Operational Report Quarter ended 31 December 2022

RNS Number : 0848O

Tlou Energy Ltd

27 January 2023

 

27 January 2023

Tlou Energy Limited

("Tlou" or "the Company")

Operational Report - Quarter ended 31 December 2022

Highlights

Ø Transmission line construction progressing

Ø Development of a purpose-built operations facility nearing completion

Ø Preparations for drilling in 1Q23 on-track

Ø New strategic investor and long-term funder secured

Projects

The Company has three project areas in Botswana.

· Lesedi Project - Power Development, Exploration & Evaluation

· Mamba Project - Exploration & Evaluation

· Boomslang Project - Exploration & Evaluation

Lesedi Project

The Lesedi Project consists of three Prospecting Licences (PL) and a Production Licence. The first stage of development is a 10MW power generation facility which will be located in the Company's Production Licence area.

The status of the Lesedi licences is as follows:

Licence	Expiry	Status
Production Licence 2017/18L	August 2042	Current
PL 001/2004	September 2023	Current*
PL 003/2004	September 2023	Current*
PL 037/2000	September 2022	Verbal confirmation of renewal received. Awaiting written confirmation post implementation of new IT system at the department of mines..

*PL renewal applications are submitted three months prior to expiry.

The Company is working on bringing the Lesedi 10MW gas to power project into production as quickly as possible and, subject to available funding, Tlou plans to rapidly expand to 25MW and beyond. Tlou's initial 10MW PPA is part of a 100MW Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of CBM power projects in Botswana. This, coupled with an existing 90MW RFP for supply of gas or power to the Orapa Diamond Mine, creates enormous expansion potential.

Gas-to-Power project

The first electricity generated at the Lesedi project will be sold under a 10MW Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), the national power utility in Botswana. Once in full production 10MW of generation could provide annual revenue of approximately US$10m, noting that CPI escalation also applies.

The project is in development including construction of transmission lines, substations as well as the field operations facility and generation site.

Transmission Line Construction

To connect to Botswana's power network, a 100 km transmission line is being built from the Lesedi project to join the grid near the town of Serowe. Construction is being done by Zismo Engineering Pty Ltd (Zismo) and is expected to be completed around mid-2023.

Achieved progress as at end of December 2022 was 33%. Zismo are fast tracking the wooden pole works with intent to complete these in February 2023, earlier than planned. They will then focus on stringing work and the steel monopole section. Procurement has caused some issues to date, however, many materials were shipped during the quarter and have now reached Botswana.

Substation Construction

Substations are required at either end of the transmission line, one to tie Tlou's generators to the transmission line at Lesedi and another to integrate the line with the existing BPC substation at Serowe. This work will be completed by South African based OptiPower, a division of Murray & Roberts Ltd.

Lesedi Operations Facility

Work is continuing on a purpose-built operations facility for the initial 10MW development and to allow for rapid project expansion thereafter. This project is being undertaken by Tlou through its consultant contractor African Gas Services (AGS) and it is expected to be completed during 1Q23. AGS is also undertaking the management and construction of the power plant and gas gathering network.

Drilling and Gas production

The Lesedi 4 production pod continues to produce gas. A key focus in the coming year is to drill more production wells for the 10MW project. Methane production of approximately 220-250 mcfd (thousand cubic feet per day) is expected to be required for 1MW of power generation. Work commenced during the quarter preparing for the Company's next production pod, Lesedi 6, with drilling expected to commence during 1Q23. This will include drilling of a core-hole to assess coal depth followed by the vertical production well and two lateral wells. Once drilling is complete, the pod will be flushed and then commence dewatering and gas production. Thereafter, drilling of more production pods is planned.

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Mamba Project

The Mamba project consists of five PL's covering an area of approximately 4,500 Km². The Mamba area is situated adjacent to Lesedi. In the event of a gas field development by Tlou, the Mamba area provides the Company with flexibility and optionality. 

The Mamba project is in the exploration and evaluation phase with further operations required on these licences. In the event of successful drilling results at Mamba, it is envisioned that this area would be developed as a separate project from Lesedi.

The status of the Mamba licences is as follows:

Licence	Expiry	Status
PL 237/2014	September 2023	Current
PL 238/2014	September 2023	Current
PL 239/2014	September 2023	Current
PL 240/2014	September 2023	Current
PL 241/2014	September 2023	Current

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Boomslang Project

Prospecting Licence, PL011/2019 designated "Boomslang", is approximately 1,000 Km² and is situated adjacent to the Company's existing licences. To date, the Company has not carried out ground operations in the Boomslang area.

