12 June 2006
Plectrum conditionally acquires 50 per cent interest and operatorship of the Nabeul Block, Offshore Tunisia
Plectrum Petroleum, the innovative oil and gas exploration company formed in 2004, has agreed, subject to the approval of the Tunisian authorities, to purchase 90 per cent of REAP Tunisia GmbH ("REAP Tunisia") and thereby acquire a 50% interest and operatorship of the Nabeul Block, offshore Tunisia. This proven petroleum province is a location well suited for the adoption of Plectrum's strategy of de-risking deepwater exploration prospects through implementing newly emerging technologies such as electro-magnetic imaging techniques.
Under the terms of the agreement, Plectrum will acquire 90 per cent. of the issued share capital of REAP Tunisia, the entity holding the 50 per cent interest in the Nabeul Block. Consideration for the acquisition is a cash payment of £250,000 and the agreement to spend £2.5 million on a work programme. The Vendor will also retain an overriding royalty interest in the permit.
The Nabeul Block is located in the Gulf of Hammamet, adjacent to existing oil producing concessions, in water depths of 250-800m. The Block covers 3352 km2 (equivalent to 13 North Sea Blocks) and the initial Prospection Permit phase runs until 24th January 2008. Three further exploration periods of up to 5 years each are also available. The proposed work programme includes the reprocessing of existing seismic data, the acquisition of a conventional modern 2D seismic grid and modelling to confirm the suitability of Electro Magnetic (EM) imaging and Marine Magnetotelluric (MMT) in the Block.
Final completion of the transaction is subject to the approval of the Tunisian authorities. Upon completion Plectrum will have a 50 per cent. working interest as operator. Entreprise Tunisienne d'Activités Pétrolières ("ETAP"), the Tunisian Oil and Gas government company, has the other 50 per cent. interest.
Mike Whyatt, Plectrum's Executive Chairman, commented:
"I am delighted to announce this important strategic addition to our portfolio of assets where we believe the application of innovative new exploration techniques can significantly enhance pre-drilling resource assessments.
The acquisition of this highly prospective North African exploration acreage demonstrates the viability of the Company's business model of identifying attractive frontier exploration opportunities. Several prospective structures have already been identified in the Birsa sand fairway play in the Block that are capable of trapping oil volumes in excess of 100 mmboe. In due course our goal will be to better define these potential volumes prior to committing to an exploration well.
We look forward to working with ETAP and using this acquisition as a platform for further expansion in this exciting, proven petroleum province."
For further information, please contact:
Aquila Financial Limited
www.aquila-financial.com
Peter Reilly 020 7202 2601
Yvonne Fraser 020 7202 2609
Plectrum Petroleum Plc
www.plectrum.co.uk
Mike Whyatt, Executive Chairman 01330 826 710
Mike Evans, Chief Operating Officer
Corporate Synergy Plc
www.corporatesynergy.com.uk
John Prior 020 7448 4400
Oliver Cairns
Notes to editors
Plectrum Petroleum plc is based in Aberdeen, Scotland and listed on the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market under the ticker 'PPE'.
Plectrum intends to make full use of newly emerging technologies such as electromagnetic imagaing as an additional screening tool, applying it to a balanced global portfolio of offshore exploration opportunities in order to high-grade and take forward only the very best exploration prospects.
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