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billion, following net impairments of USD 1.41 billion.
The fourth quarter and full year were characterised by:
- Solid financial results in a quarter with lower commodity prices
- Strong operational performance in 2019, and record high production in the
fourth quarter
- Early start-up and effective ramp up of Johan Sverdrup. New projects on
stream in 2019 represent 1.2 billion boe in expected resources net to
Equinor, at an average break-even oil price around USD 30 per barrel
- Renewables projects in development in 2019 are expected to add 2.8 GW of
electricity capacity to Equinor
- Strong growth in capital distribution in 2019, reflecting 13% growth in
quarterly cash dividend and the launch of a USD 5 billion share buy-back
programme
- Increase in quarterly cash dividend by 4% to USD 0.27 per share, and launch
of an around USD 675 million second tranche of the share buy-back programme,
subject to approvals by the annual general meeting
“Record high production, reduced costs and continued strong capital discipline
contributed to solid results in a quarter with lower commodity prices. For the
year we delivered competitive returns and strong growth in capital distribution.
Going forward, we expect to grow production, returns and cash flow from a world-
class project portfolio, representing 6 billion barrels to Equinor with an
average break-even oil price below 35 dollars per barrel. The board proposes an
increase in the quarterly dividend of 4% and the launch of the second tranche of
our 5 billion dollar share buy-back programme, based on an even distribution for
the rest of the period,” says Eldar Sætre, President and CEO of Equinor ASA.
“We started production at Johan Sverdrup in October last year, ahead of schedule
and more than 30% below the original cost estimate. We expect the entire phase
1 investment to be paid back already by the end of this year, less than 15
months after the first well was put in production,” says Sætre.
“2019 was truly a game-changing year for our renewables business. We made the
investment decision for Hywind Tampen in Norway and won the opportunities to
develop Empire Wind offshore New York and Dogger Bank, the world’s largest
offshore wind development, in the UK. Renewables projects in development will
add 2.8 gigawatts of electricity capacity to Equinor, more than five-fold our
current capacity,” says Sætre.
Adjusted earnings [5] were USD 3.55 billion in the fourth quarter, down from USD
4.39 billion in the same period in 2018. Adjusted earnings after tax [5] were
USD 1.19 billion, down from USD 1.54 billion in the same period last year. Lower
prices for both liquids and gas impacted the earnings for the quarter.
Adjusted operating costs and administrative expenses were down 8% from the same
quarter last year. The Marketing, Midstream and Processing segment reported
strong trading results and obtained high prices in a challenging market. Results
in the E&P International segment were impacted by low US gas prices, higher
field development costs and higher than normal expensing of previously
capitalised exploration costs.
IFRS net operating income was USD 1.52 billion in the fourth quarter, down from
USD 6.75 billion in the same period of 2018. IFRS net income was negative USD
0.23 billion in the fourth quarter, down from positive USD 3.37 billion in the
fourth quarter of 2018. Net operating income was impacted by net impairment
charges of USD 1.41 billion, of which USD 1.28 billion relates to assets on the
Norwegian continental shelf, mainly as a result of change in method for
including tax uplift in impairment evaluations.
For the full year, adjusted earnings [5] were USD 13.5 billion, down from USD
18.0 billion in 2018. IFRS net income was USD 1.85 billion, down from USD 7.54
billion in 2018.
Equinor delivered record high total equity production of 2,198 mboe per day in
the fourth quarter, up 1% from the same period in 2018. The flexibility in the
gas fields was used to defer production into periods with higher expected gas
prices. Successful start-up and ramp-up of new fields as well as new well
capacity, contributed to growth in production. The Johan Sverdrup field was put
in production 5 October 2019 and is currently producing more than 350.000
barrels per day from eight wells. The field is expected to reach plateau during
the summer of 2020.
As of the end of fourth quarter 2019, Equinor has completed 42 exploration wells
with 18 commercial discoveries. Adjusted exploration expenses in the quarter
were USD 0.44 billion, compared to USD 0.42 billion in the same quarter of 2018.
The organic proved reserve replacement ratio (RRR) was 83%, with a three-year
average of 140%. With 6 billion barrels in proved reserves, Equinor’s reserves
to production ratio (R/P) was 8.6 years.
Cash flows provided by operating activities before taxes paid and changes in
working capital amounted to USD 21.8 billion in 2019, compared to USD 27.6
billion in 2018. Organic capital expenditure [5] was USD 10.0 billion for 2019.
At year end, net debt to capital employed [1] was 23.8%. Increased oil volumes
in transit to capture higher value and accelerated tax payments in Norway
impacted the net debt ratio with an increase of around two percentage points.
Following the implementation of IFRS 16, net debt to capital employed [1] was
29.5%.
The board of directors proposes to the annual general meeting to increase the
dividend by 4% to USD 0.27 per share for the fourth quarter. Equinor is on track
with executing its share buy-back programme of up to USD 5 billion over a period
until the end of 2022, and will launch a second tranche of USD 225 million in
the market, corresponding to around USD 675 million including the Norwegian
State share, from around 18 May to 28 October 2020, subject to renewal of
authorisation to execute share buy-backs at the annual general meeting.
