchange risk arises because the Group has operations located in various parts of the world whose functional currency is not the same as the functional currency in which other Group companies are operating. Although its geographical spread reduces the Group's operation risk, the Group's net assets arising from such overseas operations are exposed to currency risk resulting in gains and losses on retranslation into Sterling. Only in exceptional circumstances will the Group consider hedging its net investments in overseas operations, as generally it does not consider that the reduction in foreign currency exposure warrants the cash flow risk created from such hedging techniques. It is the Group's policy to ensure that individual Group entities enter into local transactions in their functional currency wherever possible and that only surplus funds over and above working capital requirements should be transferred to the parent company treasury. The Group considers this policy minimises any unnecessary foreign exchange exposure.

In order to monitor the continuing effectiveness of this policy the Board, through its approval of both corporate and capital expenditure budgets and review of the currency profile of cash balances and management accounts, considers the effectiveness of the policy on an ongoing basis.

The following table discloses the major exchange rates of those currencies utilised by the Group:

 
                                USD    SGD    PEN 
 Average for year ended 31 
  December 2022                1.24   1.71   4.73 
 At 31 December 2022           1.21   1.62   4.55 
 Average for year ended 31 
  December 2021                1.37   1.84   5.27 
 At 31 December 2021           1.35   1.82   5.35 
 
 

A change in exchange rates on the statement of financial position date would increase/(decrease) the equity and net asset position by the theoretical amounts presented below. The analysis is made on the assumption that the rest of the variables remain constant. The analysis with respect to 31 December 2021 was prepared under the same assumptions.

 
                                  Change of 10.0% in the GBP/USD rate 
                                                 as of 
                        ------------------------------------------------------ 
                                  31 December 2022            31 December 2021 
                        --------------------------  -------------------------- 
                            Increase      Decrease      Increase      Decrease 
                            of 10.0%      of 10.0%      of 10.0%      of 10.0% 
                        ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Net assets (GBP'000)          (279)           340         (148)           393 
                        ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

It is considered that there have been no significant changes in exchange rate risk at the reporting date compared to the previous period end and that therefore this risk has had no material impact on earnings or shareholders' equity.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk arises from the Group's management of working capital and the finance charges and principal repayments on its debt instruments. It is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting its financial obligations as they fall due.

The Group's policy is to ensure that it will always have sufficient cash to allow it to meet its liabilities when they become due. To achieve this aim, it seeks to maintain readily available cash balances (or agreed facilities) to meet expected requirements for a period of at least 60 days. The Group currently has no long term borrowings.

Price risk

Potential oil and gas sales revenue is subject to energy market price risk.

Given that the Company currently does not have production , it is not considered appropriate for the Group to enter into any hedging activities or trade in any financial instruments, such as derivatives. This strategy will continue to be subject to regular review.

It is considered that price risk of the Group at the reporting date has not increased compared to the previous period end.

Volatility of oil and gas prices

A material part of the Group's revenue will be derived from the sale of oil and gas that it expects to produce. A future substantial or extended decline in prices for oil and gas and refined products could adversely affect the Group's future revenues, cash flows, profitability and ability to finance its planned capital expenditure. The movement of crude oil and natural gas prices is shown below:

 
 
                                 31 December   Average   31 December 
                                        2022     price          2021 
                                                  2022 
 Crude oil - WTI 
 Per barrel - US$                        $81       $92           $75 
 Per barrel - GBP                      GBP67     GBP74         GBP56 
 
 Natural gas LNG Japan/Korea 
  Marker (Platts) 
 Per Million Btu - 
  US$                                    $19       $32           $25 
 Per Million Btu -                     GBP15     GBP26         GBP18 
  GBP 
 
 
 

Oil and gas prices are dependent on a number of factors impacting world supply and demand. Due to these factors, prices may be subject to significant fluctuations from year to year. However, these prices had no effect on the Group's results for 2022, since it had no production.

Capital risk

The Group's objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits to other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

23. Capital commitments

As of 31 December 2022, there were no capital commitments (2021: none).

   24.   Contingent Liabilities 

The Company considers that there are no potential decommissioning costs in respect of abandoned fields.

25. Events after the reporting period

On 20 February 2023, the Company issued 62,500,000 new ordinary shares of 0.025p each following the exercise of options by a former director, raising new capital of GBP62,000 gross, GBP50,000 net of costs.

26. Ultimate controlling party

Baron Oil Plc is listed on the AIM market operated by the London Stock Exchange. At the date of the Annual Report in the Directors' opinion there is no controlling party.

