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Block Energy plc

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FY2020 Annual Report · Block Energy plc
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48 Warwick Street  
London W1B 5AW
www.blockenergy.co.uk

Annual Report and Financial Statements  
Year Ended
31 December 2020

The  Company’s  strategy  is  to  become  the  leading 
independent oil and gas company in Georgia. It plans to 
develop and exploit its portfolio of low cost, high impact 
development assets in a proven region of Georgia, and 
to scale up its existing production and reserves via the 
implementation of efficient work programmes.

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Table of Contents

1

Contents 

Strategic Report 

2     Officers and Advisers 

3     Highlights 

4     Strategy and Business Model 

5     Chairman’s Statement 

6     Chief Executive Officer’s Statement 

7     Chief Financial Officer’s Statement 

9     Principal Risks and Uncertainties 

14   Statement of Corporate Responsibility 

17   Board of Directors 

Report of the Directors 

19   Report of the Directors 

Governance Report 

23   Corporate Governance Statement 

32   Remuneration Report 

Independent Auditor’s Report 

37   Independent Auditor’s Report 

Financial Statements – Group Company Financial Statements 

46   Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

47   Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

48   Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

49   Consolidated Statement of Cashflows 

50   Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 

Financial Statements – Parent Company Financial Statements 

72   Parent Company Statement of Financial Position 

73   Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity 

74   Parent Company Statement of Cashflows 

75   Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
 
 
 
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Strategic Report 

Officers and Advisors

2

Directors 

Paul Haywood             Chief Executive Officer 
William McAvock         Chief Financial Officer 
Philip Dimmock            Independent Non-Executive Chairman 
Christopher Brown       Director - Non-Executive 
Charles Valceschini     Director - Non-Executive (appointed 15 December 2020) 
David Sandroshvili       Director - Non-Executive (appointed 21 December 2020) 

UK Office 

3rd Floor, Lansdowne House 
57 Berkeley Square 
London 
W1J 6ER 
UK registration: 05356303 
www.blockenergy.co.uk 

Company Secretary and Registered Office 

Ben Harber 
6th Floor, 60 Gracechurch Street 
London 
EC3V 0HR 

Block Energy Plc is quoted on AIM (Symbol BLOE)

Broker 

Tennyson Securities 
a trading company of Shard Capital Partners LLP 
20 Fenchurch Street 
London 
EC3M 3BY 

Nominated Adviser 

Spark Advisory Partners Limited 
5 St John’s Lane 
London 
EC1M 4BH 

Auditor 

BDO LLP 
55 Baker Street 
London 
W1U 7EU 

Block Energy PLC

Registrar 

Share Registrars Limited 
Suite E, First Floor 
9 Lion and Lamb Yard 
Farnham 
Surrey, GU9 7LL 

Bank 

Barclays Bank Plc 
10 Berkeley Square 
London 
W1J 6AA 

Public Relations  

Camarco 
107 Cheapside 
London 
EC2V 6DN

 
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Strategic Report continued

Highlights

Equity placing 

3

•      In December 2020, Block Energy Plc completed a placing of 176 million new Ordinary Shares, raising approximately 
£5.28 million, equivalent to $7.2 million (before expenses) with institutional investors at a placing price of 3 pence, 
equivalent to $0.04, per share. 

Acquisition and business growth 

•      On 25 March 2020, the Company entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement with Schlumberger B.V. 
(“Schlumberger”) to acquire its subsidiary Schlumberger Rustaveli Company Limited (“SRCL”). The acquisition was 
completed on 23 November 2020. The acquired company holds the PSCs to Blocks IX and XIB in Georgia. 

•      Cash at 31 December 2020 was $6,331,000 (31 December 2019: $6,494,000). 

Operations 

•      Production of oil and gas from the two horizontal wells (WR-16aZ and WR-38Z) in its West Rustavi licence area was 
suspended in April 2020 to avoid selling oil at low oil prices and conserve gas resources until the Early Production 
Facility (“EPF”) and gas sales pipeline were completed. 

•      Gas sales agreement signed with Bago LLC, a prominent private gas supplier and purchaser in Georgia, for the offtake 

of gas produced at the Company’s flagship West Rustavi field. 

•      Construction of an EPF, with capacity for up to six wells, to exploit Block Energy’s associated gas and contingent gas 

resources, was completed on budget in November 2020. 

•      Following the year end, on 15 February 2021, the Company achieved its first gas sales. 

•      100 km2 of 3D seismic survey data acquired over and beyond the entire area of the Company’s West Rustavi licence 
was processed and interpreted, with results exhibiting good subsurface imaging of the main producing and prospective 
formations in the licence, thereby informing the drilling programme. 

•      The Group continued to produce approximately 20 bopd from the Norio and Satskhenisi fields.  

•      The Group maintains a strong focus on assuring Health, Safety and Environmental (“HSE”) management. 

•      Following the year end, in March 2021, the Group entered into an agreement with Georgia Oil & Gas Limited to hire 

drilling and workover rigs and equipment. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Strategic Report continued

Strategy and Business Model

4

The Company’s strategy is focused on becoming the leading independent oil and gas company in Georgia. It plans to 
develop and exploit its portfolio of low cost, high impact development assets in a proven region of Georgia and scale up its 
current production and reserves via efficient work programmes.Led by a management team with deep experience of the 
Caucasus region and an operations team comprising local and international expertise.  

During 2020, Block added two additional exciting licences to its portfolio in the heart of Georgia’s oil and gas-bearing 
Kura Basin.  

Block’s work programme is designed to unlock West Rustavi’s 0.9 MMbbls of gross 2P reserves of oil, 38 MMbbls of gross 
unrisked 2C contingent resources of oil and 608 BCF of gross unrisked 2C contingent resources of gas1 and recently 
acquired Block XIB’s 36 MMbbls of gross 2P reserves of oil, 160 BCF of gross 2P reserves of gas, and 333 BCF of gross 
unrisked 2C contingent resources of gas2 . 

The programme’s core elements are to exploit existing fields, converting resources to reserves and reserves to production, 
and this has been boosted by the acquisition of additional licences, containing high-potential and mature fields. The newly 
acquired Blocks IX and XIB are also thought to contain significant high impact exploration potential that will be evaluated in 
due course. The company is also reviewing the geothermal potential on its licences. 

Despite the challenges of Covid-19 and low oil prices, Block has made good progress over the year ended 31 December 2020: 

•      Acquired 100% of the shares of Schlumberger Rustaveli Company Limited (“SRCL”), which holds two PSCs associated 

with Blocks IX and XIB in Georgia and successfully integrated SRCL into the Group. 

•      Processed and interpreted 3D seismic survey data to evaluate and rank development and appraisal well targets in 

West Rustavi. 

•      Sold crude oil at higher oil prices towards the end of 2020. 

•      Continued to build its management and technical teams in Georgia and London. 

•      Strengthened its board of directors with the appointment of two new non-executive directors in December 2020. 

•      Entered into a gas sales agreement with one of Georgia’s most prominent private gas suppliers. 

•      Constructed and commissioned an EPF and commenced gas sales soon after the year end, in February 2021. 

The current contract with Bago LLC for gas sales covers small volumes of associated gas produced with oil from the Middle 
Eocene reservoir in West Rustavi. The gas is priced on a spot basis with the latest gas sales tender price achieved by the 
state-owned Georgian Oil & Gas Corporation (“GOGC”) being used as the benchmark for the spot price. 

As well as holding associated gas reserves and resources across Blocks XIF (West Rustavi) and XIB (Patardzeuli, Teleti, 
Krtsanisi and Samgori), the Group also holds large volumes of contingent natural gas resources in the deeper Lower Eocene 
and Cretaceous reservoirs and it is an intrinsic element of the Company’s strategy to appraise and develop these reservoirs. 
It is anticipated that, if these contingent gas resources have been proven and developed, the natural gas would be sold on 
a long-term basis, either to GOGC or directly to industrial purchasers, reflecting the prices being paid by GOGC for gas 
imported from Azerbaijan. 

The Company continues to assess the opportunity to increase the rate of development of its reserves and resources. The 
finance required for development might be obtained by increasing equity and/or taking debt from the bond or other markets. 

We continue to review opportunities to build the Company through development and acquisition, particularly within the 
immediate region. 

The Company may in the future consider farm-out agreements with third parties as a means of funding future capital 
expenditure and expediting development.

1       Source: CPR Gustavson Associates: 1 January 2018 
2       Source: CPR Bayphase Limited: 1 July 2015

Block Energy PLC

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Strategic Report continued

Chairman’s Statement

5

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic taking control of much of last year, I am pleased to report that Block Energy has continued 
to perform well and has made significant progress both operationally and corporately. I am very grateful to the Board and 
all employees for working relentlessly throughout 2020, diligently observing national restrictions and for their continued 
dedication to your Company. 

2020 began with a strong start, with production tests at our WR-38Z well confirming West Rustavi’s associated gas potential, 
to which Block responded swiftly by commencing the installation of an EPF to the field. Despite various Covid-19 lockdowns 
and restrictions in both the UK and Georgia, we continued to pursue our gas strategy with Bago LLC and were delighted 
to announce our inaugural gas sales in February 2021 - a great achievement, as Block managed to deliver its gas project 
safely, with zero LTIs, in the face of a very challenging global environment. As I have mentioned before, Block is committed 
to maintaining high environmental standards and to providing Georgia with an alternative clean and efficient fuel source in 
place of its current petroleum and diesel consumption.  

In line with Block’s objective to become the leading independent oil and gas producer in Georgia, the Company announced 
and completed the transaction to acquire two blocks, Block IX and Block XIB, from Schlumberger during the year. The 
acquisition  significantly  increased  Block’s  access  to  production,  reserves  and  resources  and  has  provided  multiple 
opportunities for future development and production. Following the acquisition, we welcomed the majority of the existing 
workforce and have now combined offices in Georgia, so the entire team is located at our Lilo base on Block XIB. The 
co-location of staff facilitates a more collaborative and productive working environment and is more cost-effective for the 
Company. Throughout the pandemic, all staff have meticulously observed the rules and regulations required by both the 
UK and Georgian governments.  

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and to low oil prices, Block moved swiftly to ensure the business could continue to 
run safely and sustainably. We decided to postpone capital expenditure and reduce our cash expenditure by 40% through 
a combination of cost-cutting measures, deferral of operating and administrative expenses and, in the UK, directors and 
employees agreed a scheme in which, from 1 April 2020, 40% of their salaries have been paid in nil-cost options to acquire 
ordinary shares in the Company, reducing monthly cash salary costs significantly. I believe it was these pragmatic decisions, 
along with the commitment of our staff, that has enabled Block to withstand the challenges of the past year. To help to 
implement our 2021 development strategy, the Company performed a fundraise of £5.28 million in December 2020, the 
proceeds of which will support Block’s statement of financial position through its recently announced operational objectives.  

Despite a year of turmoil, we remained focused on improving our corporate governance and welcomed Chuck Valceschini 
and Dato Sandroshvili as non-executive directors to the Board. Each has dedicated his career to the oil and gas industry 
and has brought a wealth of experience that has already proven invaluable to the Board and Block as a whole. In September 
2020, we bade farewell to Roger McMechan from the Board but continue to benefit from his extensive sub-surface and 
Georgian operations expertise on a consultancy basis.  

Another priority for Block remained the health and safety of our employees and wider stakeholders. I’m pleased to report 
that we had no lost time incident during the year. Overall, the safety record was very good for a new company that has 
brought a number of innovative and modern technologies to Georgia.  

As we have proven this past year, Block benefits from the flexibility of being able to easily shut-in and restart production in 
reaction to the fluctuating oil price. Our cautious decision to do so last year has been rewarded with a much-improved oil 
price environment from which we are able to benefit fully. Our prudent choices made in relation to capex and general 
business expenditure have ensured our strong position today, providing a stable base from which to pursue our recently 
announced strategic objectives and the West Rustavi drilling programme. I look forward to continuing our robust progress 
over the next year as the world begins to normalise.  

Finally, I would like to thank all employees for their loyalty, tenacity, and hard work, particularly in light of the past year’s 
challenges. We look forward to updating shareholders with further news in the months to come. 

Philip Dimmock 
Chairman

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Strategic Report continued

Chief Executive Officer’s Statement

6

2020 was an extraordinary year for all people, businesses, and countries. The oil industry was hit particularly hard due to 
decreased oil demand, and many companies have had to close operations. We decided early on in 2020 that prudent cash 
management was the best way forward, in terms of our employees and preserving our statement of financial position. We 
implemented a work-from-home policy where possible, and our operational teams maintained social distancing and regular 
virus testing. Our capital expenditure was deferred, and we executed a change in salary structure to conserve cash. With 
our prudent approach in place, Block still managed to enjoy operational successes in 2020 through the installation of an 
EPF at West Rustavi and, through our gas sales agreement with Bago LLP, construction of pipelines that enabled our 
inaugural gas sales in February 2021 and the completion of the Schlumberger acquisition. 

