ShaMaran Petroleum Corp. announced an operational and corporate update. The Company’s operations remain heavily impacted by the continued closure of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline (“ITP”), which has resulted in either a partial or complete shutdown of many fields located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq (“KRI”). ShaMaran understands that negotiations between officials in Iraq and Turkey about re-opening the ITP started in late June and will continue in the weeks ahead. The recent passage of the Iraq federal budget for 2023-2025, including a production commitment from the Kurdistan Regional Government ("KRG"), should enable regular monthly budget transfers from Iraq to the KRG, as well as normalization of
relations between the region and the Federal Government of Iraq. The Company believes that a speedy re-opening of the ITP and resolution of the related outstanding commercial issues between international oil companies ("IOCs") and the KRG will benefit all parties involved. Since the ITP shutdown, ShaMaran and its operating partners have engaged in a number of initiatives aimed at cutting costs (both operating and capital expenditures) for the Company's two assets at Atrush and Sarsang. The current cost base run-rate has been reduced significantly below the original 2023 Work Plan and Budgets approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the KRG. All non-essential capital expenditures
in the Atrush block have been cancelled or postponed for the remainder of the year, and a significant number of redundancies have been implemented by Taqa Atrush B.V., the Atrush operator, while retaining the capability to re-start field operations upon re-opening of the ITP and resolution of outstanding commercial issues. As announced by HKN Energy Ltd. ("HKN"), Sarsang production has continued since late April 2023 on a reduced, ad-hoc basis with sales to local refineries. HKN has cut remaining 2023 capital expenditures by
over 75% with more opportunities for reduction being considered, alongside a significant and ongoing curtailment of operating expenditures and general and administrative expenses. ShaMaran is actively pursuing further cost-reduction initiatives and encouraging company's operating partners to pursue additional local sales to improve liquidity. The Company will also be engaging with its bondholders to seek additional balance-sheet flexibility given the current pipeline and payment situation in the KRI.