Average CO2-emissions from Equinors operated upstream production, on a 100%
basis, was 9.5 kg per barrel in 2019.
The twelve-month average Serious Incident Frequency (SIF) was 0.6 for 2019,
compared to 0.5 in 2018. The twelve-month average Total Recordable Injury
Frequency (TRIF) was 2.5 for 2019, compared to 2.8 in 2018.
Capital markets update
Today, Equinor presents its update to the capital markets, focusing on key
deliveries:
-
Growing production, cash flow and returns:
- Expecting around 7% production growth in 2020 and to deliver an average
annual production growth of around 3% from 2019 to 2026
- Capacity to generate around USD 30 billion in organic cash flow [2] from
2020 to 2023, after taxes and organic investments, and around 15% return on
average capital employed (ROACE) [5] in 2023, at an assumed oil price of USD
65 per barrel
-
Driving long term value creation in line with the Paris Agreement. Equinor
aims to:
- Strengthen its industry leading position on carbon efficient production,
aiming to reach carbon neutral global operations by 2030
- Grow profitably within renewables, developing as a global offshore wind
major
- Reduce the net carbon intensity, from initial production to final
consumption, of energy produced by at least 50% by 2050
“Equinor is already delivering competitive returns, and we expect to grow
production, returns and cash flow going forward. We are investing in a world
class project portfolio coming on stream towards 2026, representing 6 billion
barrels to Equinor with an average break-even oil price below 35 dollars per
barrel. In addition, Johan Sverdrup phase 1 will contribute to strong growth at
the Norwegian continental shelf. High quality projects like Bay du Nord in
Canada, Rosebank in the UK and BM-C-33 and Bacalhau in Brazil will deliver high
profitable growth internationally,” says Sætre.
During the last few years, Equinor has substantially strengthened its
competitiveness and improved its project portfolio. Equinor is today increasing
its ambition, aiming to achieve improvements with a cash flow effect of more
than USD 3 billion from 2020 to 2025 through digital solutions and new ways of
working. Equinor delivered industry leading unit production cost of USD 5.3 per
barrel in 2019, and is targeting a 5% improvement towards 2021.
The ambition to reduce net carbon intensity by at least 50% by 2050 takes into
account scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, from initial production to final
consumption. By 2050 each unit of energy produced will, on average, have less
than half of the emissions compared to today. The ambition is expected to be met
primarily through significant growth in renewables and changes in the scale and
composition of the oil and gas portfolio. Operational efficiency, CCUS and
hydrogen will also be important, and recognised offset mechanisms and natural
sinks may be used as a supplement [3].
In 2026, Equinor expects a production capacity from renewable projects of 4 to
6 GW, Equinor share, mainly based on the current project portfolio. This is
around 10 times higher than today’s capacity, implying an annual average growth
rate of more than 30%. Towards 2035, Equinor expects to increase installed
renewables capacity further to 12 to 16 GW, dependent on availability of
attractive project opportunities. Equinor expects to achieve unlevered real
project returns of 6 to 10% and can achieve significantly higher return on
equity investments through portfolio optimisation and efficient use of project
financing.
“Today we are setting new short-, mid- and long-term ambitions to reduce our own
greenhouse gas emissions and to shape our portfolio in line with the Paris
Agreement. It is a good business strategy to ensure competitiveness and drive
change towards a low carbon future, based on a strong commitment to value
creation for our shareholders,” says Sætre.
“Equinor’s strategic direction is clear. We are developing as a broad energy
company, leveraging the strong synergies between oil, gas, renewables, CCUS and
hydrogen. We will continue addressing our own emissions in line with the emitter
pays principle. But, we can and will do more. As part of the energy industry, we
must be part of the solution to combat climate change and address
decarbonisation more broadly, in line with changes in society,” says Sætre.
Finally, Equinor announces its updated outlook:
- Equinor expects average annual organic capex [5] of USD 10-11 billion in
2020 and 2021, and around USD 12 billion for 2022 and 2023
- Equinor expects to deliver around 7% growth in production in 2020, and an
average annual production growth of around 3% from 2019 to 2026 [7]
- Equinor expects exploration activity of around USD 1.4 billion in 2020 [4]
[1] This is a non-GAAP figure. Comparison numbers and reconciliation to IFRS are
presented in the table Calculation of capital employed and net debt to capital
employed ratio as shown under the Supplementary section in the report.
[2] Defined as cash flow from operating activities after tax before working
capital and after organic investments.
[3] See Forward-looking statements.
[4] Excluding signature bonuses and field development costs.
[5] See note 8 Changes in accounting policies 2019 to the Condensed interim
financial statements.
[6] For items impacting net operating income, see Use and reconciliation of non-
GAAP financial measures in the Supplementary disclosures.
[7] For more information, see note 2 Segments to the Condensed interim financial
statement and notes.
Further information from:
Investor relations
Peter Hutton, Senior vice president Investor relations,
+44 7881 918 792 (mobile)
Helge Hove Haldorsen, vice president Investor Relations North America,
+1 281 224 0140 (mobile)
Press
Bård Glad Pedersen, vice president Media relations,
+47 918 01 791 (mobile)
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section
5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act
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