Due to our decision to conserve cash, 2020 was an operationally quieter year than expected, and we took the opportunity 
to strengthen our technical teams and sub-surface knowledge. We welcomed Andrew Moncur as drilling manager, who set 
to work building a robust and experienced team, drawing on expertise from around the region, including Georgia, and 
focusing it on wellbore construction success and quality. Having acquired 3D seismic data in 2019, we combined its findings 
with data and information inherited from the Schlumberger acquisition to improve our understanding of the development 
potential of the Companys increased acreage. We also engaged EPI in June 2020, whose expertise in geophysical and 
geological interpretation, petrophysics and reservoir engineering has helped analyse the geological aspects of horizontal 
well design and the selection and ranking opportunities in West Rustavi and Block XIB. As a result, our substantial analysis 
and research have helped us devise three major strategic objectives that are all of scale, are potentially transformational 
for the Company, and are risked independently of one another. These three strategies – the development of West Rustavi, 
the production enhancement of existing mature fields, and the targeting of the Lower Eocene gas – provide a structure and 
direction integral to Block’s future success as we gradually look beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The Board has established an Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (“ESG”) Committee to establish the 
Company’s ESG policy and to measure the sustainability and societal impact of the business. As a priority, the ESG 
Committee will evaluate the potential for geothermal energy in its licences and Georgia generally. 

Block remains dedicated to contributing to the Georgian economy and maintaining close relationships with the relevant 
Georgian government authorities and industry leaders. Senior management have travelled to Georgia from the UK when 
restrictions have allowed and enjoyed constant communication between offices.  

During the year, the Company continued to produce and sell oil from its Norio, and Satskhenisi licences and revenue from 
the oil sales in 2020 was $1,255,000, bolstering our cash position.  

With a new strategic structure in place, I am optimistic 2021 will be a progressive year for Block and for all, supported by 
easing restrictions associated with Covid-19. I am especially grateful to all Block staff for their dedication to our company 
and their resilience in the face of incredible challenges. I look forward to updating the market with the results of our hard 
work, in particular our 2021 drilling campaign. 

Paul Haywood 
Chief Executive Officer

Block Energy PLC

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Strategic Report continued

Chief Financial Officer’s Statement

7

This report covers the year ended 31 December 2020, but the prior period covers the 18 months period ended 31 December 
2019, because, in June 2019, to bring its financial reporting in line with peer companies and to carry out its year-end work 
when there is a seasonal reduction in operational activities, the Company changed its accounting reference date from 30 
June to 31 December. Therefore, the current year ended 31 December 2020 is not directly comparable with the prior 18 
months period ended 31 December 2019. 

Balance sheet – acquisitions, capital expenditure, equity placing and asset growth 

During the year ended 31 December 2020, Block Energy Plc continued to build its production and development base whilst 
maintaining a strong statement of financial position, because it acquired 100% of the shares of Block Rustaveli Limited 
(formerly Schlumberger Rustaveli Company Limited), which holds the PSCs to Blocks IX and XIB in Georgia, for $6.8 million 
consideration, which comprised $7.1 million in nil-cost options to acquire shares in Block Energy Plc less $0.3 million cash 
from the seller to adjust the consideration for liabilities that were for the seller’s account. The assets and liabilities acquired 
are detailed in note 12 to the consolidated financial statements, but included the following provisional values: $6.3 million of 
development and production assets, $1.0 million of crude oil inventory, $1.5 million of materials inventory, $1.6 million of 
decommissioning liabilities and $0.9 million of other liabilities. 

In April 2020, owing to the combined impacts of lower oil demand caused by Covid-19 and the Russia–Saudi Arabia oil price 
war, the Brent oil price collapsed from over $50 per barrel at the start of March 2020 to less than $20 per barrel in April 2020. 
The Company responded to the low oil price by postponing all new capital expenditure and reducing the monthly cash burn 
in  Georgia  by  40%  from  $107,000  to  $64,000  through  a  combination  of  cost-cutting  and  deferral  of  operating  and 
administration expenses. In the UK, directors and employees agreed to a scheme in which, with effect from 1 April 2020, 
40% of their salaries were paid in nil-cost options to acquire Ordinary Shares in the Company, reducing monthly cash salary 
costs significantly.  

In December 2020, Block Energy Plc completed a placing of 176 million new Ordinary Shares, raising £5.28 million (equivalent 
to $7.2 million) before expenses with institutional investors at a placing price of 3 pence (equivalent to $0.04) per share. 

The Group’s financial position has changed significantly over the past year, with Group net assets increasing from $20,610,000 
as at 31 December 2019 to $29,866,000 owing to the acquisition of Block Rustaveli Limited and the $7.2 million cash raised 
in the equity placing in December 2020. At the end of the year, the Group’s cash balance was $6,331,000 (2019: $6,494,000).  

Income statement 

The Group’s revenue increased to $1,255,000 (2019: $314,000) and other income included $100,000 (2019: $nil) for sales 
of materials. The current year revenue from sales of crude oil of $1,255,000 (2019: $314,000) comprised the sale of 34,421 
barrels (2019: 5,210 barrels) of oil, which equated to average revenue of $36.45 (2019: $60.29) per barrel. 

In addition, the Group had over 28,000 barrels (2019: over 14,000 barrels) of crude oil inventory as at 31 December 2020. 
Following the year end, during the quarter ended 31 March 2021, the Group sold 26,349 barrels of crude oil inventory for net 
revenue of $1.374 million, which equates to average revenue of $52.18 per barrel. 

Following the year end, the Group commenced gas sales on 15 February 2021 and, during the period from 15 February 
2021 to 31 March 2021, it sold 38.4 Mcf of gas for net revenue of $123,000, which equates to an average gas price of $3.20 
per Mcf. 

The loss for the year was $5,512,000 as compared with a $6,130,000 loss in the prior period. The main reason for the 
decrease in the loss is the income statement covers a shorter period of 12 months compared with 18 months in the prior 
period. During the year, the Group was still loss-making because, for most of the year, the wells in West Rustavi were shut 
in and not producing oil and gas to help to cover the Group’s cost base. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Strategic Report continued

Chief Financial Officer’s statement continued

8

Future prospects 

Wells WR-38Z and WR-16aZ were returned to production on 28 January 2021 and 3 February 2021 respectively. During Q1 
2021, the Company produced 29.8 Mbbls of oil and 14.6 Mboe of gas, resulting in a combined total of 44.4 Mboe of oil and 
gas. The average production rate for February and March 2021, after WR-38Z had commenced production but excluding 
WR-16aZ (as the well is currently suspended), was 573 boepd. The average production rate for the four-month period ended 
31 May 2021 (excluding WR-16aZ) was 526 boepd. 

The Company has always been focused on controlling administration costs and continues to endeavour to keep these to a 
minimum. We maintain a low-cost operation, and our Georgian portfolio offers a low-cost short-cycle production base.  

Liquidity, counterparty risk and going concern 

The Group monitors its cash position, cash forecasts and liquidity regularly and has a conservative approach to cash 
management, with surplus cash held on term deposits with major financial institutions.  

The directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for a period of 13 months from the date of signing these financial statements. 
The Group’s forecasts are reviewed regularly to assess whether any actions to curtail expenditure or cut costs are required. 
The Group is in the final stages of preparing to drill a well at WR-BA location and, by the end of the year, plans to drill a 
second well and spud a third well. The forecasts assume the wells will produce oil and gas, which would be sold, and indicate 
the Group has sufficient funds to complete the drilling of the wells and to meet its liabilities as they fall due until June 2022. 
However, if any of the new wells do not produce commercial quantities of oil or gas, the Group would immediately revisit its 
plans to drill subsequent wells. The financial benefit of any additional capital projects would be assessed against capital 
requirements  and  balanced  with  ensuring  that  the  Group  and  the  Company  can  continue  to  meet  their  liabilities  and 
commitments through to June 2022. The Company’s forecasts are considered together with the Group’s forecasts.  

The directors note that Covid-19 has had a significant negative impact on the global economy and oil prices, which may 
mean it is harder to secure additional funding than it has historically been. As part of their going concern assessment, a 
reverse stress test has been performed, based on the scenario whereby, due to Covid-19 restrictions, if the Group were 
unable to continue with normal operations or were required to significantly reduce the forecasted production due to the capital 
expenditure not being incurred to complete the additional wells, a cash shortfall may occur. The global pandemic may also 
bring practical challenges to the timetables for drilling the new wells and the consequent sale of oil and gas from those wells. 
The directors are confident that current capital projects are funded and have a reasonable expectation that they could secure 
additional funding, if needed, to fund additional capital projects. However, these conditions are necessarily considered to 
represent a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt over the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. 
Whilst acknowledging this material uncertainty, the directors remain confident of making further cost savings and/or raising 
finance when required, and therefore the directors consider it appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going 
concern basis. The financial statements do not include the adjustments that would result if the Group were unable to continue 
as a going concern. 

Results and dividends 

The results for the period and the financial position of the Group are shown in the following financial statements. The Group 
has incurred a pre-tax loss of $5,512,000 (2019: loss of $6,130,000). 

The Group has net assets of $29,694,000 (2019: net assets of $20,610,000). 

The directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend (2019: nil). 

William McAvock 
Chief Financial Officer

Block Energy PLC

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Strategic Report continued

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

9

There are general risks associated with the oil and gas extraction industry. The Board regularly reviews the risks to which the 
Group is exposed and endeavours to minimise these risks as far as possible. The Board considers that there is no necessity 
at the present time to establish an independent internal audit function given the current size and simplicity of the business.  

The following summary outlines the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group at its present stage of development: 

Description                         Impact                                                                                      Mitigation 

Strategic Risk: 

• Regional tensions 
could have an 
adverse effect on the 
local economy and 
our business

• Risks associated with 
growth by acquisition 
(such as overpaying 
and conducting 
insufficient due 
diligence) and moving 
into new areas (such 
as geothermal)

Financial Risks: 

• Currency exchange 

rate fluctuations may 
negatively affect 
Block Energy

Georgia shares borders with Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia 
and  Turkey  and  could  be  adversely  affected  by  political 
unrest within its borders and in surrounding countries. In 
particular,  Georgia  has  had  ongoing  disputes  in  the 
the  Tskhinvali 
breakaway  regions  of  Abkhazia  and 
Region/South  Ossetia,  and  with  Russia,  since  Georgian 
independence in 1991. These disputes have led to sporadic 
violence  and  breaches  of  peacekeeping  operations. 
Escalation  of  these  issues  could  impact  the  Group 
operationally, logistically and ultimately financially.

The acquisition might negatively affect the Group’s cash 
flows, operating results or financial condition to a material 
extent.

The Board monitors all political 
developments  on  an  ongoing 
basis.  This  ensures 
swift 
reaction should it be required. 

The  Group  has  the  skills  and 
expertise to manage acquisitions 
the  acquisition  of 
(such  as 
Schlumberger 
Rustaveli 
Company Limited during 2020 – 
see note 12). The Group intends 
to engage experienced industry 
partners  and  contracts  for  its 
geothermal evaluations.

The  Group’s  consolidated 
financial  statements  are 
presented  in  United  States  dollars,  and  certain  ongoing 
management costs will be denominated in British pounds 
sterling.  The  markets  for  the  commodities  produced  are 
typically listed in US dollars and so Block Energy expects 
that  the  majority  of  its  future  revenues  and  operating 
expenses will be in US dollars, British pounds sterling and 
Georgian Lari. Consequently, Block Energy will be exposed 
to  ongoing  currency  risk.  Block  Energy  may  also  have 
operating  expenses  denominated  in  another  currency. 
Consequently,  changes  in  the  exchange  rates  of  these 
currencies may negatively affect the Group’s cash flows, 
operating results or financial condition to a material extent.

its  cash 

exchange 

Block Energy does not intend to 
hedge 
resources 
against  risks  associated  with 
disadvantageous movements in 
rates. 
currency 
Therefore,  currency  exchange 
rate fluctuations may negatively 
affect the Group. However, Block 
will  endeavour  to  immediately 
convert funds raised in pounds 
sterling  to  US  dollars  as  a 
natural  currency  hedge  to  fulfil 
operational work plans, and will 
foreign 
to  place 
continue 
exchange orders in order to take 
advantage 
favourable 
of 
currency fluctuations.

• The price of oil or gas 

may decrease 
significantly

Continued decreases in the oil or gas price over a sustained 
period  might  negatively  affect  the  Group’s  cash  flows, 
operating results or financial condition to a material extent.

The  Board  has  planned  for 
sustained period of low oil or gas 
prices.  The  Board  introduced 
measures  in  April  2020  (e.g. 
capital 
postponement 
expenditure, cost reductions and 
cost  deferrals)  and  would  take 
similar  measures  as  and  when 
required.

of 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

    
    
 
    
    
 
    
    
 
    
    
 
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Strategic Report continued

Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued

10

Description                         Impact                                                                                      Mitigation 

Financial Risks: continued 

• Substantial capital 
requirements and 
access to funding 
might be limited

The Board will remain proactive 
in identifying possible business 
risks  and  funding  shortfalls.  A 
fund warning code structure is in 
place,  which  is  activated  when 
funding levels reach certain low 
cash resource parameters. This 
will  ensure  the  Board  can  act 
swiftly  as  required  to  mitigate 
these risks.  

The Company maintains regular 
reporting  structures,  so  that  all 
issues are quickly identified by 
the  Board,  be  it  operational  or 
financial in nature.

