Pilot Energy has received a $3.887 million Petroleum Resource Rent Tax refund from the joint-venture company operating the Cliff Head oil field, after production ceased at the Western Australian offshore site.
The refund, submitted and paid via Triangle Energy Operations, was attributed to funds Triangle spent abandoning, decommissioning and rehabilitating the oil field.
In a smart move, Pilot received all the tax refund as a condition of the company’s purchase agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Cliff Head’s assets and facilities from former joint venture partner Triangle Energy. Pilot previously held a 21.25 per cent stake in the joint venture project.
The company is already cashed up after recently raising $6.8 million, via a $5 million equity placement and $1.8 million in convertible notes issued through an investor syndicate.
Pilot estimates it will receive $4.5 million in total refunds from Cliff Head, when all additional refunds are claimed for oil production ceasing at the facility.
Management also believes it may be able to secure further funding from one of a wave of new lenders specialising in loans paid against tax refunds owed to companies.
Pilot bought the WA-based Cliff Head oil facility from Triangle, with plans to repurpose the asset as a carbon capture and storage facility within its Mid West Clean Energy project.
It appears to have since locked in a state-owned enterprise, experienced with carbon storage and capture, to help develop the project.
A consortium of South Korean mega-energy firms led by Korea Southern Power Co is also looking to link up with Pilot and acquire a 60 per cent interest to jointly develop the Mid West project to secure an ammonia supply. The consortium comprises Korea Southern Power Co, Korea East-West Power, Samsung C&T and hydrogen producer Approtium.
The ammonia would be used for hydrogen cofiring in coal-fired power plants in Korea.
Triangle recently transferred its remaining 78.75 per cent interest in Cliff Head, within the renowned Perth Basin and known for several significant discoveries, to Pilot in exchange for a secured $5.563 million promissory note.
Recent revised sale terms allowed Pilot to convert existing debt to Triangle into a secured note, which matures on September 30, 2026. Interest will accrue from June 30 at 10 per cent and will be capitalised to maturity.
The ownership of all the joint venture’s onshore and offshore assets in the state’s jurisdiction has been transferred to Pilot. The National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator is expected to transfer the ownership of any project pipelines in Commonwealth waters in due course.
Triangle stands to boost its cash position from the secured note funds due next year from the Cliff Head sale. It will also receive a one-off $167,000 payment on August 31, recognising deferred interest accrued under the secured note.
It will receive a further $4.5 million when Pilot receives a greenhouse gas injection licence and up to a further $7.5 million in royalties from the project.
Triangle will continue to hold full security over Pilot and its subsidiary company, Royal Energy, until the debt is repaid in full.
Pilot plans to repurpose the depleted Cliff Head oil well into a facility capable of storing liquefied carbon emissions from WA’s industrial emitters. The company will create a carbon storage business, charging third-party emitters, to add to its clean energy ammonia project arsenal.
Now cashed up and on the hunt for some ‘big dogs’ to add grunt to its Mid West Clean Energy project, Pilot may be worth watching.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Craig Nolan
