[ad_1]
(Add the comments of the CEO)
By Victoria Klesty
OSLO, July 18 (Reuters) – Norwegian investment firm Aker could launch its initial public offering (AIP) of Aker Energy in late 2019 or 2020, depending on when Ghana approves the development plan for its Pecan oil field, said the general manager.
The company, controlled by Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Roekke, said it wants to make Aker Energy a leading exploration and production company on the continental shelf of Ghana.
"My hypothesis, it's a late 2019 or over the next year," said Aker's general manager, Oeyvind Eriksen, to Reuters about plans to introduce it. stock Exchange.
Ghanaian authorities to approve Aker Energy's revised $ 4.4 billion development plan for its offshore Pecan field by the end of the third quarter of 2019, although delays can not be ruled out, said Eriksen.
Eriksen said he expects Aker Energy to raise the necessary capital despite the volatility of the oil and gas market.
A first step towards capital attraction was taken this month, when Aker Energy issued $ 100 million of subordinated convertible bonds to Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).
The bonds have a coupon of 5.5% and will be converted into shares in case of IPO.
Production should begin 35 months after the final investment decision.
In other activities, Aker BP, in which Aker holds 40% and BP, 30%, recently made an oil discovery, called Liataarnet, in the NOAKA area of the North Sea with its partner LOTOS.
Eriksen said the discovery, which would hold between 80 and 200 million barrels of oil equivalent, could help Aker BP in its discussions with Equinor in Norway on the development of NOAKA's oil and gas fields.
"I noticed that Equinor had publicly stated a few weeks ago that Aker BP's technical solution did not interest them, but this statement had been made before the discovery of Liataarnet, and that is going to change the dynamics of this discussion, "he said.
"It goes without saying that with a new and equally great discovery, Equinor and we need to revisit the technical concept," he added. (Edited by Edmund Blair)
Source link