The  Company’s  development  strategy  will 
require 
significant  expenditure  to  fully  exploit  its  potential.  The 
Company  will  need  to  generate  free  cash  flow  from  its 
operations and raise debt or equity funding to be able to 
finance  these  costs.  If  the  Company’s  revenues  do  not 
recover or its reserves decline, it may have limited ability to 
expend  the  capital  necessary  to  undertake  or  complete 
future  drilling  programmes  and  may  require  additional 
financing to do so. If Block Energy is unable to raise funding 
to  support  ongoing  operations  and  to  fund  capital 
expenditure, it may limit the Company’s growth or may have 
a  material  adverse  effect  upon  the  Company’s  financial 
condition, results of operations or prospects. The ability of 
Block Energy to arrange financing in the future will depend 
in part upon the prevailing capital market conditions, the 
perceived  risk  associated  with  Georgia,  and  business 
performance of the Company. Fluctuations in oil and gas 
prices  may  affect  lending  policies  for  potential  future 
lenders.  This  in  turn  could  limit  growth  prospects  in  the 
short-term  or  may  even  require  Block  Energy  to  divert 
existing cash balances or cash flows from other intended 
purposes (e.g. capital expenditure), dispose of assets or 
raise  new  equity 
to  continue  operations  under 
circumstances  of  declining  energy  prices,  disappointing 
drilling  results,  or  economic  or  political  dislocation  in 
Georgia. There can be no assurance that debt or equity 
financing or cash generated by operations will be available 
or  sufficient  to  meet  these  requirements  or  for  other 
corporate  purposes  or,  if  debt  or  equity  financing  is 
available,  that  it  will  be  on  terms  acceptable  to  the 
Company. This may be further complicated by the limited 
market liquidity for shares of smaller companies, restricting 
access to some institutional investors. If additional financing 
is raised by the issuance of shares from treasury of Block 
Energy,  control  of  the  Company  may  change  and 
shareholders may suffer additional dilution. The Company 
cannot predict the size of future issuances of equity or the 
issuance of debt or the effect, if any, that future issuances 
and  sales  of  the  Company’s  securities  will  have  on  the 
market price of the Company’s shares.

• Project Capital Cost 

Performance

Higher costs might negatively affect the Group’s cash flows, 
operating results or financial condition to a material extent.

• Over-reliance on one 
gas purchaser and 
few oil purchasers

An inability to sell oil or gas sold might negatively affect the 
Group’s cash flows, operating results or financial condition 
to a material extent.

Block Energy PLC

To  gain  the  most  competitive 
pricing,  control  costs  and  limit 
overruns, the Group will apply fit-
contracting 
for-purpose 
strategies 
lump-sum 
(e.g. 
pricing,  when  appropriate)  and 
incorporate 
tendering 
robust 
procedures  in  the  procurement 
of materials and services.

For  oil  sales,  the  Group  holds 
regular discussions with the few 
purchasers  and  sells  the  oil 
under the best terms.

    
    
 
    
    
 
    
    
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Strategic Report continued

Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued

Description                         Impact                                                                                      Mitigation 

11

Financial Risks: continued 

• Counterparty risk, 

such as an oil or gas 
purchaser not paying

Not receiving cash for oil or gas sold might negatively affect 
the  Group’s  cash  flows,  operating  results  or  financial 
condition to a material extent.

Operational Risks: 

• Poor production 
performance

• Permits, licences and 

leases

Less  cash  flow  than  forecast  from  operations  might 
negatively affect the Group’s cash flows, operating results 
or financial condition to a material extent.

Significant  parts  of  the  Company’s  operations  require 
permits,  licences  and  leases  from  various  governmental 
authorities in Georgia. There can be no assurance that the 
Company  will  be  able  to  obtain  all  necessary  permits, 
licences and leases that may be required to carry out future 
exploration and development at our projects. If the present 
permits, licences and leases are terminated or withdrawn, 
such event could have an adverse effect of the Company’s 
operations.

For  gas  sales, 
the  Group 
receives payment on a monthly 
basis on the 27th day following 
the  month  of  supply,  so  the 
impact  is  limited.  For  oil  sales, 
the  Group  receives  between 
50% and 100% prepayment.

The  Group  has  a  portfolio  of 
projects with varying risk, capital 
and  production  profiles,  which 
enables  it  to  spread  the  risk 
across its various licences.

to 

in  order 
its  activities 

The  directors  believe  that  the 
Group 
in  all 
is  complying 
material respects with the terms 
of  the  licences  and  permits 
to 
granted 
it 
undertake 
in 
Georgia. Furthermore, the PSCs 
contain  provisions  obliging  the 
government  of  Georgia  to  co-
operate  fully  with  the  Group  in 
obtaining all necessary consents 
and  permits.  Nevertheless,  the 
Group’s ability to obtain, sustain 
or  renew  such  licences  and 
permits on acceptable terms are 
subject to change in regulations 
and policies and to the discretion 
the  applicable  regulatory 
of 
authorities and governments.

• The Company’s 

proposed 
development plans 
are subject to several 
operational risks

Both the drilling and workover programmes that have been 
and  continue  to  be  carried  out  by  the  Group  involve 
potentially  complicated  and  difficult  technical  operations 
with which there are inherent risks. These include human 
error by the drilling operator, equipment failure, mistakes in 
the  planning  of  the  operations  and  the  encountering  of 
unforeseen difficulties within field operations.

in 

While  these  risks  cannot  be 
eliminated, they are to an extent 
mitigated  because  the  geology 
and  geophysics  of  Block 
Energy’s  assets  are  well 
understood, 
particular 
because of the number of wells 
previously drilled in each of the 
licences.  Block  Energy  has  an 
experienced technical team who 
have  worked  in  Georgia  for 
many  years.  In  addition,  the 
Group has overseen the drilling 
of a number of wells in Georgia.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

    
    
 
    
    
 
    
    
 
    
    
 
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Strategic Report continued

Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued

12

Description                         Impact                                                                                      Mitigation 

Operational Risks: continued 

• Global pandemic 

negatively impacts 
operations

If  the  global  pandemic  results  in  a  lockdown  or  state  of 
emergency  being  declared,  it  could  result  in  the  Group 
having to cease its operations, which might negatively affect 
the  Group’s  cash  flows,  operating  results  or  financial 
condition to a material extent.

HSE Risks: 

• Accident and 

Incidents associated 
with operations (e.g. 
blowout)

Serious accidents can result in shut down of operational 
sites and loss of credible operator reputation/licence.

The 

The Board has planned for such 
a  period  of  cessation  of 
operations. 
Board 
introduced  measures  in  April 
2020  (e.g.  postponement  of 
cost 
capital 
reductions  and  cost  deferrals) 
and would take similar measures 
as and when required.

expenditure, 

The  Group  has  an  emergency 
response  plan  and  carries  out 
of 
inspections 
frequent 
operations  by  HSE 
staff, 
personnel  safety  training,  daily 
safety  meetings, 
worksite 
to  operating 
improvements 
provides 
equipment, 
personal protective equipment to 
all  field  worksite  personnel.  In 
response to the lost time incident 
in 2019 and to prevent the future 
occurrence of a similar incident, 
the Company upgraded well-site 
equipment  and 
in 
additional training of personnel.

invested 

and 

• Environmental 

contamination caused 
by oil and water spills

Increased operating expenditures due to clean-up costs and 
loss of production revenue due to intermittent shut-downs 
and less oil to sell if it’s being dumped on the ground. Also, 
frequent spills can lead to fines being levied by the state.

• Local community 

protests prevent the 
Group from operating

If the Group is unable to operate its wells or drill new wells, 
this  could  have  an  adverse  effect  of  the  Company’s 
operations.

Legal and Compliance Risks: 

• Non-compliance with 
laws or regulations

The  Group  might  incur  penalties  and  loss  of  good 
reputation.

The Group will continue to repair 
and  upgrade 
its  production 
facilities at its oilfields to reduce 
the 
to 
risk  of  spills  due 
equipment failure. 

Improved operating procedures 
through  training  of  operations 
personnel  to  avoid  the  spill 
situations.

The  Group  has  a  community 
engagement strategy, hires local 
community  labour,  and  funds 
several community projects near 
its operations.

The  Group  has  a  strong 
compliance 
framework,  with 
experienced  advisers,  policies 
and procedures, and compliance 
training. 

Block Energy PLC

    
    
 
    
    
 
    
    
 
    
    
 
    
    
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Strategic Report continued

Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued

13

Description                         Impact                                                                                      Mitigation 

Organisational Risks: 

• Dependence on key 

relationships 
including, inter alia, 
the State and 
Georgian Oil and Gas 
Corporation 
(“GOGC”)

The success of the business of the Group and the effective 
operation of the Group’s interests in Georgia is dependent 
in part on good relationships and co-operation with these 
parties. The State is a counterparty to the Group’s PSCs. 
Accordingly, if the State, its Agency and/or the national oil 
company, GOGC, can not cooperate with each other or the 
Group,  it  could  harm  the  business,  operations,  and 
prospects of the Group.

Management maintains regular 
communication with the State, its 
Agency and GOGC.

• Dependence on key 
executives and 
personnel, employee 
retention and 
recruitment

Block Energy has a comparatively small number of current 
and proposed employees. The future success of the Group 
depends partially on the expertise of the directors. The loss 
of key personnel and the inability to recruit additional key 
personnel  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the 
Group’s future by impairing the day to day running of the 
Group and its ability to exploit the opportunities open to it. 
An inability to attract or retain additional key personnel could 
have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business and 
trading results. In addition, the loss of the services of the 
executive directors or other key employees could damage 
the Group’s business.

Executive directors have notice 
periods  of  no  less  than  three 
months to ensure sufficient time 
to  hand  over  responsibilities  in 
the event of a departure. 

The  Remuneration  Committee 
evaluates 
regularly 
and 
compensation 
incentivisation 
to 
ensure they remain competitive.

schemes 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

    
    
 
    
    
 
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Strategic Report continued

Statement of Corporate Responsibility

14

Block Energy Plc has a practical and open approach to its Corporate Responsibility (“CR”). Our CR programme is focused 
on doing the right thing, managing risk, and investing sustainably in the community in which we operate. 

Impact of culture on decision-making 

Our investment decisions carefully consider environmental and social impacts and how such impacts are best managed 
for all stakeholders. Our operations should not compromise the well-being of current or future generations. This responsible 
behaviour is a crucial element for our long-term business success. 

For Block Energy this means: 

•      Acting with respect for people, communities and the environment 

•      Acting honestly and openly with all stakeholders, fully respecting the rule of law and human rights 

•      Contributing to the development goals of Georgia  

•      Integrating sustainability and CR into our strategy, planning, implementation and management systems 

•      Providing clear public reporting on our management systems and performance.  

In Georgia, the Group has prepared a number of detailed Environmental Impact Statements (“EIS”).  

Health, safety, environmental and social performance 

The Company strives for continuous improvement, and Block Energy is committed to maintaining high standards of health, 
safety, environmental and social performance (“HSES”) across all its oil and gas exploration and development operations. 
To achieve this, we will: 

•      As an integral part of our business, identify, assess and manage the HSES risks to people, the environment and assets 

in order to avoid adverse direct or indirect effects from our operations. 

•      Ensure that our operations comply, as a minimum, with applicable health, safety, environmental and social laws and 

regulations, as well as best practicable industry standards. 

•      Maintain high ethical standards in carrying out business activities. 

•      Provide necessary leadership and resources to enable effective HSES management throughout our organisation. 

•      Prevent and minimise the impact of our operations on the environment. 

•      Ensure continuous improvement of HSES performance by setting objectives and targets and focused auditing, reviews 

and external benchmarking. 

•      Select competent staff, contractors and suppliers to manage and support the business. 

•      Ensure that a high priority is placed on emergency preparedness and contingency planning, and that any plans are 

tested regularly to ensure that any incidents are responded to in a timely and effective manner. 

•      Foster a culture where accidents, incidents and near misses are reported and investigated, and the lessons learned 

are shared. 

•      Consult with and respond to the concerns of our stakeholders on our health, safety, environmental and social performance. 

•      Ensure that this policy is clearly displayed in all Block Energy premises and operational sites, provided to all contractors, 

and made publicly available. 

•      The Company’s directors, employees and contractors have a responsibility for maintaining high HSES standards and 

this Policy will be used to guide their activities. 

Block Energy PLC

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Strategic Report continued

Statement of Corporate Responsibility continued

15

Stakeholder engagement 

We understand that our long-term success depends on our relationships with our stakeholders. We strive to provide our 
stakeholders with timely and effective information, responses and support. The following table summarises how we identify 
and seek to meet their needs, interests and expectations. 

Stakeholder                                              Reason for engagement                         How we engage 

Employees:  Our  capacity  to  design 
and execute our strategy depends on 
the health, development and retention 
of our dedicated and skilled staff.

to 

and 

ensuring 

understanding 

Transparent 
regular 
communications with staff is essential 
for 
of 
commitment 
the  Company’s 
objectives. As an oil and gas production 
company  we  have  particular  health, 
safety  and  environmental  obligations 
(see  ‘Communities  and  environment’ 
below).

