France’s energy giant TotalEnergies has set the wheels into motion to enrich its overall gas portfolio with more assets offshore Malaysia by inking a deal with Austria’s OMV to get its hands on a stake in SapuraOMV Upstream, a 50:50 joint venture between Sapura Energy and the Austrian firm, which works as a Malaysian independent gas producer and operator. The French player’s portfolio enhancement is expected to be obtained for a total cash consideration of $903 million.
This amount, which will enable TotalEnergies to acquire 50% interest in SapuraOMV, entails the full repayment of the outstanding $350 million shareholder loan granted by OMV to the Malaysian player, as well as net working capital and other elements with the consideration being subject to closing adjustments. This acquisition, which is anticipated to close around the end of the first half of 2024, is subject to regulatory approvals.
With this deal, the French oil major will get interests in SapuraOMV’s production and development assets in shallow waters offshore of Malaysia, which entail a 40% operated interest in Block SK408 and a 30% operated interest in Block SK310 located offshore Sarawak. In addition, TotalEnergies will get stakes in exploration licenses in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico, where a discovery has been made in 2023 on Block 30.
Patrick Pouyanné , Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, commented: “We are pleased to strengthen TotalEnergies’ position in Malaysia by becoming shareholder of the independent gas producer SapuraOMV. Over the past few years, we have developed a strategic international partnership with Petronas, the national company of Malaysia.
“This transaction will anchor our future growth in the country and reinforce our partnership with Petronas. With their low production costs and low GHG intensity, SapuraOMV’s assets will perfectly fit in TotalEnergies’ portfolio and participate in meeting the growing demand of gas in Asia.”
Furthermore, SapuraOMV’s operated production in 2023 was about 500 Mcf/d of natural gas, feeding the Petronas-operated Bintulu LNG plant , as well as 7 kb/d of condensates. On Block SK408, the development of the Jerun gas field is on track for start-up in the second half of 2024. The Kuala Lumpur-headquartered SapuraOMV was established in 2019.
Alfred Stern , CEO of OMV, remarked: “This agreement streamlines our energy portfolio and is in line with the OMV Strategy 2030 of reducing oil and gas production over time. Furthermore, this divestment will help OMV crystalize value and redeploy capital for new strategic projects. On behalf of OMV, I thank all employees at SapuraOMV for their commitment and contributions.”
TotalEnergies is currently working on multiple projects around the world, including the Tyra II redevelopment project in the Danish sector of the North Sea, which the French giant, together with its partners in the Danish Underground Consortium (DUC), is preparing to bring on stream in March 2024.
The oil major is also among the companies that have been offered 24 licenses across 74 blocks and part-blocks in the second tranche of the UK’s 33rd offshore oil and gas licensing round.
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