For Immediate Release
28 October 2011
MAPLE ENERGY PLC
("Maple" or the "Company")
ETHANOL PROJECT UPDATE AND FOURTH DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS UNDER ETHANOL PROJECT DEBT FACILITY
Maple Energy plc (AIM: MPLE; LIMA: MPLE), an integrated energy company with assets in Peru, is pleased to provide an update on the development of its US$254 million ethanol project (the "Ethanol Project"), including the completion of an additional US$11.5 million of funding pursuant to the terms of the Company's existing project finance debt facility. Maple is making excellent progress on the Ethanol Project, and the Company expects to begin commissioning activities for certain portions of the ethanol plant next month with commercial production of ethanol expected to commence before the end of 2011.
Fourth Disbursement of Funds from Debt Facility
The fourth disbursement of US$11.5 million under the US$148.5 million senior secured debt financing (the "Debt Financing") for the Ethanol Project has occurred. The Company will use this capital to fund spending on the Ethanol Project and advance the Ethanol Project towards commencement of commercial operation. The funds were provided by the senior lenders pursuant to the terms of the Debt Financing. A total of US$137.5 million of the Debt Financing has now been disbursed. For more information on the terms of the Debt Financing, please see the Company's release dated 29 March 2010.
Ethanol Project Highlights As of Today
(In order to show the recent progress, the information in brackets relates to the figures reported in the Interim results on 18 August 2011)
· Approximately 4,820 hectares (3,550 hectares) of commercial sugar cane have been planted on the main estate using sugar cane from the Company's 345-hectare seed cane farm.
· Substantially completed the approximate 43-kilometre (41 kilometres) water pipeline system which forms part of the main water delivery system.
· Completed the civil works for 13 (11) drip pumping stations, and nine (six) of these stations are available for operation with eight (five) of these currently in operation.
· Installed the drip irrigation tape in approximately 6,100 hectares (4,600 hectares) of the plantation including the seed cane farm.
· Erected and installed approximately 96% (78%) of the sugar cane handling, juice extraction, and juice treatment equipment.
· Erected and installed approximately 96% (80%) of the fermentation, distillation, and dehydration equipment necessary to produce fuel-grade ethanol.
· Erected and installed approximately 95% (80%) of the boiler and complementary steam generation equipment.
· Installed the major components of the 37-megawatt ("MW") turbogeneration unit including the steam turbine and generator.
· Currently operating the 36-kilometre, 60-kilovolt transmission line to interconnect with the national power grid.
· Penta Tanks Terminals S.A. ("Penta") has completed approximately 92% (85%) of the works for the ethanol storage, loading, and shipping facilities near the port of Paita.
Ethanol Project Overview
The Ethanol Project is an estimated US$254 million, greenfield project on the northern coast of Peru consisting of (i) a 7,800 hectare sugar cane plantation in the initial phase which will provide sugar cane feedstock to the Ethanol Project and which includes main water delivery and drip irrigation systems, (ii) an ethanol plant (the "Ethanol Plant") with capacity to process up to 5,000 tonnes per day of sugar cane and produce up to 35 million gallons of ethanol per year, (iii) a 37-MW power plant to supply all of the Ethanol Project's power requirements with the sale of any excess power, expected to be approximately 17 MW, to the Peruvian national power grid, (iv) a 60-kilovolt electric transmission line, approximately 36 kilometres in length, to connect the Ethanol Project facilities to the power grid and a 33/22.9-kilovolt distribution system for the plantation and pump stations, and (v) third-party operated and owned ethanol storage, loading, and shipping facilities near the Port of Paita.
Agriculture and Irrigation
The Company plans to plant approximately 7,800 hectares of sugar cane in the main estate in the first phase of development of its land in the Ethanol Project area. Substantially all of the land for this first phase of development has been cleared. Maple has planted approximately 5,160hectares of the main estate since commencing the planting of commercial sugar cane in early January 2011 including the seed cane from its 345-hectare seed cane farm.
The Macacara Pump Station is currently in operation extracting water from the Chira River for delivery through a pipeline and canal system to the 660,000 cubic metre Macacara Reservoir which is in operation. The El Arenal Pump Station and the El Arenal Reservoir, with a capacity of 110,000 cubic metres, have been completed and are expected to be placed in operation in November 2011 prior to Maple commencing the planting of the western portion of the main estate. The two river pump stations will be used to supply all the water requirements for the 7,800 hectares being developed in the first phase.
Construction is completed on all of the approximate 43-kilometre water pipeline system which forms part of the main water delivery system for the Ethanol Project. This system will supply water to 13 drip irrigation system pumping stations which will deliver water to the drip irrigation systems for the sugar cane plantation. The civil works for all of these pumping stations have been completed, nine of these stations are available for operation, and eight are currently in operation delivering water to the plantation. Drip tape for the irrigation systems has been installed in approximately 6,100 hectares of the plantation including the systems for the seed cane farm.