We 

Shareholders. 
provide 
transparent, accessible and balanced 
information  to  investors  to  ensure 
support and confidence.

Understanding shareholder sentiments 
regarding  the  business,  its  prospects 
and the performance of management 
and meeting regulatory requirements.

Industry bodies, local and national 
governments. Our services must meet 
regulatory 
certain 
requirements.

legal 

and 

Communities and environment. Our 
operations  are  embedded  within  a 
complex 
and 
ecosystem. 

economic 

local 

We work hard to meet our regulatory 
obligations to retain our good standing 
the  Georgian 
with 
government, and the wider oil and gas 
sector. 

regulators, 

Our  relationship  with  the  local  and 
national  government  is  a  key  to  our 
success and has taken a long time to 
develop.

We ensure that all our staff, particularly 
those  involved  in  operations,  work  in 
safe  conditions  and  that  they  protect 
the  safety  of  others.  We  also  ensure 
that  our  exploration  and  production 
activities are conducted with due care 
for the environment and neighbouring 
communities. We work with state and 
local  government 
the 
communities  in  the  areas  where  we 
operate  and  support  community 
programmes.

to  support 

London staff have daily team meetings. 
The international team joins a weekly 
video meeting. The executive directors 
make regular trips to Georgia to work 
with  our  operations  staff  onsite.  The 
management team has regular one-on-
one meetings with every staff member. 

Other  elements  are:  Training  and 
development  sessions 
(on  HSE, 
compliance,  event  prevention);  and 
corporate benefits.

We  publish  announcements  on  the 
London Stock Exhange’s website and 
our  website  and  across  our  online 
channels. Interviews with our directors 
are published as videos and podcasts. 
We  operate  an  investor  mailing  list 
subscription service. We issue regular 
updates to our corporate presentation. 
We  attend  investor  relations  events 
and communicate via the annual report 
and AGM. We hold 1-2-1 sessions with 
the top 10 shareholders.

We  adhere 
to  Georgian  state 
regulations. We commit to fulfilling our 
AIM obligations. We engage an annual 
audit  of  Company  processes  and 
financial  risks.  We  have  developed 
comprehensive 
Abuse 
Regulations  (MAR)  and  anti-bribery 
policies.

Market 

We  have  appointed  an  experienced 
professional  to  develop,  enforce  and 
oversee our HSE policy. HSE is the first 
item  discussed  during  the  operations 
section of our monthly board meeting. 
Our Technical Director also provides an 
HSE  update  during  our  weekly  team 
meeting. Our London office operates a 
recycling  policy 
for  paper  and 
packaging.  We  intend  to  extend  this 
policy to our Georgian offices.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
 
 
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Strategic Report continued

Statement of Corporate Responsibility continued

16

Stakeholder                                              Reason for engagement                         How we engage 

Suppliers. We engage contractors and 
purchase 
from  a  wide  range  of 
suppliers.

We must honour our obligations to the 
staff of the companies that we contract, 
and ensure they are aware of the HSE 
and regulatory framework within which 
we operate.

We  integrate  our  MAR  and  HSE 
policies  into  all  agreements  entered 
into  by  our  contractors.  We  have  a 
robust financial process for settling our 
invoices  for  contractors  and  all  other 
service  providers.  We  take  care  to 
ensure  we  source  products  and 
services from ethical suppliers.

The Board is responsible for putting in place and communicating a sound system to manage risk and implement internal 
control. We recognise that risk management is an essential business practice: we work to balance risk and return, threat 
and opportunity. 

Health, safety and environment 

Our operations are conducted within a robust Health, Safety and Environment (“HSE”) framework. We have employed a 
full-time HSE adviser to work onsite in Georgia with our Georgian HSE manager to design and enforce our policy. The 
Board has taken on the responsibility of formulating the HSE Policy and establishing an HSE Management Plan for the 
remainder of 2021. It monitors performance against the Plan every month, assisted by regular reports from the HSE adviser. 
Any serious incident or high potential near miss will immediately be brought to the attention of the Board, which will then 
oversee the appropriate remedial action. 

Climate change  

For our sector, there is a keen interest from several stakeholders and investors on the theme of climate change and we can 
assure them that Block is wholly committed to good environmental stewardship. We have a robust approach to corporate 
responsibility  and  sustainability  issues,  underpinned  by  our  commitment  to  high  standards  of  health  and  safety  and 
environmental stewardship. Consistent with our strategy, one of our environmental achievements in 2020 was the installation 
of a gas processing facility in West Rustavi that is enabling us to sell the gas and thereby reduce the emissions from the 
flaring of natural gas associated with the oil production. This will have a positive impact on the carbon footprint of the output 
and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 

Block Energy PLC

 
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Strategic Report continued

Board of Directors

17

The current Board consists of six directors: four independent non-executive directors, one with the role of Chairman, and 
two executive directors. 

Paul Haywood | Chief Executive Officer 

Committee memberships: Nominations Committee; HSE Committee 

Paul has a wealth of experience and success in delivering value for his investment network through a blended skill set of 
corporate banking and operational experience, building early stage and growth projects throughout the UK, Europe, Africa 
and Middle East. Paul is a founder of Block Energy and has spent more than 15 years in the natural resources sector, with 
over ten years in the Georgian oil and gas sector, leading the acquisition, development and sale of many assets. Additionally, 
Paul has held senior management roles with UK and Australian public companies in the natural resources sector.  

Key skills and competencies: corporate and operational oil experience, Georgia knowledge and contacts, and strong record 
of delivering projects. 

William McAvock | Chief Financial Officer 

Committee memberships: Disclosure Committee, ESG Committee 

William has more than 14 years’ experience in strategic and operational finance roles within several listed natural resources 
groups, including Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd, International Petroleum Ltd, African Minerals Ltd and Adastra Minerals Inc, 
where he took leading roles in establishing and managing financial systems in Iraq, Russia, Kazakhstan, Niger, Sierra 
Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. William is a qualified Chartered Certified Accountant and holds a BA (Hons) 
in Accounting from London Guildhall University. 

Key skills and competencies: finance and accounting, operational oil experience. 

Philip Dimmock | Non-Executive Chairman 

Committee memberships: Audit and Risk Committee; Disclosure Committee (Chair); Nominations Committee (Chair); 
HSE Committee (Chair);  

Philip spent a significant part of his career at BP in a wide variety of senior positions, including manager of the Forties oil 
field.  Subsequently,  his  executive  roles  included  Vice  President  International/Managing  Director  UK  at  Ranger  Oil 
Ltd/Canadian Natural Resources and Vice President Operations at Vanco Energy. In non-executive board positions, Philip 
was a director of Nautical Petroleum Plc and, recently, the Senior Independent Director of Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd. 
He currently serves as Adviser to Oando Energy Resources Inc. Philip has an MA in Physics from the University of Oxford. 

Key skills and competencies: extensive oil and gas sector experience and knowledge, career board member 

Christopher Brown | Non-Executive Director 

Committee memberships: Nominations Committee; Remuneration Committee (Chair); Technical Committee (Co-Chair) 

Chris Brown has nearly 40 years’ experience across the international upstream oil and gas sector. Educated at Exeter 
University, Imperial College and the INSEAD Management School, he is a founding director of Beagle Geoscience, which 
provides consultancy and management services for the exploration and production sector. During his career Chris has led 
oil and gas operations in the UK, Europe, North Africa and South America, while working for Shell, Enterprise Oil and Suncor. 

Key skills and competencies: extensive oil and gas sector experience, professional consultant and manager 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Strategic Report continued

Board of Directors continued

18

David (‘Dato’) Sandroshvili | Non-Executive Director 

Committee memberships: Audit and Risk Committee (Chair); Nominations Committee; Remuneration Committee; ESG 
Committee (Chair)  

Dato has held senior oil and gas management and corporate finance advisory positions in the FSU and the UK. Currently 
CFO at New Age (African Global Energy) Limited, he has held senior positions at Ophir Energy plc and Evercore Partners, 
and worked at Citigroup and UBS Investment Bank. A dual national of Georgia and the UK, Dato has an MBA in International 
Finance from Brandeis University and a Diploma in Accounting from Tbilisi State University. 

Charles (‘Chuck’) Valceschini | Non-Executive Director 

Committee memberships: Audit and Risk Committee; HSE Committee; Technical Committee (Co-Chair)  

Chuck  has  40  years’  experience  in  the  upstream  oil  and  gas  sector,  holding  senior  technical  and  leadership  roles  in 
companies including BP and American Energy Group Ltd, where he was CEO. He has expertise in the exploitation of 
onshore naturally fractured reservoirs in FSU countries, and is currently Chairman of JKX Oil & Gas plc and CEO of 
TechNefteGaz Consulting LLC. Chuck has degrees from the University of Wyoming and Portland State University, and is 
a graduate of the INSEAD Executive Management programme and the Moscow School of Management. 

The strategic report was approved by the directors and signed on behalf of the Board on 1 June 2021. 

Paul Haywood 
Director 
1 June 2021

Block Energy PLC

261347 Block Energy pp01-pp22.qxp  04/06/2021  07:32  Page 19

Report of the Directors

19

The directors present their report and the audited financial statements of Block Energy Plc (“the Group”) for the year ended 
31 December 2020. 

Principal activity 

The principal activity of the Group is oil and gas extraction and development. 

Incorporation and admission to trading on AIM 

The Company was incorporated on 8 February 2005 and was admitted to trading on AIM on 11 June 2018. 

Results and dividends 

The results for the year are set out on page 46. 

This report covers the year ended 31 December 2020. In prior year, the Company changed its accounting reference date 
from 30 June to 31 December in order to bring its financial reporting into line with peer companies and to carry out its year-
end work when there is a seasonal reduction in operational activities. Therefore, the current 12 months ended 31 December 
2020 is not directly comparable with the prior 18 months period ended 31 December 2019.  

The directors do not recommend payment of a dividend (2019: $nil). 

Review of business and future developments 

A review of the business and likely future developments of the Company are contained in the CEO’s Statement on page 6. 

During the year, the Company acquired 100% of the shares of Block Rustaveli Limited (formerly Schlumberger Rustaveli 
Company Limited), which holds the PSCs to Blocks IX and XIB in Georgia. 

Also during the year, owing to the combined impacts of lower demand for oil caused by Covid-19 and the Russia–Saudi 
Arabia oil price war, the Brent oil price collapsed from over $50 per barrel at the start of March 2020 to less than $20 per 
barrel in April 2020. The Company responded to the low oil price by postponing all new capital expenditure and reducing 
the monthly cash burn in Georgia through a combination of cost-cutting and deferral of operating and administration 
expenses. In the UK, directors and employees agreed a scheme in which, with effect from 1 April 2020, 40% of their salaries 
was paid in nil-cost options to acquire Ordinary Shares in the Company, reducing monthly cash salary costs. When the two 
new non-executive directors were appointed in December 2020, they agreed to have 50% of their fees paid in cash and 
50% in nil-cost options to acquire Ordinary Shares in the Company. 

Going concern 

The directors note that Covid-19 has had a significant negative impact on the global economy and oil prices, which may 
mean it is harder to secure additional funding than it has historically been. As part of their going concern assessment, a 
reverse stress test has been performed, based on the scenario whereby, due to Covid-19 restrictions, if the Group were 
unable to continue with normal operations or were required to significantly reduce the forecasted production due to the 
capital expenditure not being incurred to complete the additional wells, a cash shortfall may occur. The global pandemic 
may bring practical challenges to the timetables for drilling new wells and the consequent sale of oil and gas from those 
wells. The directors are confident that current capital projects are funded and have a reasonable expectation that they could 
secure  additional  funding,  if  needed,  to  fund  additional  capital  projects.  However,  these  conditions  are  necessarily 
considered to represent a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt over the Group’s ability to continue as a going 
concern. Whilst acknowledging this material uncertainty, the directors remain confident of making further cost savings and/or 
raising finance when required and therefore the directors consider it appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a 
going concern basis. The financial statements do not include the adjustments that would result if the Group were unable to 
continue as a going concern. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Report of the Directors continued

20

Risk management 

Risk management is integral to the business with management continuously monitoring and managing risk within the 
relevant business areas. Every material decision is preceded by an evaluation of applicable business risks. Regular reviews 
of risks and management of these are undertaken and presented to the Board. 

Principal risks and uncertainties 

The principal risks the Board have reviewed are disclosed on pages 9 to 13 of the Strategic Report. 

Share capital 

Details of shares issued by the Company during the period are set out in Note 21 to the financial statements. 

Directors and directors’ interests 

The directors of the Company who served during the year ended 31 December 2020 are listed below, and the current Board 
members’ biographies are on pages 17 to 18. 

Paul Haywood

Chief Executive Officer 

William McAvock

Chief Financial Officer 

Philip Dimmock

Independent Non-Executive Chairman 

Christopher Brown

Director – Non-Executive 

Charles Valceschini

Director (appointed 15 December 2020) 

David Sandroshvili

Director (appointed 21 December 2020) 

Roger McMechan

Technical Director (resigned 30 September 2020) 

Details of directors’ interests in shares are disclosed on page 35. 

Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance 

The Group provided directors’ and officers’ liability insurance at a cost of $10,000 (2019: $7,000). 

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 

The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable 
law and regulations.  

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors 
have elected to prepare the Group and company financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. Under company law the 
directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state 
of affairs of the Group and company and of the profit or loss of the Group and company for that period. The directors are 
also required to prepare financial statements in accordance with the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies 
trading securities on AIM.  

In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to: 

•      select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

•      make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

•      state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as applied in accordance with the provisions of the 

Companies Act 2006, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 

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•      prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company 

will continue in business. 

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to 
ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible 
for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud 
and other irregularities. 

Website publication 

The directors are responsible for ensuring the annual report and the financial statements are made available on a website. 
Financial  statements  are  published  on  the  Company’s  website  in  accordance  with  legislation  in  the  United  Kingdom 
governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements, which may vary from legislation in other jurisdictions. 
The maintenance and integrity of the company’s website is the responsibility of the directors. The directors’ responsibility 
also extends to the ongoing integrity of the financial statements contained therein. 

Governance statement 

We have chosen to adhere to the Quoted Company Alliance’s Corporate Governance Code for Small and Mid-Size Quoted 
Companies 2018 version. Our full statement of compliance with the QCA Code is provided in the Governance Report from 
pages 23 to 31. 

Engagement with employees in the UK 

We have few UK staff and our London based staff have daily team meetings, and the executive team has regular one-on-
one meetings with every staff member. 

Engagement with stakeholders 

This is discussed in the Statement of Corporate Responsibility on pages 14 to 16. Furthermore, the Board has appointed 
Chris Brown to serve as its Employee Representative.  

Engagement with shareholders 

The directors attach great importance to maintaining good relationships with shareholders and the Company is active in 
communicating  with  both  its  institutional  and  private  shareholders.  The  Company  also  issues  regular  updates  to 
shareholders. Market sensitive information is notified in accordance with the AIM Rules and the Market Abuse Regulation. 

Political contributions 

During the year ended 31 December 2020, political donations totalled $nil (2019: $nil). 

Financial instruments 

The main financial risks arising from the Group’s activities are liquidity risk, commodity price risk, increased costs and 
currency risk. These are monitored by the Board and were not considered to be significant at the reporting date. 

Budgets are regularly prepared and fund-raising initiatives undertaken as and when required. Risk is inherent in the nature 
of the business and is managed to the best of the Board’s ability. Further detail on financial instruments is shown in note 27. 

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Auditors and disclosure of information to auditors 

All of the current directors have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any 
information needed by the relevant Auditors for the purposes of their audit and to establish that the Auditors are aware of 
that information. The directors are not aware of any relevant audit information of which the Auditors are unaware. 

BDO LLP have expressed their willingness to continue in office and a resolution to re appoint them will be proposed at the 
annual general meeting. 

The Directors’ Report was approved and authorised for issue on 1 June 2021. 

Paul Haywood 
Director 
Date: 1 June 2021

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Governance Report 

Corporate Governance Statement

23

Introduction 

We believe in the value and importance of good corporate governance and in our accountability to our stakeholders, 
including shareholders, staff, contractors, clients, suppliers, and the communities within which we operate.  

Corporate governance was improved in January 2021 by establishing a new ESG Committee and in 2019 by establishing 
a Technical Committee of the board. More frequent meetings of the board and its committees continued during 2020. The 
Company’s succession plans include greater diversity. 

QCA Corporate Governance Code (2018) 

From 28 September 2018, AIM rules require AIM listed companies to apply a recognised Corporate Governance Code. We 
have chosen to adhere to the Quoted Company Alliance’s Corporate Governance Code for Small and Mid-Size Quoted 
Companies to meet the new requirements of AIM Rule 26. 

The QCA Code is constructed around 10 broad principles and a set of disclosures. The QCA has stated what it considers 
to be appropriate arrangements for growing companies and asks companies to explain how they are meeting the principles 
through the prescribed disclosures. This statement explains how Block will follow the 10 principles of the QCA Code, quoted 
in the headings below, as specified in the AIM Rules for Companies published by the London Stock Exchange. 

Principle One: ‘Establish a strategy and business model which promote long-term value for 
shareholders’ 

Block’s aim is to become the leading independent oil and gas producer in Georgia by realising the potential of previously 
discovered fields suited for the deployment of selected Western well technology and completion techniques. Georgia is a 
stable, business friendly nation with proven but underdeveloped reserves, and is of increasing interest to major producers. 

Block has working interests in five licences: Block IX (100%), Block XIB (100%), West Rustavi (100%), Norio (100%) and 
Satskhenisi (90%). All are within the region’s prolific Kura basin, which at its peak produced approximately 67,000 bopd 
and in the course of its history has produced over 180 MMbbl. 

We have designed a robust business model to implement our strategy: 

•      The Company has raised a total of £22 million ($29 million) between June 2018 and December 2020 to fund a multi-
well drilling programme to accelerate exploration and production at West Rustavi and Block XIB. Two wells at West 
Rustavi  have  been  horizontally  sidetracked,  one  of  which  is  currently  on  production  and  the  other  is  temporarily 
suspended while undergoing a workover. A 3D seismic survey of the field has been acquired to identify optimal drilling 
locations. Storage facilities have been upgraded, and a gas offtake agreement secured. 

•      Successful execution of Block’s plan requires a management and technical team with extensive knowledge of Georgia’s 
oil and gas sector and its legal and regulatory environment. Block is led by a management team with deep and broad 
experience, with networks both in Georgia and across the international oil and gas industry. One of our shareholders, 
Georgia Oil & Gas Limited, is a well-established operator and asset owner within the region. The Company has also 
assembled a team of geologists and geophysicists with first-hand experience of working on major Georgian oil fields.  

•      Block’s principal technical challenges are to identify technologies suitable for the near-wellbore damage believed to 
exist in the wells drilled earlier within our licences, and to successfully deploy sidetracking and suitable completion 
techniques to optimise production from the fractured and compartmentalised reservoirs present. In meeting these 
challenges, Block is bringing proven, cost-efficient technology to Georgia. A state-of-the-art 3D seismic survey of West 
Rustavi has been completed, the results of which are being analysed by an experienced technical team. We have 
recruited a highly skilled and experienced technical team, drawing on specialist consultants as required, to design and 
implement horizontal sidetracking operations at West Rustavi and Block XIB. And we have selected an enhanced 
perforation technology that our research indicates will be ideal for overcoming legacy wellbore damage, able to bore 
multiple small holes from the wellbores and circumvent historic issues. 

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•      All our operations are conducted within a developing robust HSE framework. The Board has set a number of short-
term objectives to bring the legacy facilities up to industry standards and has recruited an industry professional with 
decades of experience overseeing HSE in Georgia for multinational oil and gas companies as a full time HSE adviser. 
He is working onsite to further develop and enforce our policies. 

•      The  Board  recognises  the  critical  importance  of  developing  effective  communications  channels  with  current  and 
prospective  investors.  We  regularly  update  the  market  as  appropriate  with  announcements,  which  are  posted 
automatically to our website as soon as they appear on the London Stock Exchange’s Regulatory News Service 
(“RNS”).  Our  directors  are  frequently  interviewed  on  investor  news  channels.  We  also  distribute  our  RNS 
announcements and other Block news through social media and a mailing list subscription service and continue to 
make the Company’s business case at investor meetups and other events around the UK. All of our communications 
are available on our website and social media channels. We intend to meet our major institutional investors on a regular 
basis and, beyond the Annual General Meeting of shareholders, to hold investor days periodically. 

•      The  Company  contracts  an  experienced  financial  communications  company  to  assist  with  preparing  our  RNS 

announcements, presentations and the management of our social media channels. 

•      Our directors continually investigate and evaluate new exploration and production opportunities in Georgia and beyond. 
In 2019, we identified two additional Georgian licences operated by Schlumberger and acquired them during 2020. 
We are an ambitious, flexible and open-minded operator, alert to fresh opportunities for applying the latest production 
and exploration technologies and processes to take advantage of discoveries. 

Principle Two: ‘Seek to understand and meet shareholder needs and expectations’ 

The Board strives to keep shareholders informed with clear and transparent information on the Company’s operations, 
strategy  and  financial  position.  Details  of  all  shareholder  communications  are  provided  on  the  Company  website,  in 
accordance with the AIM Rules for Companies. RNS updates are published to the ‘Announcements’ section; reports and 
circulars to the ‘Investors’ section; and videos, podcasts, presentations and images from our field operations to Block’s 
social media – Twitter and LinkedIn – and the website’s ‘Media’ section. 

Primary responsibility for investor relations rests with the Chief Executive Officer, supported by the other directors. Since 
Block began trading on AIM on 11 June 2018, the Company has used multiple channels to understand the needs and 
expectations of its shareholder base. 

The AGM is our principal forum for dialogue with private shareholders, and usually we encourage all shareholders to attend 
and participate, but attendance at the next AGM is likely to be restricted by Covid-19 measures. The Notice of Meeting is 
sent to shareholders at least 21 days before the meeting. The chairs of the Board and all committees, together with all 
other  directors  whenever  possible,  attend  the  AGM  and  are  available  to  answer  questions  raised  by  shareholders. 
Shareholders vote on each resolution by way of a poll. We intend to announce the number of votes withheld, received for 
and against each resolution and publish them on our website. 

In  addition  to  maintaining  the  digital  communications  channels  discussed  under  Principle  One  above,  the  Company 
maintains a dedicated email address (info@blockenergy.co.uk) which investors can use to contact the Company. This is 
displayed prominently on our website, together with an online enquiries form and our address and phone number. All 
enquiries are reviewed and distributed to our directors as appropriate. We also contract a financial communications agency 
to assist with the preparation and maintenance of our investor announcements, presentations and social media channels. 

The directors continually review our channels with private shareholders. As discussed under Principle One above, we intend 
to hold investor days which shareholders will be encouraged to attend either in person or by teleconference, in addition to 
our AGM. 

The  directors  also  take  every  opportunity  to  communicate  our  objectives  to  institutional  shareholders.  They  make 
presentations to institutional shareholders and analysts immediately following the release of the Company’s full-year results. 
We keep in touch with institutional investors through a combination of formal meetings, participation at investor conferences, 

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roadshows and informal briefings with management. The majority of meetings with shareholders and potential investors 
are arranged by the Company’s brokers or direct with the Company. After meetings, the broker provides anonymised 
feedback to the Board from all of the fund managers we meet with to gather and monitor sentiments, expectations and 
intentions. In addition, we review analyst notes to achieve a wide understanding of investor views and develop our investor 
relations strategy. 

Principle Three: ‘Take into account wider stakeholder and social responsibilities and their 
implications for long-term success’ 

We understand that our long-term success depends on our relationships with our stakeholders. Please see our Statement 
of Corporate Responsibility in the Strategic Report element of this Annual Report as presented on pages 14 to 16. 

Principle Four: ‘Embed effective risk management, considering both opportunities and threats, 
throughout the organisation’ 

The Board is responsible for putting in place and communicating robust systems to manage risk and implement internal 
control. We recognise that risk management is an essential business practice: we work to balance risk and return, threat 
and opportunity. 

Audit and Risk Committee 

The Board has established an Audit and Risk Committee to meet as necessary to consider the scope of the annual audit 
and the interim financial statements and to assess the effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal controls. It reviews 
the results of the external audit, its cost effectiveness and the objectives of the auditor. Given the present size of the 
Company the Audit and Risk Committee considers an internal audit function is not currently justified. The Audit and Risk 
Committee  currently  comprises  David  Sandroshvili  (Chair),  Philip  Dimmock  and  Charles  Valceschini.  During  2020,  it 
comprised Philip Dimmock and Chris Brown. 

Remuneration Committee 

The Remuneration Committee reviews the performance of the executive directors and makes recommendations to the 
Board on matters relating to their remuneration and terms of employment. The Remuneration Committee also makes 
recommendations to the Board on proposals for granting share options and other equity incentives pursuant to any share 
option scheme or equity incentive scheme in operation. The Board sets the remuneration and terms and conditions of 
appointment of the non-executive directors of the Group. The executive directors are invited to attend for agenda items 
that require their contributions although they do not take part in any discussion on their own benefits and remuneration. 
The Remuneration Committee currently comprises Chris Brown (Chair) and David Sandroshvili. During 2020, it comprised 
Chris Brown and Philip Dimmock. 

Nominations Committee 

The Nominations Committee meets as and when necessary to consider appointments to the Board, senior management 
positions  and  succession  planning.  The  Nominations  Committee  currently  comprises  Philip  Dimmock  (Chair),  David 
Sandroshvili and Paul Haywood. During 2020, it comprised Philip Dimmock, Chris Brown and Paul Haywood. 

Disclosure Committee 

The Disclosure Committee has the primary responsibility and authority to make decisions on disclosure delay for the 
purposes  of  Market Abuse  Regulations  (“MAR”).  The  Disclosure  Committee  comprises  Philip  Dimmock  (Chair)  and 
William McAvock. 

