Companies

Tullow cuts Q1 debt by Sh21mn after rights issue

RIG

A Tullow Oil exploration rig in Turkana. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Africa-focused oil company Tullow Oil cut its debt in the first quarter by $200 million (around Sh20.7 million), the company said on Wednesday after announcing a surprise rights issue last month.

Net debt fell to $4.6 billion (Sh475 billion) by the end of March, Tullow Oil said, down from $4.8 billion (Sh496 billion) at the end of last year.

It announced a $750 million (about Sh77.5 billion) rights issue on March 17 with the aim of raising money to pay down debt.

Tullow also said in its trading update on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with Hague and London Oil to sell its Dutch portfolio for an undisclosed sum.

Production from the Dutch assets was forecast to be around 3,500 barrels per day (bpd) this year, Tullow said.

READ: Tullow Oil’s rights issue to boost Kenyan exploration

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($1 = Sh103.3000)