Industrial Facilities
Uni-systems, Inc. has manufactured all of the sugar cane handling, juice extraction, and juice treatment equipment (collectively, the "Uni-systems Equipment") required for the Ethanol Plant which has been delivered to the Ethanol Project site. The fermentation, distillation, and dehydration equipment (collectively, the "Praj Equipment") necessary to produce fuel-grade ethanol has already been manufactured by Praj Industries Limited, and all of the Praj Equipment is at the Ethanol Project site. All of the boiler and steam generation equipment has been manufactured by Uni-systems and Allsoft Engenharia e Informatica Industrial Limitada (also known as Mitre) and is on site. The turbogeneration equipment, with planned capacity to produce up to approximately 37 MW, has already been manufactured by Siemens, and all of this equipment has been delivered to the site.
Haug S.A. ("Haug"), the contractor in charge of the construction of the Ethanol Plant, commenced the construction activities for the installation of these major equipment packages in September 2010 and has made substantial progress on the erection and installation of all major equipment for the Ethanol Plant. Approximately 96% of the Uni-systems Equipment and Praj Equipment has been erected and installed, and the boiler and steam generation equipment is now approximately 95% erected and installed. The major components of the power generation facilities, including the steam turbine and the generator, have been installed. Piping and other facilities to connect and integrate the major equipment packages are currently being installed.
The 60-kilovolt electric transmission line was completed in May 2011, and significant portions of the electric distribution system for the plantation and pump stations have also been completed. In May 2011, the Company energised the electric transmission line and began purchasing electricity from a third-party generator on the national power grid.
In addition, Penta Tanks Terminals S.A. ("Penta") is continuing its works on the ethanol storage, loading, and shipping facilities near the Port of Paita. Penta has completed the fabrication and installation of the storage tanks, and all the submarine pipeline to be used to transport ethanol from the storage tanks to ships has been fabricated and is ready to be launched into the ocean. These storage, loading, and shipping facilities are expected to be in operation and available for use when the Ethanol Project commences commercial operation.
Rex Canon, CEO of Maple Energy, commented today:
"I am pleased to announce the fourth disbursement under our Debt Financing arrangements. We are making great progress with the development of the sugar cane plantation and the planting of commercial sugar cane on the main estate. Construction activities on the Ethanol Plant are advancing at a rapid pace, and a substantial portion of the major equipment for the Ethanol Plant has now been erected and installed. Commissioning activities for certain portions of the Ethanol Plant are expected to begin in November 2011, and we remain on track to begin commercial production of ethanol before the end of 2011."
For further information, please contact:
Maple Energy plc (+ 51 1 611 4000)
Rex W. Canon, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Executive Director
Jefferies International Limited (+44 20 7029 8000)
Thomas Rider
Buchanan (+44 20 7466 5000)
Mark Edwards
Christian Goodbody
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this document, particularly those regarding possible, projected, or assumed future performance and results, including growth outlook, forecasted economics, operations, production, contracting, costs, prices, earnings, returns, and potential growth, are or may include forward-looking statements. Such statements relate to future events and expectations and as such involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market conditions, weather risks, economic and political risks, and other factors discussed in Maple's Admission Document available on the Company's website (
http://www.maple-energy.com). Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or an assurance that Maple's current assumptions and projections are valid. Actual results, actions, and developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements depending on a variety of factors. Furthermore, any forward-looking statements presented are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis as of the date of this release. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this release, and Maple does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
About Maple Energy and its subsidiaries
Maple is an integrated independent energy company, listed in London and Lima, with subsidiary assets and operations in Peru engaging in numerous aspects of the energy industry, including:
· The development of an ethanol project;
· Exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas; and
· Refining, marketing, and distribution of hydrocarbon products.
Maple was admitted to AIM on 13 July 2007 and trades under the symbol "MPLE". The Company was also admitted to the Lima Stock Exchange on 21 December 2007 where it trades under the same symbol.
Operations
Maple's operations are conducted and revenues are generated through its majority-owned subsidiaries. Principal operations consist of the following:
· Ethanol Project. Project developer and owner of an estimated US$254 million ethanol project located in the Piura Region on the North coast of Peru;
· Oil Production. Operator and holder of 100% working interests in its crude-oil producing properties, Blocks 31-B, 31-D, and 31-E;
· Refining, Marketing, and Distribution Operations. Operator of the Pucallpa Refinery and Sales Plant, which has capacity to refine up to (i) 3,400 barrels per day of crude oil producing Residual 5 fuel oil, (ii) 3,000 barrels per day of crude oil producing Residual 6 fuel oil, or (iii) 4,100 barrels per day of natural gasolines. This plant also includes sales and distribution operations in the central Peruvian jungle, central Peruvian highlands, and Lima regions; and
· Oil and Gas Exploration. Significant exploration opportunities through a:
- 100% working interest in Block 31-E, containing the new shale gas opportunity; and
- 33.77% working interest in the Aguaytía Deep Prospect in Block 31-C.
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