Technical Committee 

The Technical Committee meets every month and sometimes more frequently on an informal basis to consider surface and 
sub-surface technical and operational matters. The Technical Committee currently comprises Chris Brown (Co-Chair) and 
Charles  Valceschini  (Co-Chair).  During  2020,  it  comprised  Chris  Brown,  Philip  Dimmock,  Roger  McMechan  and 
Paul Haywood. 

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HSE Committee 

Our operations are conducted within a robust Health, Safety and Environment (“HSE”) framework. We have employed a 
full time HSE manager to work onsite in Georgia to design and enforce our policy: a professional petroleum engineer with 
decades of experience overseeing HSE in Georgia for multinational oil and gas companies. 

The  Board  has  established  a  HSE  Committee.  It  has  taken  on  the  responsibility  of  formulating  the  HSE  policy  and 
establishing an HSE management plan for the remainder of 2021. It monitors performance against the plan every month, 
assisted by regular reports from the HSE Manager. Any serious incident or high potential near miss will immediately be 
brought to the attention of the Board which will then oversee the appropriate remedial action. The HSE Committee comprises 
Philip Dimmock (Chair), Charles Valceschini and Paul Haywood. 

ESG Committee 

The Board has established an Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (“ESG”) Committee to establish the 
Company’s  ESG  policy  and  to  measure  the  sustainability  and  societal  impact  of  the  business.  The  ESG  Committee 
comprises David Sandroshvili (Chair), Chris Brown and William McAvock. As a priority, the ESG Committee will evaluate 
the potential for geothermal energy in its licences and Georgia generally. 

Principle Five: ‘Maintain the Board as a well-functioning, balanced team led by the Chair’ 

The members of the Board have a collective responsibility and legal obligation to promote the interests of the Company, 
and are jointly responsible for defining corporate governance arrangements. Ultimate responsibility for the quality of, and 
approach to, corporate governance lies with the Chairman. 

The Board currently consists of six directors, two of whom are executives and four independent non-executives (including 
the Chairman). The Board has established a set of committees to support its work (see Principle Nine below). 

Board meetings are held regularly. All directors, executive and non-executive, are required to attend, and to make every 
effort to attend in person. They are also required to be available at other times as necessary for face-to-face (if permitted 
under Covid-19 restrictions) and telephonic and video conferencing meetings with staff and investors. 

Executive and non-executive directors’ attendance at Board and committee meetings during the year ended 31 December 
2020 is summarised below: 

                                                                                                      Board  Audit and Risk   Remuneration      Nominations           Technical 
Director name                                                                           meetings        Committee        Committee        Committee        Committee 

Chris Brown                                                                                    28/28                     3/3                     8/8                     9/9                 13/13 

Philip Dimmock                                                                               28/28                     3/3                     8/8                     9/9                 13/13 

Paul Haywood                                                                                27/28                                                                        9/9                 13/13 

William McAvock                                                                            28/28                                                                                                       

Roger McMechan(3)                                                                        20/20                                                                                                 5/6 

David Sandroshvili(2)                                                                           1/1                                                                                                       

Charles Valceschini(1)                                                                         1/1                                                                                                       

(1)   Appointed as a director on 15 December 2020 and appointed to the Audit and Risk Committee, Technical Committee, and HSE 

Committee on 29 January 2021. 

(2)   Appointed as a director on 21 December 2020 and appointed to the Audit and Risk Committee, Remuneration Committee, Nominations 

Committee, and ESG Committee on 29 January 2021. 

(3)   Resigned as a director on 30 September 2020. 

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The Board follows a schedule of regular business, financial and operational matters, and each committee has compiled a 
schedule of work to ensure that all areas for which the Board has responsibility are addressed and reviewed during the 
period. The Chairman is responsible for ensuring directors receive accurate, sufficient and timely information to facilitate 
their decision-making. The Company’s Legal Counsel minutes the meetings. Directors are aware of the right to have any 
concerns minuted and to seek independent advice at the Company’s expense where appropriate.  

The Board has at least one formal meeting every six weeks. Papers are issued covering the full range of subjects of interest 
to the Board in good time for review prior to each meeting. The directors also dedicate time to committee meetings. The 
committees meet from two to four times a year. The directors will attend the AGM, whenever possible, and will review the 
Annual Report and Statement of Accounts in preparation. The directors also visit Georgia regularly (except when travel 
restrictions are in place) to perform safety inspections and meet staff and stakeholders. In addition to these formal events, 
the directors frequently discuss day-to-day Company matters in person and by conference call. The number of days 
committed to the Company is challenging to quantify because directors make themselves available as required 

The Board believes its blend of experience, skills, personal qualities and capabilities is sufficient to enable it to execute the 
Company’s strategy successfully. The directors attend seminars and other regulatory and trade events to help ensure their 
knowledge remains current. 

The Board has established a Nominations Committee, which meets at least twice a year. As well as making appointments 
to the Board it maintains a list of candidates for future selection. 

Principle Six: ‘Ensure that between them the directors have the necessary up-to-date experience, 
skills and capabilities’ 

On the Company’s admission to AIM in June 2018, the founding directors brought new directors onto the Board to ensure 
that the directors have the collective experience and skills to oversee the Company’s activities and the successful execution 
of its strategy. Together, the directors have broad and deep experience in the governance of publicly listed companies, HSE 
management, well and production operations, petroleum reservoir engineering, geoscience, oil and gas field development, 
contract negotiation, commercial, finance, accounting and government and community relations. Furthermore, three of our 
directors have experience of applying all of these skills within Georgia. 

Profiles of our executive and non-executive directors demonstrating their suitability for the responsibilities with which they 
have been entrusted are available in this report and the ‘About Us’ page of our website. 

All of the directors accept personal responsibility for undertaking continuous professional development – through means 
including  seminars,  conferences  and  self-directed  study  –  to  understand  and  take  advantage  of  the  most  recent 
developments in the sector, whether technical, commercial or related to governance. 

The Nominations Committee will continue to assess the suitability of the Board’s skills and expertise for developing and 
implementing the Company’s strategy and, when warranted, will appoint new directors with the required skills. 

The Board is kept abreast of developments of governance and AIM regulations. Hill Dickinson, the Company’s lawyers, 
provides updates on governance issues. In the course of a new director’s onboarding, the Company’s nominated adviser, 
Spark Advisory Partners, provides the initial training on the AIM Rules for Companies.  

The directors have access to the Company’s nominated advisers, lawyers and auditors as and when required and are able 
to obtain advice from other external bodies when necessary. 

Principle Seven: ‘Evaluate Board performance based on clear and relevant objectives, seeking 
continuous improvement’ 

The performance of each member of the Board (and senior management) is evaluated to assess their contribution to the 
Company’s success. The Board is collectively responsible for the evaluation of the performance of each member. The 
executive directors are incentivised to seek continuous improvement and innovation through remuneration schemes linked 
to share price and, ultimately, Company performance.  

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It is intended that a questionnaire method of measuring the performance of the Board will be introduced for the financial 
year ending 31 December 2021. 

Principle Eight: ‘Promote a corporate culture that is based on ethical values and behaviours’ 

Our core values underpin our long-term growth: 

•      We continually work to develop and maintain excellent relationships with all of our stakeholders: with staff, shareholders, 

suppliers and the communities within which our operations work is embedded. 

•      We are an agile and ambitious company with a team carefully selected for their skills and experience, commitment to 

our values, and dedication to the successful execution of our current and future strategy. 

•      We are committed to employing cost-effective technology and processes to achieve our objectives and deliver value 

to our stakeholders. 

•      We  are  courteous,  honest  and  straightforward  in  all  our  dealings,  honouring  diversity,  individuality  and  personal 
differences, and are committed to observing the highest personal, professional and ethical standards in conducting 
our business. 

•      We are acutely conscious of our particular responsibilities as an oil and gas producer. Our HSE obligations are the first 
operations-related  agenda  item  at  all  of  our  Board  meetings,  and  we  have  employed  an  experienced  full  time 
professional onsite in Georgia to develop and manage our HSE processes. 

Our values are expressed and communicated regularly to staff through internal communications and forums. They are 
enshrined in the contract signed by all new employees, and evidence of commitment to these values by candidates is 
considered as part of the selection process. 

The Board believes the suffusion of our core values across the Company’s operations also gives Block a critical competitive 
advantage, improving our internal efficiency and the quality of our stakeholder relationships. 

Principle Nine: ‘Maintain governance structures and processes that are fit for purpose and support 
good decision-making by the Board’ 

The Board is supported by the following governance structure: 

The Board 

The Board provides the Company’s strategic leadership and operates within the scope of a robust corporate governance 
framework. It ensures the delivery of long-term shareholder value by setting and promoting the culture, values and practices 
that operate throughout the business, and defining the Company’s strategic goals. The Board delegates certain defined 
responsibilities to its committees. The chair of each committee (defined below) reports its activities to the Board. 

The Chairman has overall responsibility for the quality of corporate governance. The Chair: 

•      leads and chairs the Board; 

•      ensures that committees are properly structured and operate with appropriate terms of reference; 

•      ensures that performance of individual directors, the Board and its committees are reviewed on a regular basis; 

•      leads the development of strategy and setting objectives; 

•      oversees communication between the Company and its shareholders. 

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The Chief Executive Officer oversees the coherent leadership and management of the Company. The CEO: 

•      leads the development of objectives, strategies and performance standards as agreed by the Board; 

•      monitors, reviews and manages key risks and strategies with the Board; 

•      ensures that the Company’s assets are maintained and safeguarded; 

•      leads on investor relations activities to ensure the Company’s standing with shareholders and financial institutions 

is maintained; 

•      ensures the Board is aware of the views and opinions of employees on relevant matters. 

The executive directors are responsible for implementing and delivering the operational decisions agreed by the Board, 
making operational and financial decisions required in the day-to-day operation of the Company, providing executive 
leadership to managers, championing the Company’s core values and promoting talent management. 

The independent non-executive directors contribute independent thinking and judgement through the application of their 
external experience and knowledge, scrutinise the performance of management, provide constructive challenge to the 
executive directors, and ensure that the Company is operating within the governance and risk framework approved by 
the Board. 

The executive directors are responsible for providing clear and timely information flow to the Board and its committees and 
the Company Secretary and Legal Counsel support the Board on matters of corporate governance and risk. 

The matters reserved for the Board are: 

•      setting long-term objectives and commercial strategy; 

•      approving annual operating and capital expenditure budgets; 

•      establishing and monitoring the implementation of the HSE Policy and Management Plan; 

•      changing the share capital or corporate structure of the Company; 

•      approving results and reports; 

•      approving dividend policy and the declaration of dividends; 

•      approving major investments, disposals, capital projects or contracts; 

•      approving resolutions to be put to general meetings of shareholders and the associated documents or circulars; and 

•      approving changes to the Board structure. 

The Board has approved the adoption of the QCA Code as its governance framework against which this statement has 
been prepared. The Board will monitor the suitability of this Code on an annual basis and revise its governance framework 
as appropriate as the Company evolves. 

Audit and Risk Committee 

Please see the description of our Audit and Risk Committee above. 

Nominations Committee 

Please see the description of our Nominations Committee above. 

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Remuneration Committee 

Please see the description of our Remuneration Committee above. 

Disclosure Committee 

Please see the description of our Disclosure Committee above. 

Technical Committee 

Please see the description of our Technical Committee above. 

HSE Committee 

Please see the description of our HSE Committee above. 

ESG Committee 

Please see the description of our ESG Committee above. 

Principle Ten: ‘Communicate how the company is governed and is performing by maintaining a 
dialogue with shareholders and other relevant stakeholders’ 

All historical annual reports, notices of general meetings and other corporate governance related material are available on 
the ‘Investors’ section of our website. Here are brief summaries of the work of our committees since 30 June 2018: 

Audit and Risk Committee Report 

The Audit  and  Risk  Committee  meets  as  and  when  required  to  consider  the  Company’s  risks  and  mitigating  actions 
(including financial controls), review plans and completion reports prepared by its auditor, and to review financial statements 
and recommend them for approval by the Board. The Audit and Risk Committee met three times during the year ended 
31 December 2020. 

Nominations Committee Report 

The Nominations Committee meets as and when necessary to consider appointments to the Board and senior management 
positions  and  has  met  nine  times  during  the  year  ended  31  December  2020.  It  has  developed  criteria  for  selecting 
non-executive directors to formulate a succession plan. During 2020, the Committee recruited two non-executive directors 
to the Board, and has a strategy for further strengthening the Board. 

The Nominations Committee comprises two non-executive director members and one executive director member, as follows: 

•      Philip Dimmock (Chair) 
•      Dato Sandroshvili  
•      Paul Haywood  

The Nominations Committee has responsibilities relating to: 

•      Reviewing the structure, size and composition of the Board and recommending any succession planning related 

changes required;  

•      Developing the process for appointments, and ensuring plans are in place for orderly succession to both the Board 

and senior management positions, and  

•      Overseeing the identifying and nominating of potential board candidates. 

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The Nominations Committee feels that, following the recruitment of the two non-executive directors in December 2020, the 
Company  has  a  skilled  and  talented  team  of  executives  and  managers  in  place  that  is  fit  for  purpose  for  Block’s 
current operations. 

Remuneration Committee Report 

See the Remuneration Report in the section below. 

Disclosure Committee Report 

There has been no call to convene the Disclosure Committee since 30 June 2018.  