 
 27. Related party transactions 
 
 Company 
 During the year, the Company advanced loans to its subsidiaries. 
  The details of the transactions and the amount owed by the 
  subsidiaries at the year end were. 
                                            Year ended 31 December                     Year ended 31 December 
                                                     2022                                       2021 
                                      ---------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------- 
                                                 Balance   Loan advance            Balance           Loan advance 
                                                 GBP'000        GBP'000            GBP'000                         GBP'000 
 SundaGas (Timor-Leste Sahul) 
  Pty. Ltd                                          2898          1,972                926                             926 
 Gold Oil Peru S.A.C 
  *                                                  941             42                899                             124 
 
 
 * The Company has provided for an impairment of GBP941,000 
  (2021: GBP899,000) on the outstanding loans. 
 
 
 Group and company 
 
 SundaGas (Timor-Leste Sahul) Pty. Ltd ("TLS"), a wholly-owned 
  subsidiary paid fees amounting to US$285,000 (2021: US$369,000) 
  to SundaGas Pte. Ltd, a company in which Dr. Andrew Butler, 
  a director of TLS, held a significant interest. 
 
 The Directors' aggregate remuneration and any associated bene 
  ts in respect of qualifying services are disclosed in note 
  21. 
 
 During the year, key management personnel subscribed for new 
  ordinary shares of GBP0.00025 each in the Company as part 
  of placings and subscriptions of new ordinary shares as follows. 
 
                                 Announced 29 
                                April 2022, at             Announced 16 November 
                               a price of 0.06p               2022, at a price 
                                   per share                 of 0.12p per share 
 
 Andrew Yeo                   16,150,000 shares              8,000,000 shares 
 Dr Andrew Butler 
  *                                   -                      50,000,000 shares 
 
 During the year, key management personnel were awarded options 
  to subscribe to new ordinary shares of GBP0.00025 each in 
  the Company as follows. 
                                                             Exercise      Final exercise 
                                            Number             price            date 
 Dr Andrew Butler                                                             14 July 
  *                                       175,000,000         0.07p             2025 
 
 * Director of SundaGas (Timor-Leste Sahul) Pty. Ltd. 
 
 On 25 November 2022, the Company assumed 100% of the collateral 
  for a US$1 million amount (the "Deposit") in relation to the 
  performance bank guarantee arrangements connected to the Chuditch 
  PSC (the "Guarantee"), by providing approximately US$667,000 
  to SundaGas Pte. Ltd ("SGPL") to replace the two thirds contribution 
  (approximately US$667,000) previously made by SGPL, which 
  was the other indirect shareholder in SundaGas Banda Unipessoal 
  Lda. until 18 June 2021. The relationship agreement between 
  SGPL, its principals and Baron as originally announced on 
  18 June 2021 (the "Relationship Agreement") was also varied 
  so that Baron is entitled to all the benefit of and rights 
  to the return of the Deposit should it be released or when 
  the Guarantee expires in due course on 1 August 2023. The 
  changes to the provision of the funds for the Deposit and 
  the variations to the Relationship Agreement were deemed to 
  be related party transactions pursuant to the AIM Rules for 
  Companies. 
 
  In June 2021, the Company agreed to acquire the remaining 
  15% of SundaGas Timor-Leste (Sahul) Pte. Ltd. ("TLS") which 
  the Company did not own in exchange for the issuance of 1,157,202,885 
  new ordinary shares in the Company to SundaGas Pte. Ltd ("SGPL") 
  (the "Share Exchange"). TLS is the parent company of the Timor-Leste 
  subsidiary SundaGas Banda Unipessoal Lda. ("Banda"), which 
  is the Operator of and 75% interest holder in the offshore 
  Timor-Leste TL-SO-19-16 PSC (the "Chuditch PSC"). SGPL is 
  the parent company of SundaGas Resources Pte. Ltd. ("SGR"), 
  which was the holder of the 15% interest in TLS acquired by 
  Baron pursuant to the Share Exchange. 
 
  Through the Share Exchange, the Company became the sole shareholder 
  of TLS, which provided a 75% effective interest in the Chuditch 
  PSC. The Company's responsibility to carry SGR's share of 
  nancial contributions until the end of the PSC's Firm Commitment 
  Period in November 2022 was extinguished following completion 
  of the Share Exchange. Under the terms of an Amended Services 
  Agreement between SGPL and TLS (which was extended to the 
  end of December 2022), SGPL will continue to be paid fees 
  for management and administrative services. 
 
