PJSC "LUKOIL" released its condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Financial Highlights

 

1Q2020	4Q2019		1Q2020	1Q2019
		(RUB bin)
1,666.0	1,912.4	Sales	1,666.0	1,850.9
150.8	278.2	EBITDA	150.8	298.1
109.2	211.8	Exploration and production	109.2	235.1
40.3	82.2	Refining, marketing and distribution	40.3	79.9
(46.0)	119.3	(Loss) profit for the period attributable to LUKOIL shareholders	(46.0)	149.2
130.2	135.9	Capital expenditures	130.2	97.4
55.5	184.7	Free cashflow	55.5	145.9
10.0	139.8	Free cash flow before changes in working capital	10.0	183.3

COVID-19

Since  the  start of COVID-19 pandemic,  LUKOIL has been undertaking all necessary measures to rule out the direct impact of the pandemic on the Group's operating activity, prioritizing proper protection of its employees,  contractors personnel and clients, as well as continuity of production processes.

Weaker global economic activity amid the pandemic followed by an unprecedented slump in hydrocarbon demand and prices had a negative impact on operational and financial performance of the Group in the first quarter of 2020 with persisting negative effect in the second quarter of 2020.

The consequences of the pandemic for the Company's operational results in the first quarter of 2020 and April-May 2020 include: crude oil production cut at the Company's fields in Russia and some international projects due to the new OPEC+ agreement; gas production cut in Uzbekistan due to lower demand from China; reduction of refinery throughput volumes due to lower refining margins owing to lower demand for refined products; and lower sales volumes of motor fuels through the Company's filling stations because of lower demand.

The main impact of the pandemic on the Company's financial performance is attributed to sharp decline in prices for oil and refined products.

OPEC+ agreement

On April 12, 2020 a number of oil-producing countries, including OPEC members and Russia, entered into an agreement to reduce their collective output by 9.7 million barrels per day starting from May 1, 2020 followed by the reduction in limitations to 7.7 million barrels per day starting from July 1, 2020 and then to 5.8 million barrels per day starting from January 1, 2021 until the agreement expires in the end of April 2022. Due to the agreement, starting from May 1, 2020 the Company cut its crude oil production in Russia by approximately 310 thousand barrels per day as compared to the average daily production in the first quarter of 2020. In addition, crude oil production was also reduced at some of the international projects. For instance, production at the West Qurna-2 project in Iraq was cut by 70 thousand barrels per day.

Sales

In the first quarter of 2020, our sales amounted to RUB 1,666.0 bin, down by 10.0% year-on-year and by 12.9% quarter-on-quarter. Sales dynamics was negatively affected mainly by lower oil and refined product prices. Lower international gas sales volumes, lower trading volumes of refined products and lower sales volumes of refined products through the Group's filling stations put additional pressure on sales dynamics. These factors were partially offset by an increase in crude oil trading volumes and the ruble devaluation to US dollar.

EBITDA

In the first quarter of 2020, EBITDA amounted to RUB 150.8 bin, down by 49.4% year-on-year and by 45.8% quarter-on-quarter.

Besides lower hydrocarbon prices, the main factor for the decrease in EBITDA of the Exploration and Production segment in Russia was the negative time lag effect of taxes and duties. Adverse macroeconomic factors were partially offset by lower lifting costs quarter-on-quarter, as well as bigger share of high-margin barrels in the crude oil production structure year-on-year.

Outside Russia, besides the price factor, EBITDA of the Exploration and production segment was negatively affected by lower gas production in Uzbekistan. Negative influence of this factor was partially offset by higher share in production of our PSA projects due to lower hydrocarbon prices.

The main negative factors for the EBITDA dynamics in the Refining, Marketing and Distribution segment were the inventory effect at our refineries and the inventory write-down to net realizable value as of the end of the quarter due to a sharp decline in crude oil and refined products prices. EBITDA dynamics was also negatively affected by lower sales volumes through the Company's filling stations due to lower demand.

In Russia, the abovementioned negative factors in the Refining, Marketing and Distribution segment were partially offset with higher benchmark refining margin, higher refinery throughput volumes and better product slate at the Company's refineries. As compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, EBITDA in Russia was positively affected by lower refining expenses and better performance of power generation and petrochemical businesses.

Outside Russia, the negative factors in the Refining, Marketing and Distribution segment were partially offset by better product slate year-on-year, higher benchmark refining margin quarter-on-quarter, as well as lower refining expenses.

Profit for the period

In the first quarter of 2020, the Company booked a loss attributable to shareholders in the amount of RUB 46.0 bin.

In addition to lower EBITDA, the loss stemmed from higher DD&A charge following the launch of new production facilities, non-cash foreign exchange loss due to the sharp ruble devaluation, and assets impairment loss primarily in the European refining segment.

Capital expenditures

In the first quarter of 2020, our capital expenditures amounted to RUB 130.2 bin, down by 4.2% quarter-on-quarter and up by 33.7% year-on-year. Higher capital expenditures year-on-year were mainly attributable to higher volumes of production drilling and other works at the Company's fields in Russia, implementation of the second development stage of the West Qurna-2 project in Iraq, and payment schedules to suppliers and contractors.

Free cashflow

In the first quarter of 2020, our free cash flow was RUB 55.5 bin, down by 61.9% year-on-year and by 69.9% quarter-on-quarter. The decline was mainly attributable to lower operating cash flow, as well as higher capital expenditures year-on-year. Free cash flow was supported by inventory release in the first quarter of 2020.

Operating highlights

 

1Q2020	4Q2020		1Q2020	1Q2019
2,382	2,419	Hydrocarbon production, Kboepd	2,382	2,407
2,328	2,388	ex. West Qurna-2	2,328	2,379
1,838	1,816	Liquid hydrocarbon production, Kbpd	1,838	1,820
1,784	1,785	ex. West Qurna-2	1,784	1,792
8.4	9.4	Gas production, bcm	8.4	9.0
16.0	16.1	Production of refined products at own refineries, mln tonnes	16.0	15.7

In the first quarter of 2020, the Group's average daily hydrocarbon production excluding the West Qurna-2 project totaled 2,328 thousand boe per day, down by 2.1% year-on-year and by 2.5% quarter-on-quarter. The decline in production was driven by lower gas supply to China from projects in Uzbekistan due to lower demand because of the coronavirus. As compared to the first quarter of 2019, the negative influence of this factor was partially offset by higher share in production of our international PSA projects.

Liquid hydrocarbons

In the first quarter of 2020, production of liquid hydrocarbons excluding the West Qurna-2 project remained practically unchanged quarter-on-quarter and totaled 1,784 thousand boe per day. As compared to the first quarter of 2019, average daily crude oil production excluding the West Qurna-2 project decreased by 0.4%. Lower oil production in Russia year-on-year due to the OPEC+ agreement was almost offset by higher international production partly due to acquisition of a share in the Marine XII project in the Republic of Congo.