Technical Committee Report 

A Technical Committee meeting (“TCM”) is usually held monthly and approximately one week before each board meeting. 
A brief summary of the key findings of each TCM is then added to the board papers for the board’s information. Each TCM 
commences with a summary of HSE matters and is followed by sections on subsurface matters and surface (operational) 
matters. The agenda is agreed ahead of each TCM by the TCM Chairman and the respective technical managers. 

The purpose of the TCM is to share key findings of the ongoing technical work programme and to provide a degree of 
independent peer review and critical assessment of work done. Minutes of the TCMs are produced and also a list of critical 
action points arising that are then reviewed at subsequent TCMs. 

During the course of 2020, the team integrated the newly processed 3D-seismic data into its West Rustavi database and 
analysed the adjacent Schlumberger data. This work resulted in a number of further drilling opportunities, some of which 
were used in the Q4 2020 investor presentation. The first of these wells will be the well at WR-BA location, where drilling 
is planned to commence during June 2021. 

HSE Committee Report 

The HSE Committee is newly established and has not met yet.  

ESG Committee Report 

The ESG Committee is newly established and has not met yet.  

General Meeting voting 

The Company maintains that, if there is a resolution passed to a General Meeting with 20% or more votes against, the 
Company will seek to understand the reason for the result and, where appropriate, take suitable action. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Governance Report continued

Remuneration Report

32

This Remuneration Report covers the year ended 31 December 2020. The Remuneration Committee currently comprises 
Chris Brown (Chairman) and Dato Sandroshvili, and, during the year ended 31 December 2020, comprised Chris Brown 
(Chairman) and Philip Dimmock. Paul Haywood at times attends as a guest, and other directors attend on an ad hoc basis. 
During the year, the Remuneration Committee met eight times. 

Remuneration policy 

The Remuneration Committee, in forming its policy on remuneration, gives due consideration to the needs of the Group, 
the shareholders, and the provisions of the QCA Code. The ongoing policy of the Remuneration Committee is to provide 
competitive remuneration packages to enable the Group to retain and motivate its key executives and to cost-effectively 
incentivise them to deliver long-term shareholder value. 

The Remuneration Committee keeps itself informed of relevant developments and best practice in the field of remuneration 
and seeks advice where appropriate from external advisers. It maintains oversight of the remuneration of staff, which is the 
responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer. 

The remuneration policy for the non-executive directors is determined by the Board, considering best practice and the 
Articles of Association. It is the aim of the Remuneration Committee to reward key executives for delivering value for the 
Group and for shareholders. The Remuneration Committee also applies the broader principle that Block Energy’s executive 
remuneration should be competitive with the remuneration of directors of comparable companies. 

Components of the remuneration package 

The main components of the remuneration package for executive directors and senior management are: 

•      Base salary; 

•      Pension and other benefits; 

•      Performance-related annual cash bonus scheme; and 

•      Long-term incentive plan (“LTIP’’). 

Base salary 

The policy is to pay a fair and reasonable base salary, set around the median level of comparable companies. The base 
salary is reviewed at least annually by the Remuneration Committee, having regard to the performance of the Company 
and economic conditions and taking note of any changes to an individual’s job scope. 

During the year, owing to the combined impacts of lower demand for oil caused by Covid-19 and the Russia–Saudi Arabia oil 
price war, the Brent oil price collapsed from over $50 per barrel at the start of March 2020 to less than $20 per barrel in April 
2020. The Company responded by agreeing with its executive directors and senior management a scheme in which, with 
effect from 1 April 2020, 40% of their salary will be paid in nil-cost options to acquire Ordinary Shares in the Company, reducing 
monthly cash salary costs. Options are priced at a volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) over the monthly salary period. 
This cash salary sacrifice scheme will continue until economic conditions allow the full salary to be paid in cash.  

Pension and other benefits 

The Company pays for a pension contribution of 10% of base salary for the executive directors. This commenced for William 
McAvock from 13 May 2019 (the date his employment commenced) and for Paul Haywood and Roger McMechan from 1 
July 2019. 

During 2021, the company will investigate the provision of other benefits, such as private medical cover and life cover, for 
its employees. 

Block Energy PLC

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Remuneration Report continued

33

Performance-related cash bonus scheme 

The Remuneration Committee has developed a set of individual and Company key performance indicators (“KPIs”) with 
the aim of measuring performance accurately, consistently and of rewarding performance appropriately.  

For executives and staff, the KPIs are weighted 60% for the individual and 40% for the company. The CEO has 100% of 
his salary available for a bonus payment, while the potential maximum bonus payment for the Chief Financial Officer is 
60%. Senior management can receive up to 50% of their base salary as a bonus.  

For each KPI, measures are established at the beginning of the period for Threshold, Target and Stretch levels.  

The bonus payments made in February 2021 were for the 18 months period from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2020 and 
were accrued in the 2020 accounts. In keeping with the current practice of preserving as much cash as possible for 
operations, these bonuses were paid in the form of nil cost share options in lieu of cash. The next bonus payments are 
planned to be paid in early 2022, depending on the economic environmental conditions and the financial resources of the 
Company at that time, and will be for the 12 months period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. 

Description of Company KPIs for the 18 months period from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2020 

•      HSE – sought to reward top performance across all sections of the business and was measured by the number of lost 
time incidents. During the period there were no major lost time incidents and a comprehensive HSE plan was introduced 
with consistent reporting in place. 

•      Production – set ambitious production targets to be achieved from all company operations. Due to the Company’s 
decision to suspend production from the West Rustavi field in response to the challenges of Covid-19 and low oil prices, 
the Threshold measure was not reached.  

•      Work Programme – set targets for in country operations, such as drilling and facilities. While the drilling performance 
did not meet the Threshold measure, the gas sales system is now operational and a new drilling and production plan 
has been designed. 

•      Budget – encouraged meeting or coming under the agreed financial budget by setting targets for end of year cash 

balance. At the end of 2020, the Target measure was achieved. 

•      Governance – rewarded compliance with and enhancement of set company policies and procedures. For a company 

the size and maturity of Block Energy, a high standard of governance was maintained. 

Description of Chief Executive Officer’s KPIs for the 18 months period from 1 July 2019 to 31 
December 2020 

•      Business Development and New Ventures – given the company’s stated aim of becoming one of Georgia’s leading oil 
and gas companies, there needs to be a concerted effort in building Block Energy’s portfolio and, therefore, targets are 
designed to motivate the building of Block Energy’s portfolio. The Target measure was achieved against the backdrop 
of low oil price and Covid-19 with the closure of the deal with Schlumberger. This deal added acreage with ongoing 
production, development and exploration opportunities.  

•      Strategic Financing – growing the business required sourcing additional funding. The Target measure was achieved 

with the £5.28 million equity placing in December 2020. 

•      Planning / Execution – rewarded oversight of the company meeting its key objectives. The Threshold measure was 

not achieved. 

•      Leadership  –  this  is  a  discretionary  measure.  During  the  year,  relentless  drive,  in  the  face  of  Covid-19,  was 
demonstrated by the CEO in the closure and integration of the business acquired from Schlumberger and the Target 
measure was achieved. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Governance Report continued

Remuneration Report continued

34

Description of Chief Financial Officer KPIs for the 18 months period from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 
2020 

•      Cost Management – close adherence of the agreed budget is required for both operations and G&A. During the year, 

the Threshold measure was achieved. 

•      Value Adding Initiatives – the CFO is encouraged to pursue money saving initiatives throughout the year. In 2020, a 

number of these were identified and enacted and the Stretch measure was exceeded. 

•      Treasury – the CFO is expected to ensure there are sufficient funds for running the business and future operations. In 
2020, the CFO played an important role in the £5.28 million equity placing and the Target measure was achieved.  

•      Leadership – this is a discretionary measure. During the year, the CFO displayed good leadership in adverse business 

conditions and the Target measure was achieved.  

Description of KPIs for the 12 months period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 

For 2021, the executives have been set a similar set of KPIs as the ones set for the period from 1 July 2019 to December 
2020 at both company and individual levels, but, in 2021, we shifted the emphasis from individual KPIs to more corporate 
KPIs. Therefore, the weighting of individual KPI’s reduced from 60% to 40% and the weighting of company KPI’s increased 
from 40% to 60% of the total. Greater emphasis has been placed on production, work programme and cost management, 
in addition to HSE excellence at the corporate level. 

At the individual level, KPIs for the Chief Executive Officer prioritised planning and execution, while KPIs for the Chief 
Financial Officer focused on cost management. Both CEO and CFO are expected to deliver on strategic financing. 

Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) 

The LTIP aligns executive director interests with those of shareholders and drives superior long-term performance. Under 
the LTIP, executive directors and other members of the management team may be provided with awards in the form of 
share options that will vest over a three year period. From 2021, the vesting of any LTIP awards will be conditional on the 
certain performance milestones being satisfied. 

Block Energy PLC

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Remuneration Report continued

35

Directors’ remuneration 

                                                                                                                                                                                         Year     18 months 
                                                                                                                                                                                 ended 31              to 31 
                                                                                                                                                                               December     December 
                                                                                                                                                               Shares              2020              2019 
                                                    Salary          Bonus6              Fees   Termination         Pension           issued              Total              Total 
                                                             $                    $                    $                    $                    $                    $                    $                    $ 

Non-Executive Directors                                                                                                                                                                                 

Christopher Brown                               –                    –           35,081                    –                                  2,139           37,220           41,964 

Philip Dimmock                                    –                    –           55,830                    –                    –             3,209           59,039           76,418 

Timothy Parson1                                  –                    –                    –                    –                    –                    –                    –             7,744 

Roger McMechan2                               –                    –           12,684                    –                                         –           12,684                    – 

Subtotal                                               –                    –         103,595                    –                                  5,348         108,943         126,126 

Executive Directors                                                                                                                                                                                        

Niall Tomlinson3                                   –                    –                    –                    –                    –                    –                    –         162,695 

Paul Haywood*                         224,605         192,518                    –                    –           24,539                    –         441,662         430,347 

Roger McMechan4                    150,170                    –                    –                    –             8,241                    –         158,411         335,906 

Serina Bierer5                                      –                    –                    –                                                               –                    –           78,528 

William McAvock*                     160,432           83,425                    –                    –           21,924                    –         265,781           56,349 

Subtotal                                    535,207         275,943                    –                    –           54,704                    –         865,854      1,063,825 

Total                                          535,207         275,943         103,595                    –           54,704             5,348         974,797      1,189,951 

*      The pension is higher than 10% of salary because some of the salary and bonus was sacrificed under a salary sacrifice scheme and 

the Company’s National Insurance saving was paid as an additional pension contribution. 

1      Resigned as a director on 3 October 2018. 
2      Resigned as a director on 30 September 2020. 
3      Resigned as a director on 30 November 2019. 
4      Resigned as an employee and transferred from an executive director to a non-executive director on 3 June 2020. 
5      Resigned as a director on 21 January 2019. 
6      The bonus payments made in February 2021 were for the 18 months period from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2020 and were accrued 

in the 2020 accounts. 

Directors’ interests in shares 

The directors who held office at the end of the year had the following interests in the Ordinary Shares of the Company: 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December 
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 

Non-Executive Directors                                                                                                                              

Chris Brown                                                                                                                                   170,443                                        69,957 

Philip Dimmock                                                                                                                              626,649                                      475,918 

Charles Valceschini                                                                                                                                  –                                                 – 

David Sandroshvili                                                                                                                                    –                                                 – 

Sub-total                                                                                                                                        797,092                                      545,875 

Executive Directors                                                                                                                                     

Paul Haywood                                                                                                                            2,143,419                                   2,143,419 

Roger McMechan                                                                                                                                     –                                   3,401,260 

William McAvock                                                                                                                                      –                                                 – 

Sub-total                                                                                                                                     2,143,419                                   5,544,679 

Total                                                                                                                                            2,940,511                                   6,090,554 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
 
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Governance Report continued

Remuneration Report continued

36

Directors’ interests in options 

The directors who held office at the end of the year had the following interests in options to acquire Ordinary Shares of 
the Company: 

                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 

Non-Executive Directors                                                                                                                              

Chris Brown*                                                                                                                                 360,415                                                 – 

Philip Dimmock*                                                                                                                            569,205                                                 – 

Charles Valceschini                                                                                                                                  –                                                 – 

David Sandroshvili                                                                                                                                    –                                                 – 

Sub-total                                                                                                                                        929,620                                                 – 

Executive Directors                                                                                                                                     

Paul Haywood*                                                                                                                         14,157,101                                 12,156,428 

Roger McMechan                                                                                                                                     –                                   6,370,952 

William McAvock*                                                                                                                       4,554,052                                   3,125,000 

Sub-total                                                                                                                                   18,711,153                                 21,652,380 

Total                                                                                                                                          19,640,773                                 21,652,380 

* The options issued to directors during 2020 were all due to the issue of nil cost options in lieu of cash payment of 40% of salary. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Exercise 
                                                                            Grant date                           Expiry date                    Life             Number                  price  
Director                                                                                                                                             (years)                                       (pence)  

Paul Haywood                                                   6 April 2018                       11 June 2028                   10.2          4,400,000                     2.5  

Paul Haywood                                                  9 June 2018                       11 June 2028                   10.0          7,756,428                     4.0  

                                                                      1 May 2020 to                      1 May 2020 to 
Paul Haywood                                         1 December 2020                1 December 2020                   10.0          2,000,673                     0.0  

William McAvock                                       21 October 2019                  21 October 2029                   10.0          3,125,000                   11.0  

                                                                      1 May 2020 to                      1 May 2020 to 
William McAvock                                      1 December 2020                1 December 2020                   10.0          1,429,052                     0.0  

                                                                      1 May 2020 to                      1 May 2020 to 
Chris Brown                                             1 December 2020                1 December 2020                   10.0             360,415                     0.0  

                                                                      1 May 2020 to                      1 May 2020 to 
Philip Dimmock                                        1 December 2020                1 December 2020                   10.0             569,205                     0.0  

                                                                                                                                                                          19,640,773                           

Christopher Brown 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee  
Date: 1 June 2021

Block Energy PLC

 
 
261347 Block Energy pp37-pp45.qxp  04/06/2021  07:34  Page 37

Independent Auditor’s Report  
to the members of Block Energy Plc

37

Opinion on the financial statements 

In our opinion: 

•      the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 

31 December 2020 and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended; 

•      the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in 

conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006; 

•      the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with international accounting 
standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and as applied in accordance with the 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and 

•      the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

We have audited the financial statements of Block Energy Plc (the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) for 
the  year  ended  31  December  2020  which  comprise  the  Consolidated  Statement  of  Comprehensive  Income,  the 
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Statement 
of Cashflows, the Parent Company Statement of Financial Position, the Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity, 
the Parent Company Statement of Cashflows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant 
accounting policies.  

