Following record production achieved in 2021,\u00a0Wentworth and its joint venture partners\u00a0continued to realize\u00a0strong production\u00a0rates\u00a0throughout 2022,recording an average production rate\u00a0of 92 MMscf\/d year to date. The five producing wells in the Mnazi Bay field and the associated joint venture operated facilities continued to perform well and without issues. Furthermore, the reductions in natural gas demand typically seen during the wetter months, April and May, were less severe and shorter, compared to previous years.\u00a0 The Company’s production guidance for the year, provided in January 2022, remains unchanged at\u00a075 – 85 MMscf\/d.<\/p>\n
The Government of Tanzania remains positive in their recent announcements regarding their willingness to progress and promote projects of national interest and it is expected that these positive actions will continue to promote further growth potential for the Tanzanian economy.<\/p>\n
With the Company’s recent agreement to acquire Scirocco Energy plc’s 25% interest in the Ruvuma PSA, Wentworth is pleased to report that work on the 338 km2<\/sup>\u00a03D seismic, over the discovery and potential development area, is progressing positively and is intended to provide data critical to the development of the field and to optimize further drilling locations. The operator, ARA Petroleum Tanzania, has indicated that the Chikumbi-1 well will be drilled following the completion of the seismic programme and that first gas from the project is possible by late 2024, following the award of a 25-year development licence and construction of a pipeline connecting the field to the Madimba gas processing facility which is located within the Mnazi Bay licence area. The Company looks forward to updating the market as operations on this transformational new project progress.<\/p>\n Operational Highlights and Outlook<\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span>\u00a0Average daily production year to date\u00a0is 92.2\u00a0MMscf\/day (gross), compared with\u00a079.9\u00a0MMscf\/day (gross) during the same period in 2021<\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span>\u00a0Record quarterly average daily production of 98.5 MMscf\/day (gross) achieved in Q1 2022<\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span>\u00a0Wentworth and Mnazi Bay JV Partners supply\u00a0approximately\u00a050% of natural gas\u00a0demand\u00a0in Tanzania\u00a0which is primarily used for essential baseload electricity but is also expanding to include a multitude of industrial users<\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span>\u00a0The Mnazi Bay JV Partners\u00a0continue\u00a0to\u00a0progress\u00a0the 2022\u00a0work programme, which is focused on ensuring reliable\u00a0gas production through diligent field maintenance<\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span>\u00a0The Operator will conduct essential maintenance during a two-day shut down planned for late June<\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span>\u00a0The health and safety of\u00a0the\u00a0employees\u00a0at Mnazi Bay remains of\u00a0paramount\u00a0importance as is evidenced with our continued efforts to ensure robust health and safety standards. As of 31 May 2022, the Mnazi Bay operations have reported zero lost time incidents for a period of five years and 301 days<\/p>\n \u00b7<\/span>\u00a0Evaluation of the Mnazi Bay licence area for additional exploration and production potential is ongoing<\/p>\n Katherine Roe, Chief Executive of Wentworth, said:<\/p>\n “I am delighted that Wentworth has made such a strong start to the year with production, supporting our full year guidance and providing the confidence to announce a further dividend increase and maintain our attractive yield, one of the highest in the independent E&P sector.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n