Gulf starts at Sheikh Adi-2 25/05/2012
Iraq-focused oil explorer Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has begun drilling at the Sheikh Adi-2 well in the Sheikh Adi block.
Phil Edmonds’ African food group Agriterra intends to buy Liberia-focused Equatorial Biofuel (EBF) for £7.5 million in shares and cash.
The AIM-quoted company, which processes corn and ranches cattle in Mozambique and has been contemplating a move into sugar, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Guernsey-based EBF’s parent company, Equatorial Palm Oil of London. This envisages Agriterra, which began life as Sudanese oil flop White Nile, paying about £6 million in new shares and £1.5 million in cash to Equatorial Palm Oil, which itself pulled out of a £15 million AIM float a year ago.
The entrepreneurial Edmonds’ AIM-quoted CAMEC mining venture set up Agriterra, which likes the look of EBF’s plans to reactivate and develop more than 169,000 hectares of plantations and other land in Liberia. According to Agriterra, steered by chief executive officer and Edmonds’ right hand man Andrew Groves, the acquisition of EBF will diversify its product range and, in particular, could generate ‘early cash flow’ from 10,000 hectares of reactivated plantations.
This would not come amiss to Agriterra, which lost £2 million in the six months to December and has been planning a £6 million move into Tanzania. Spokesman Jeremy Gray recently cited expectations of a move into handsome profits this year.
Agriterra shares plunged from 27p to a mere 0.63p over the past year and have now rallied somewhat to 5.25p, valuing the company at £26 million. They are a punt on current moves paying off.
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Iraq-focused oil explorer Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has begun drilling at the Sheikh Adi-2 well in the Sheikh Adi block.
Oil giant Shell is extending its offer period for Mozambique-focused Cove Energy (COV) after having its bid trumped by Thai government-owned PTT Exploration & Production.
Kazakhstan-focused Roxi Petroleum (RXP) has declared that its NK7 well in the Galaz aea has drilled to a depth of 1,360 metres.
Steered by sector veteran Algy Cluff, North-Sea focused cash shell Cluff Natural Resources (CNR) has joined AIM.
Somalia-focused oil explorer Red Emperor Resources (RMP) has exercised its option to take part in the drilling of the Shabeel North well.
Oil concern Heritage Oil (HOIL) has reported its Miran West-3 well in Iraq could deliver 1,000 barrels per day of condensate.