The status of the Boomslang licence is as follows:

Licence	Expiry	Status
PL 011/2019	June 2024	Current

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Cash Position

At the end of the quarter the Company had ~A$6.1m cash on hand (unaudited). The aggregate value of payments to related parties and their associates of A$154k for the quarter (shown in item 6.1 of the attached Quarterly Cashflow Report) relates to directors' salaries and fees (including tax and superannuation payments made on their behalf) and office rent.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the retained EU law version of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (withdrawal) Act 2018. The information is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of the UK MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

By Authority of the Board of Directors

Mr. Anthony Gilby

Managing Director

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For further information regarding this announcement please contact:

Tlou Energy Limited	[phone]
Tony Gilby, Managing Director
Solomon Rowland, General Manager
Grant Thornton (Nominated Adviser)	[phone]
Harrison Clarke, Colin Aaronson, Ciara Donnelly
Zeus Capital (UK Broker)	[phone]
Simon Johnson
Public Relations
Ashley Seller	[phone]

About Tlou

Tlou is developing energy solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa through gas-fired power and ancillary projects. The Company is listed on the ASX (Australia), AIM (UK) and the BSE (Botswana). The Lesedi Gas-to-Power Project ("Lesedi") is 100% owned and is the Company's most advanced project.  Tlou's competitive advantages include the ability to drill cost effectively for gas, operational experience and Lesedi's strategic location in relation to energy customers. All major government approvals have been achieved.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements.  Actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking information involves risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results.  No representation is made that any of those statements or forecasts will come to pass or that any forecast results will be achieved.  You are cautioned not to place any reliance on such statements or forecasts.  Those forward-looking and other statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. Save as required by any applicable law or regulation, Tlou Energy Limited undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Appendix 5B

Mining exploration entity or oil and gas exploration entity
quarterly cash flow report

Name of entity
Tlou Energy Limited
ABN		Quarter ended ("current quarter")
79 136 739 967		31 December 2022

Consolidated statement of cash flows		Current quarter $A'000	Year to date (6 months) $A'000
1.	Cash flows from operating activities
1.1	Receipts from customers
1.2	Payments for
	(a)  exploration & evaluation
	(b)  development	(71)	(134)
	(c)  production
	(d)  staff costs	(235)	(455)
	(e)  administration and corporate costs	(699)	(1,044)
1.3	Dividends received (see note 3)
1.4	Interest received	6	6
1.5	Interest and other costs of finance paid
1.6	Income taxes paid
1.7	Government grants and tax incentives
1.8	Other (provide details if material)	46	166
1.9	Net cash from / (used in) operating activities	(953)	(1,461)
2.	Cash flows from investing activities
2.1	Payments to acquire or for:
	(a)  entities
	(b)  tenements
	(c)  property, plant and equipment	(615)	(633)
	(d)  exploration & evaluation	(522)	(1,901)
	(e)  investments
	(f)  other non-current assets	(2,464)	(2,866)
2.2	Proceeds from the disposal of:
	(a)  entities
	(b)  tenements
	(c)  property, plant and equipment
	(d)  investments
	(e)  other non-current assets
2.3	Cash flows from loans to other entities
2.4	Dividends received (see note 3)
2.5	Other (provide details if material)
2.6	Net cash from / (used in) investing activities	(3,601)	(5,400)
3.	Cash flows from financing activities	5,000	5,001
3.1	Proceeds from issues of equity securities (excluding convertible debt securities)
3.2	Proceeds from issue of convertible debt securities
3.3	Proceeds from exercise of options
3.4	Transaction costs related to issues of equity securities or convertible debt securities
3.5	Proceeds from borrowings
3.6	Repayment of borrowings
3.7	Transaction costs related to loans and borrowings
3.8	Dividends paid
3.9	Other (provide details if material)	(6)	(11)
3.10	Net cash from / (used in) financing activities	(4,994)	(4,990)
4.	Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the period
4.1	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	5,883	7,875
4.2	Net cash from / (used in) operating activities (item 1.9 above)	(953)	(1,461)
4.3	Net cash from / (used in) investing activities (item 2.6 above)	(3,601)	(5,400)
4.4	Net cash from / (used in) financing activities (item 3.10 above)	4,994	4,990
4.5	Effect of movement in exchange rates on cash held	(167)	152
4.6	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	6,156	6,156

5.	Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter (as shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows) to the related items in the accounts	Current quarter $A'000	Previous quarter $A'000
5.1	Bank balances	6,156	5,883
5.2	Call deposits
5.3	Bank overdrafts
5.4	Other (provide details)
5.5	Cash and cash equivalents at end of quarter (should equal item 4.6 above)	6,156	5,883

 

6.	Payments to related parties of the entity and their associates	Current quarter $A'000
6.1	Aggregate amount of payments to related parties and their associates included in item 1	154
6.2	Aggregate amount of payments to related parties and their associates included in item 2
Note: if any amounts are shown in items 6.1 or 6.2, your quarterly activity report must include a description of, and an explanation for, such payments.

