Harbour Power posted pre-tax earnings of $315 million (£239m) for full-year 2021, and expects a windfall of as much as £1.3bn in free cashflow by the top of the 12 months as increased commodity value prevail.

Releasing its annual outcomes on Thursday, the London-listed impartial famous a soar in income from $2.4 billion (£1.8bn) in 2020 to $3.6bn (£2.7bn) final 12 months. Revenue after tax was some $101 million, a major enchancment on $778m (£590m) losses in 2020.

Trying to its forecast for 2022, at common costs of $100/bbl for oil and 200p/therm for gasoline by means of the 12 months, the group expects to generate between $1.5-1.7bn (£1.15-1.3bn) of free money circulation after tax “with the potential to be debt free in 2023.”

Harbour mentioned its improved outcomes have been pushed by increased income and decrease impairments, although these have been offset by increased value of gross sales and exploration and analysis bills.

In the meantime, internet debt rose by $700m to $2.3 billion (£1.8bn) at 12 months finish, primarily because of drawdown previous to its merger, Harbour mentioned.

Manufacturing averaged 175,000 barrels of oil equal per day (boepd) in 2021, up barely on the 173,000 boepd seen the 12 months earlier than.

Nonetheless, Harbour is but to announce first gasoline from its long-delayed Tolmount undertaking within the southern North Sea.

The corporate mentioned at the moment that platform commissioning was “largely full” and that start-up was “underway”, though it now has simply weeks to make its said deadline of first gasoline inside Q1 2022.

The corporate’s 2P reserves elevated to 488 million boe, representing 157% 2P reserves alternative. Nonetheless, whereas the addition of Premier Oil’s portfolio contributed to the increase, disappointing improvement drilling at Tolmount additionally resulted in a reserves downgrade final 12 months.

Looking forward to 2022, Harbour reported a “robust” stability sheet and expects manufacturing to rise by roughly 15% to 195-210,000 boepd, on the again of common manufacturing of 219,000 to the top of February.

It mentioned the rise can be underpinned by a full 12 months of manufacturing from the Premier portfolio and from Tolmount.

2021 noticed profitable drilling at Elgin Franklin, Everest and Beryl within the UK and Natuna Sea Block A in Indonesia, the corporate famous, whereas manufacturing in 2022 is predicted to learn from decrease deliberate upkeep ranges and contributions from new wells together with on the J-Space and Catcher Space within the UK, and Chim Sao in Vietnam.

Its opex and whole capex steering stay unchanged at $15-16/boe and $1.3 billion (£1bn), respectively.

This expenditure will help a programme throughout its portfolio, together with 23 infill and improvement wells and several other effectively intervention campaigns. As well as, Harbour pointed to ongoing manufacturing and plant optimisation, together with a number of compression tasks and gasoline reinjection programmes, serving to to underpin future manufacturing and offset pure decline.

The 12 months may even see the corporate transfer ahead with out former Europe chief government – and founding father of predecessor Chrysaor – Phil Kirk, who stepped down on the finish of February.

Commenting on the outcomes, chief government Linda Z Prepare dinner mentioned: “2021 was a transformational 12 months with completion of the merger, our third important transaction since 2017. Because of this, we turned a public firm with a world footprint and the biggest London-listed impartial oil and gasoline firm.

“With our scale, our dedication to producing safely and responsibly, our sturdy stability sheet and monitor file of profitable M&A, I consider we’re effectively positioned to ship worth creation, development and shareholder returns.”

The corporate’s board has proposed a dividend of 11 cents per abnormal share, topic to shareholder approval on the AGM held on 11 Might.

Administrators additionally proposed a purchase again programme of as much as 15% of the corporate’s issued abnormal share capital, authorisation for which shall be put to a shareholder vote on the assembly.

Analyst response

An analyst observe from Jeffries Group affirmed the corporate’s robust manufacturing within the remaining quarter of the 12 months, suggesting that Tolmount first gasoline “might be additive somewhat than simply supportive.”

Ashley Kelty, senior analysis analyst for oil and gasoline at Panmure Gordon famous that: “The beginning-up of Tolmount will assist raise manufacturing and supply development for the long term.

Nonetheless, he added that 2021 was “at all times a 12 months of consolidation” for the corporate within the wake of the Premier Oil merger, and the popularity of the “assorted high quality” of the latter’s portfolio.

“Whereas increased oil costs will assist, there’s little scope to considerably develop the enterprise shortly as loads of the belongings are mature and declining quick,” Mr Kelty added.