  As SGPL through its subsidiary SGR held more than 10% of TLS's 
  ordinary shares immediately before the Share Exchange, the 
  Share Exchange was deemed to be a related party transaction 
  pursuant to rule 13 of the AIM Rules for Companies. 
 
 

28. Restatement of comparative figures

The Directors have reviewed the presentation of the performance bonds deposited with banks as part of the Group's exploration activities and have concluded that such deposits should not be considered as cash equivalents. Therefore the comparative period has been restated to represent this reallocation. Further details of the terms of the performance bonds held are given in Note 15.

In addition, the Board have reviewed the allocation of certain non-cash items within the cash flow statement have restated the comparative consolidated cash flow statement accordingly.

The comparative figures in the Statement of Other Comprehensive Income have also been restated so that movements in the share-based payment reserve following share option exercises or lapses are presented as an adjustment between reserves within equity and not within Other Comprehensive Income.

None of the restatements impact on the Earnings Per Share as reported in 2021.

Glossary

 
BSCF                                                       Billion standard cubic feet of natural gas. 
 
Geological chance of success or Geological Probability of  The estimated probability that exploration activities will 
Success                                                    confirm the existence of a significant 
                                                           accumulation of potentially recoverable petroleum. 
 
Contingent Resources                                       Those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given 
                                                           date, to be potentially recoverable 
                                                           from known accumulations by application of development 
                                                           projects, but which are not currently 
                                                           considered to be commercially recoverable owing to one or 
                                                           more contingencies. 
 
GIIP                                                       Volume of natural gas initially in-place in a reservoir. 
 
High or 3U Estimate                                          Denotes the high estimate qualifying as Prospective 
                                                             Resources. Reflects a volume estimate 
                                                             that there is a 10% probability that the quantities 
                                                             actually recovered will equal or exceed 
                                                             the estimate. 
Licence Operator or Administrator                            The Company nominated to carry out operational 
                                                             activities. In the context of the UK jurisdiction, 
                                                             during the initial Phase A of a licence the nominated 
                                                             Company is termed a licence administrator. 
 
  MMBBL                                                       Million barrels of oil or condensate. 
 
  MMBOE, Oil equivalent                                       Million barrels of oil equivalent. Volume derived by 
                                                              dividing the estimate of the volume of 
                                                              natural gas in billion cubic feet by six in order to 
                                                              convert it to an equivalent in million 
                                                              barrels of oil or condensate, and, where relevant, 
                                                              adding this to an estimate of the volume 
                                                              of oil in millions of barrels. 
 
Prospective Resources                                      Quantities of petroleum that are estimated to exist 
                                                           originally in naturally occurring reservoirs, 
                                                           as of a given date. Crude oil in-place, natural gas 
                                                           in-place, and natural bitumen in-place 
                                                           are defined in the same manner. 
 
SPE PRMS 2018                                              The Society of Petroleum Engineers' ("SPE") Petroleum 
                                                           Resources Management System ("PRMS") 
                                                           is a system developed for consistent and reliable 
                                                           definition, classification, and estimation 
                                                           of hydrocarbon resources prepared by the Oil and Gas 
                                                           Reserves Committee of SPE and approved 
                                                           by the SPE Board in June 2018 following input from six 
                                                           sponsoring societies: the World Petroleum 
                                                           Council, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 
                                                           the Society of Petroleum Evaluation 
                                                           Engineers, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the 
                                                           European Association of Geoscientists 
                                                           and Engineers, and the Society of Petrophysicists and Well 
                                                           Log Analysts. 
 
  SPE PRMS Unrisked Prospective                               Denotes the unrisked estimate qualifying as SPE PRMS 
  Resources                                                   2018 Prospective Resources. 
 
  Mean                                                        Reflects an unrisked median or best-case volume estimate 
                                                              of resource derived using probabilistic 
                                                              methodology. This is the mean of the probability 
                                                              distribution for the resource estimates and 
                                                              is often not the same as 2U as the distribution can be 
                                                              skewed by high resource numbers with 
                                                              relatively low probabilities. 
 
  PSC                                                          Production Sharing Contract. 
 
PSDM                                                         Pre-Stack Depth Migration version of processed seismic 
                                                             data. 
 
TCF                                                          Trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas 
 
TGS-NOPEC                                                    TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company. 
 
 

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