Tullow Oil says close to tax deal with Uganda government

April 26, 2019 in Business, Companies, Energy, Hydrocarbons, Investment by Editor

McDade said Tullow has agreed on the principles for the tax treatment of its $900 million farm-down to CNOOC and Total.

April 26—London-based Tullow Oil told shareholders on Thursday, a Final Investment Decision (FID) on a joint venture bid to drill for commercial oil in Uganda will be taken between June and December after finalizing a tax dispute with the government.

Chief Executive Officer, Paul McDade said in a statement in advance of the company AGM, “Following meetings in January 2019 between the CEOs of both Tullow and Total and H.E. President Museveni of Uganda, Tullow has agreed the principles for the tax treatment of its $900 million farm-down to CNOOC and Total.”

In early January 2017, Tullow agreed to farm-down some of its assets in Uganda to Total E&P. Tullow agreed to transfer 21.57 pc of its 33.33 pc interest in Exploration Areas 1, 1A, 2 and 3A in western Uganda to Total for $900 million.

Soon after, China National Offshore Oil Company Uganda Limited (CNOOC Uganda) exercised its pre-emption rights under the joint operating agreements to acquire 50 pc of the interests being transferred to Total on the same terms and conditions.

The deal left Tullow with an 11.76 pc interest in the upstream and pipeline, which will reduce to 10 pc when the government formally exercises its right to back-in.

The deal was split into $200 million in cash, consisting of $100 million payable on completion of the transaction, $50 million payable at FID and $50 million payable at first oil.

The remaining $700 million is in deferred consideration and represents reimbursement in cash of a proportion of Tullow’s past exploration and development costs. Company officials said the deferred consideration will fund Tullow’s share of the development and pipeline costs as the Lake Albert Development project.

During the past two years, Tullow and the government through the Uganda Revenue Authority, have failed to see eye-to-eye on the appropriate capital gains tax payable. This has slowed any further developments on the oilfields until now.

“These discussions are expected to conclude shortly and will enable completion of the farm-down. The Joint Venture Partners continue to work towards reaching FID for the development project in the second half of 2019 with the project making good technical and operational progress in the first quarter of this year,” Mcdade said.