Equinor has set a clear ambition to become a net zero energy company by 2050, including emissions from production and final consumption. Today, Equinor also sets interim ambitions, aiming to reduce net carbon intensity with 20% by 2030 and 40% by 2035.
Equinor’s oil and gas portfolio can deliver a free cashflow after tax and investments of USD 45 billion from 2021 to 2026. New projects coming on stream by 2030 have an average break even below 35 USD/bbl and a short payback time of less than 2.5 years.
On the Norwegian continental shelf, Equinor is optimising its operations to deliver strong value creation and an average annual free cash flow of around USD 4.5 billion in 2021 – 2030.
Further improvements at the world class Johan Sverdrup field reduces the break-even price for the full field with 25% to 15 USD/bbl. Internationally, Equinor is focusing its portfolio, exiting operated positions in unconventionals, prioritizing offshore operations where the company can utilize its core competence. The international portfolio is set to deliver strong cash flow, become more robust towards lower prices, and shows a significant upside at higher prices.
Equinor expects gross investments in renewables of around USD 23 billion from 2021 to 2026, and to increase the share of gross capex for renewables and low carbon solutions from around 4% in 2020 to more than 50% by 2030.
Based on early low-cost access at scale, Equinor expects to reach a installed capacity of 12 – 16 GW (Equinor share) by 2030. Reflecting current markets levels, Equinor is adjusting expected project base real returns to 4 – 8% and remains determined to capturing higher equity returns through project financing and farm downs.
Early access followed by targeted farm down is an integrated part of the value creation proposition. So far, Equinor has divested assets for 2.3 billion USD, booked a capital gain of USD 1.7 billion and expects to deliver nominal equity returns in the range of 12 – 16% from the offshore wind projects with offtake contracts in the UK and U.S.
The energy transition represents an opportunity for Equinor to leverage its leading position within carbon management and hydrogen, and to develop and grow new value chains and markets. By 2035, Equinor’s ambition is to develop the capacity to store 15 -30 million tonnes CO2 per year and to provide clean hydrogen in 3-5 industrial clusters.
The Board of Directors of Equinor has decided on a quarterly cash dividend of 18 cents per share for second quarter 2021, an increase of 3 cents from first quarter. The second quarter 2021 cash dividend will formally be declared and announced in connection with the announcement of the second quarter results, including key information relating to the dividend.
The Board has also decided to introduce a new annual share buy-back programme of around USD 1.2 billion starting from 2022. In addition, Equinor expects to execute two tranches of share buy-backs in 2021, with a first tranche of USD 300 million to be launched after announcement of second quarter results, and an indicative second tranche of USD 300 million to be launched after announcement of third quarter results.
The new share buy-back programme is expected to be executed when Brent oil prices are in or above the range of 50-60 USD/bbl and Equinor’s net debt ratio(1) stays within the communicated ambition of 15-30% and this is supported by commodity prices.
The USD 5 billion share buy-back programme launched on 5 September 2019, and suspended as of 22 March 2020, is cancelled. All share buyback amounts include shares to be redeemed by the Norwegian State. ■
A series of atmospheric rivers are forecast to produce heavy rainfall in the Pacific Northwest into the upcoming week while heavy snow continues in the Northern Rockies through Sunday.