7.	Financing facilities Note: the term "facility' includes all forms of financing arrangements available to the entity. Add notes as necessary for an understanding of the sources of finance available to the entity.	Total facility amount at quarter end $A'000	Amount drawn at quarter end $A'000
7.1	Loan facilities
7.2	Credit standby arrangements
7.3	Other (please specify)
7.4	Total financing facilities
7.5	Unused financing facilities available at quarter end
7.6	Include in the box below a description of each facility above, including the lender, interest rate, maturity date and whether it is secured or unsecured. If any additional financing facilities have been entered into or are proposed to be entered into after quarter end, include a note providing details of those facilities as well.

8.	Estimated cash available for future operating activities	$A'000
8.1	Net cash from / (used in) operating activities (item 1.9)	953
8.2	(Payments for exploration & evaluation classified as investing activities) (item 2.1(d))	522
8.3	Total relevant outgoings (item 8.1 + item 8.2)	1,475
8.4	Cash and cash equivalents at quarter end (item 4.6)	6,156
8.5	Unused finance facilities available at quarter end (item 7.5)	-
8.6	Total available funding (item 8.4 + item 8.5)	6,156
8.7	Estimated quarters of funding available (item 8.6 divided by item 8.3)	4.2
	Note: if the entity has reported positive relevant outgoings (ie a net cash inflow) in item 8.3, answer item 8.7 as "N/A". Otherwise, a figure for the estimated quarters of funding available must be included in item 8.7.
8.8	If item 8.7 is less than 2 quarters, please provide answers to the following questions:
	8.8.1  Does the entity expect that it will continue to have the current level of net operating cash flows for the time being and, if not, why not?
	Answer:
	8.8.2  Has the entity taken any steps, or does it propose to take any steps, to raise further cash to fund its operations and, if so, what are those steps and how likely does it believe that they will be successful?
	Answer:
	8.8.3  Does the entity expect to be able to continue its operations and to meet its business objectives and, if so, on what basis?
	Answer:
	Note: where item 8.7 is less than 2 quarters, all of questions 8.8.1, 8.8.2 and 8.8.3 above must be answered.

Compliance statement

1  This statement has been prepared in accordance with accounting standards and policies which comply with Listing Rule 19.11A.

2  This statement gives a true and fair view of the matters disclosed.

Date:  .....27/01/2023...............................................................

Authorised by:  ....By the Board.............................................................

(Name of body or officer authorising release - see note 4)

Notes

1.  This quarterly cash flow report and the accompanying activity report provide a basis for informing the market about the entity's activities for the past quarter, how they have been financed and the effect this has had on its cash position. An entity that wishes to disclose additional information over and above the minimum required under the Listing Rules is encouraged to do so.

2.  If this quarterly cash flow report has been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, the definitions in, and provisions of, AASB 6: Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources and AASB 107: Statement of Cash Flows apply to this report. If this quarterly cash flow report has been prepared in accordance with other accounting standards agreed by ASX pursuant to Listing Rule 19.11A, the corresponding equivalent standards apply to this report.

3.  Dividends received may be classified either as cash flows from operating activities or cash flows from investing activities, depending on the accounting policy of the entity.

4.  If this report has been authorised for release to the market by your board of directors, you can insert here: "By the board". If it has been authorised for release to the market by a committee of your board of directors, you can insert here: "By the [name of board committee - eg Audit and Risk Committee]". If it has been authorised for release to the market by a disclosure committee, you can insert here: "By the Disclosure Committee".

5.  If this report has been authorised for release to the market by your board of directors and you wish to hold yourself out as complying with recommendation 4.2 of the ASX Corporate Governance Council's Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations, the board should have received a declaration from its CEO and CFO that, in their opinion, the financial records of the entity have been properly maintained, that this report complies with the appropriate accounting standards and gives a true and fair view of the cash flows of the entity, and that their opinion has been formed on the basis of a sound system of risk management and internal control which is operating effectively.

 

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