Central Petroleum Limited Stock Market Press Releases and Company Profile
Extension of Finance Facilities
Extension of Finance Facilities

Brisbane, Feb 10, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Central Petroleum Limited (googlechartASX:CTP) (googlechartC9J:FRA) (googlechartCPTLF:OTCMKTS) announces it has signed an agreement to extend the maturity of its existing $72.8 million Macquarie finance facility by 12 months, with full repayment required by 30 September 2021.

Central has been in discussions with a number of potential senior lenders to refinance the facility which was due for repayment by 30 September 2020. After reviewing various options and considering Central's broader business priorities and strategic objectives it was decided that a 12-month extension of the existing facility was a more compelling option. A key driver of the decision was the alignment of the timing of the loan's maturity with the likely need for an expanded facility for the development of the Range gas project in 2021.

Central and its joint venture partner, Incitec Pivot Limited (googlechartASX:IPL) are currently progressing the Range coal seam gas project in the Surat Basin towards a final investment decision (FID) in early 2021. This follows the certification of 270 PJ1 of 2C contingent gas resources in 2019. Central is targeting 2022 for first gas production from Range and will aim to secure the necessary funding for the development project in time to meet that schedule.

"Our existing debt facility remains very competitive, so we have decided to extend the facility so that its maturity aligns with the timing of arranging a new debt facility for the Range gas project. Importantly, this preserves our negotiating position for the Range project debt which is likely to be larger than the existing facility. It also allows us to avoid a scenario where we pay significant up-front establishment costs twice in less than a year", said Leon Devaney, Central's CEO and Managing Director.

"With the existing facility to be extended to late 2021, we are now focused on unlocking significant value for our shareholders as we work towards FID for the Range gas project and executing an exciting CY2020 exploration programme. Combined, these two initiatives have the potential to triple our gas resources and gas sales by 2022 and potentially launch a major new oil production province in our Western permits", he said.

The extended loan facility will be on substantially the same terms as the existing facility. Principal repayments under the facility will increase from $1 million to $2 million per quarter after 30 September 2020. Under the scheduled repayments, the balance of outstanding debt would be reduced to $62 million at maturity on 30 September 2021.


About Central Petroleum Limited

Central Petroleum LimitedCentral Petroleum Limited (ASX:CTP) is a well-established, and emerging ASX-listed Australian oil and gas producer. In our short history, Central has grown to become the largest onshore gas producer in the Northern Territory (NT), supplying industrial customers and senior gas distributors in NT and the wider Australian east coast market.

Central is positioned to become a significant domestic energy supplier, with exploration and development plans across 180,000 km2 of tenements in Queensland and the Northern Territory, including some of Australia's largest known onshore conventional gas prospects. Central has also completed an MoU with Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) to progress the proposed Amadeus to Moomba Gas Pipeline to a Final Investment Decision.

We are also seeking to develop the Range gas project, a new gas field located among proven CSG fields in the Surat Basin, Queensland with 135 PJ (net to Central) of development-pending 2C contingent resource.

abnnewswire.com 


Contact

Investor and Media Inquiries:
Greg Bourke: +61-478-318-702
Sarah Morgan: +61-421-664-969



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