PJSC LukOil LUKOIL Reports 1Q2019 Preliminary Operating Data (8581Y)

TIDMLKOD

RNS Number : 8581Y

PJSC LukOil

13 May 2019

LUKOIL REPORTS PRELIMINARY OPERATING DATA FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2019

In the first quarter of 2019 LUKOIL Group's average hydrocarbon production excluding the West Qurna-2 project was 2,379 thousand boe per day, which is 4.1% higher year-on-year and 0.3% higher quarter-on-quarter. The increase was mainly driven by the development of gas projects in Uzbekistan.

Hydrocarbon production, thousand boe per day

 
 1Q 2019   4Q 2018                                       1Q 2019   1Q 2018 
--------  --------  ----------------------------------  --------  -------- 
                     Total (excluding the West Qurna-2 
   2,379     2,371    project)                             2,379     2,286 
--------  --------  ----------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

Oil production excluding the West Qurna-2 project in the first quarter of 2019 was 21.2 million tonnes, which is 1.5% higher year-on-year and 0.5% lower quarter-on-quarter in average daily terms. LUKOIL Group's oil production volumes and dynamics are mainly defined by the external limitations of Russian companies' production volumes.

Oil production, thousand tonnes

 
 1Q 2019   4Q 2018                                            1Q 2019   1Q 2018 
--------  --------  ---------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
                     Total (excluding the West Qurna-2 
  21,244    21,832    project)                                 21,244    20,926 
  20,328    20,922          Russia                             20,328    20,005 
  20,177    20,763                  Subsidiaries               20,177    19,847 
     151       159                  Share in affiliates           151       158 
     916       910          Outside of Russia                     916       921 
     484       497                  Subsidiaries                  484       490 
     432       413                  Share in affiliates           432       431 
                     Compensation oil from the West Qurna-2 
     390       276    project                                     390       451 
  21,634    22,108   Total                                     21,634    21,377 
--------  --------  ---------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

Active development of the priority projects continued. In particular, in the first quarter of 2019 oil production at the V. Filanovsky field increased by 18% year-on-year. The seventh well was commissioned at the second production platform of the field.

In the first quarter of 2019 oil production at the Yu. Korchagin field increased by 27% year-on-year as a result of drilling program at the field's second development stage.

The development of the Yaregskoe field and Permian reservoir of the Usinskoe field, including the launch of new steam-generating capacities, allowed increasing high viscosity oil production in the first quarter of 2019 by 16% year-on-year, to 1.2 million tonnes.

The development of growth projects in West Siberia also continued. Overall oil and gas condensate production at the V. Vinogradov, Imilorskoe and Pyakyakhinskoe fields increased in the first quarter of 2019 by 14% year-on-year.

The share of the abovementioned projects in the LUKOIL Group's oil production excluding the West Qurna-2 project amounted to 18% in the first quarter of 2019 compared to 15% in the first quarter of 2018.

Gas production, million cubic meters

 
 1Q 2019   4Q 2018                                        1Q 2019   1Q 2018 
--------  --------  -----------------------------------  --------  -------- 
   8,976     8,905   Total                                  8,976     7,999 
   4,407     4,405          Russia                          4,407     4,496 
   4,386     4,385                  Subsidiaries            4,386     4,473 
      21        20                  Share in affiliates        21        23 
   4,569     4,500          Outside of Russia               4,569     3,503 
   4,406     4,341                  Subsidiaries            4,406     3,343 
     163       159                  Share in affiliates       163       160 
--------  --------  -----------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

In the first quarter of 2019, LUKOIL Group's gas production was 9.0 billion cubic meters, which is 12% higher year-on-year. The main driver of gas production growth was the development of projects in Uzbekistan. As a result of the launch of the second stage of the Kandym gas processing plant, production in Uzbekistan in the first quarter of 2019 increased to 3.8 billion cubic meters (LUKOIL's share) which is 33% higher year-on-year.

Refinery throughput, thousand tonnes

 
 1Q 2019   4Q 2018                                                1Q 2019   1Q 2018 
--------  --------  -------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
  16,668    17,002   Total for LUKOIL Group refineries             16,668    16,113 
  10,967    10,927          Russia                                 10,967    10,655 
   5,701     6,075          Outside of Russia                       5,701     5,458 
   5,224     5,544                  Oil processing                  5,224     4,549 
     477       531                  Refined products processing       477       909 
   1,588     1,634   Third party refineries abroad                  1,588     1,660 
--------  --------  -------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

In the first quarter of 2019 refinery throughput at LUKOIL Group's refineries was 16.7 million tonnes, which in average daily terms is 0.2% higher quarter-on-quarter and 3.4% higher year-on-year.

Refinery throughput in Russia increased to 11.0 million tonnes, which in average daily terms is 2.6% higher quarter-on-quarter and 2.9% higher year-on-year. The increase was due to higher utilization rate of the Nizhny Novgorod refinery.

Lower quarter-on-quarter refinery throughput in Europe was driven by feedstock supply disruptions through the port of Novorossiysk due to weather conditions. Higher year-on-year refinery throughput in Europe was driven by the maintenance works at the refineries in Bulgaria and Italy in the first quarter of 2018.

Note:

LUKOIL will release its Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and MD&A for the first quarter of 2019 on May 29, 2019.

The information in this press release is an estimate of the LUKOIL Group's results for the first quarter of 2019 and therefore constitutes forward-looking statements. This information is preliminary and based on information available at the date of this document, and may be revised after statistical, financial, tax and accounting statements become available. The information on the LUKOIL Group's operational results in this press release are subject to many external factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in this press release for the first quarter of 2019. The LUKOIL Group assumes no obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

This document does not constitute or form part of an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity with, or any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for, any securities of, the LUKOIL Group, nor shall any part of it nor the fact of its distribution form part of or be relied on in connection with any contract or investment decision relating thereto, nor does it constitute a recommendation regarding the securities of, or any investment in, the LUKOIL Group.

Information about the Company:

PJSC "LUKOIL" is one of the largest publicly traded, vertically integrated oil and gas companies in the world in terms of proved hydrocarbon reserves and production; and the second largest producer of crude oil in Russia. Established in 1991, the Company currently operates in more than 30 countries with core upstream assets located in Russia. The full production cycle includes oil and gas exploration, production and refining; production of petrochemicals and lubricants; power generation; marketing and distribution. The Company's shares are listed in Russia on Moscow Exchange under the ticker "LKOH" and depositary receipts are listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker "LKOD".

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May 13, 2019 10:30 ET (14:30 GMT)