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and international accounting 
standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and as regards the Parent Company financial 
statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.  

Basis for opinion 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our 
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial 
statements section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to 
provide a basis for our opinion.  

Independence 

We remain independent of the Group and the Parent Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant 
to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we 
have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.  

Material uncertainty related to going concern  

We draw attention to note 1 of the financial statements which notes the negative impact of Covid-19 on the global economy, 
oil prices, and the potential consequential impact on the Group’s ability to secure additional funding. It further notes that 
the global pandemic may also bring practical challenges to the Company and its suppliers that challenge planned timetables 
for the construction of the gas pipeline and the consequent sale of gas and therefore a cash shortfall may occur. As stated 
in note 1, these conditions indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s and the 
Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.  

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in 
the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Given the conditions and uncertainties disclosed in note 1, we 
considered going concern to be a Key Audit Matter.  

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Block Energy Plc continued

38

Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the Group and the Parent Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going 
concern basis of accounting and in response to the Key Audit Matter included evaluating the following: 

•      Critically assessing Management’s financial forecasts through comparing actual outcomes in the current year against 
prior forecasts. Underlying key assumptions, including revenue, production volumes, operating and capital expenditure 
were assessed by considering factors such as commitments under licences, historical revenue profiles, historical actuals 
and forecasted production levels, and operating expenditure historic actuals in order to assess the reasonableness of 
the forecasts.  

•      Considering the Group’s ability to produce gas and sell oil and gas at increased levels during a period of at least twelve 
months from the date of approval of the financial statements. We specifically considered the construction of the gas 
pipeline and considered sensitivities over sales volumes. 

•      Assessing the reasonableness of key assumptions underpinning the forecasts by reference to Brent crude oil prices, 
Georgian gas prices, current production sharing agreements, expenditure and commitments and considering the 
implications of the global Covid-19 Pandemic on the Group. As appropriate we confirmed the key inputs to publically 
available information and underlying source documentation.  

•      Performing sensitivity analysis on the cash flow forecast to consider the available headroom under different reasonably 
possible scenarios such as a decrease in oil and gas prices, an increase in exchange rate, lower than anticipated initial 
production rates from new wells and additional capex.  

•      Performing a reverse stress test that considered the possible impact on cash flows if no new sales were to occur during 

the period as a result of the current circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

•      Making  enquiries  of  Management  and  reviewing  Board  minutes  and  key  operational  contracts  to  assess  the 

completeness of commitments considered in the cash flow forecasts. 

•      Evaluating the adequacy of disclosure made in the consolidated financial statements in respect of going concern. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant 
sections of this report. 

Overview 

Coverage1                      94% (2019: 79%) of  Group profit before tax 

100% (2019: 100%) of  Group revenue 
98% (2019: 100%) of  Group total assets 

Key audit matters                                                                                               2020                2019 
                                        1.  Going concern                                                        3                     3 
                                        2.  Carrying value of development  
and production assets recorded  
within Property, Plant and Equipment                     3                     3 

                                        3.  Acquisition of Block Rustaveli Limited (‘BRL’)        3                     N/A 

Materiality                       Group financial statements as a whole 
                                        $300,000 (2019: $200,000) based on 1% (2019: 1%) of total assets. 

1 These are areas which have been subject to a full scope audit procedures

Block Energy PLC

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Block Energy plc continued

39

An overview of the scope of our audit 

Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Group and its environment, including the Group’s system 
of internal control, and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements. We also addressed the risk 
of management override of internal controls, including assessing whether there was evidence of bias by the Directors that 
may have represented a risk of material misstatement. 

Our Group audit scope focused on the companies within the Group which hold the Group’s assets: Block Energy Plc, Block 
Norioskhevi Limited, Georgian New Ventures Inc, Block Rustaveli Limited and Block Operating Company LLC which were 
all subject to a full scope audit. Together with the Group consolidation, which was also subject to a full scope audit, these 
represent the significant components of the Group. All audit work on the significant components was conducted by the 
Group audit team with the use of local Georgian BDO Member Firm team members where required. 

The remaining components of the Group were considered non-significant and were principally subject to analytical review 
procedures. For these non-significant components, detailed audit testing was also performed on financial statement areas 
where specific audit risks had been identified, specifically with regards to Satskhenisi Limited. These procedures were 
performed by the Group audit team. 

Key audit matters 

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not 
due to fraud) that we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on the overall audit strategy, the allocation of 
resources in the audit, and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of 
our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate 
opinion on these matters. In addition to the matter described in the Material uncertainty related to going concern section of 
our report, we have determined the matters below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report:

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Block Energy plc continued

40

Key Audit Matter

Carrying value of development and production assets 
recorded within Property, Plant and Equipment  

Refer to the Accounting policies and note 14. 

The Group’s development and production assets (“D&P”) 
which are categorised within property, plant and equipment 
represent  the  most  significant  asset  on  the  consolidated 
statement of financial position (see note 14). As explained 
in  Note  1  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  the 
indicators of impairment assessment in relation to the D&P 
assets  under  the  relevant  accounting  standard  and  the 
resulting  assessment  of  the  assets’  recoverable  amount 
require 
judgement  by 
Management.  

the  exercise  of  significant 

Management  and  the  Directors  are  required  to  assess 
whether there are any potential impairment triggers which 
would indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not 
be recoverable.  

Management identified the current market capitalisation of 
the  Group  and  the  oil  price  trend  during  the  period  as 
impairment triggers, and as a result, performed a detailed 
assessment of the recoverable amount of the D&P assets 
in accordance with the relevant accounting standard.  

Given  the  significance  of  the  assets  to  the  Group’s 
consolidated  statement  of  financial  position  and  the 
significant management judgements and estimates involved 
in this area, we considered this a key audit matter. 

How  the  scope  of  our  audit  addressed  the  key 
audit matter

We evaluated Management’s and the Directors’ impairment 
review for each cash generating unit identified. We critically 
challenged the considerations made regarding indicators of 
impairment identified and the resulting assessment of the 
recoverable amount of the assets in accordance with the 
relevant accounting standard by performing the following 
procedures:  

•      We  assessed  Management’s  impairment  indicator 
review  to  establish  whether  it  was  performed  in 
accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  relevant 
accounting standard. 

•      We obtained and read third party documents relating to 
the licence status and commitments to check legal title 
and validity of each of the licences. 

•      We  assessed  the  function  of  the  operating  facilities 
through enquiries of Management in order to confirm 
our  understanding  of  the  operations  and  in  order  to 
assess whether there are any additional indicators of 
impairment.  We  further  reviewed  board  minutes  and 
other publicly available information. 

•      We agreed the key assumptions used by Management 
in determining the recoverable amount of the D&P asset 
such as oil price and discount rates and compared to 
industry  averages  and  benchmarked  these  against 
publically  available  information  and  other  third  party 
information.  We  considered  assumptions  such  as 
production levels and sales in the light of historic results 
and  underlying  agreements  such  as  the  production 
sharing agreements and performed sensitivity analysis 
to determine the appropriateness thereof. 

•      We  reviewed 

third  party  reports  obtained 

from 
Management’s  expert  relating  to  the  reserves  and 
resources impacting the impairment model.  

•      And we performed an assessment of the competence, 
independence and objectivity of Management’s expert.  

Key observations: 

Based  on  the  work  performed  we  considered  the  key 
assumptions  used  by  Management  in  performing  their 
impairment assessment to be reasonable and appropriate. 

Block Energy PLC

 
 
 
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Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Block Energy plc continued

41

Key Audit Matter

How  the  scope  of  our  audit  addressed  the  key 
audit matter

Acquisition of Block Rustaveli Limited (‘BRL’) 

Refer to the Accounting policies and note 12. 

On  23  November  2020  the  Group  acquired  a  new 
subsidiary, Block Rustaveli Limited (‘BRL’), which included 
material  producing  oil  and  gas  assets  and  inventory 
balances.  

We critically challenged the Group’s considerations as to 
whether the transaction meets the definition of a business 
combination, as well as their provisional assessment of the 
fair  value  of  the  consideration  paid  and  the  net  assets 
acquired  calculated  in  accordance  with  the  relevant 
accounting standard. In so doing we performed the following 
procedures:  

Management and the Directors were required to assess the 
transaction  under  applicable  accounting  standards  as  to 
determine  whether  or  not  the  transaction  meets  the 
definition of a business acquisition or asset acquisition.  

•      We reviewed the share purchase agreements and agreed 
the key contract terms in Management’s evaluation of the 
transaction and assessed the date of the acquisition to 
identify the point at which control was passed. 

Management’s  assessment  of  the  transaction  required 
making a number of judgements, for example potential fair 
value  judgements,  and  the  resulting  accounting  can  be 
complex.  

In  addition  there  is  further  judgement  arising  relating  to 
Management’s  assessment  of  the  cut-off  of  transactions 
around the acquisition date.  

Given  the  significance  of  the  assets  to  the  Group’s 
consolidated  statement  of  financial  position  and  the 
significant management judgements and estimates involved 
to determine the appropriate transaction accounting and fair 
value assessments required as part of the accounting for 
the transaction this was considered to be a key audit matter.

•      We  assessed  Management’s  conclusion  that  the 
transaction was a business combination in line with the 
requirements of the applicable accounting standards. 
We  further  performed  our  own  assessment  of  the 
elements of the inputs, processes and outputs relating 
to the transaction which were present at the point of 
acquisition and in the period prior to the acquisition date 
in order to assess the appropriateness of the proposed 
accounting treatment.  

•      We assessed all the elements of the consideration paid 
in order to assess the provisional fair value of the total 
consideration by agreeing the elements to the contract 
and option price on transaction date. 

•      We  challenged  Management’s  determination  of  the 
provisional fair value of the assets, liabilities and any 
contingent  assets  and  liabilities  acquired  in  order  to 
assess  whether  the  fair  values  are  supportable  by 
agreeing  Management’s  inputs  such  as  fair  value  of 
inventory to actual sales prices and fair value of working 
capital to agreements reached with the Seller. 

•      We assessed Management’s provisional treatment of 
the  right  of  use  assets  on  acquisition  date  and 
confirmed that the leases are considered short term by 
reviewing the related source documents. 

•      We  assessed  the  cut  off  of  the  balance  sheet  in  the 
completion accounts to check that it was appropriately 
taken  at  transaction  date  by  selecting  a  sample  of 
transactions  across  all  areas  before  and  after 
acquisition date and agreeing the sample to underlying 
support such as invoices to determine the appropriate 
date of the transaction. 

•      We assessed whether all transaction related expenses 
were appropriately expensed to the income statement 
through verification to source documentation 

•      We  assessed  whether  the  provisional  deferred  tax 
implications  of  the  transactions  were  appropriate  by 
reviewing the calculation provided by Management and 
agreeing inputs to source documentation.  

Key observations: 

Based  on  the  work  performed  we  considered  the  key 
assumptions  used  by  Management  in  performing  their 
assessment of the accounting treatment of the transaction 
to be reasonable and appropriate.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
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Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Block Energy plc continued

42

Our application of materiality 

We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect of misstatements. 
We consider materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, including omissions, could influence the economic 
decisions of reasonable users that are taken on the basis of the financial statements.  

In order to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that any misstatements exceed materiality, we use a lower 
materiality level, performance materiality, to determine the extent of testing needed. Importantly, misstatements below these 
levels will not necessarily be evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the nature of identified misstatements, 
and the particular circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluating their effect on the financial statements as a whole.  

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole and performance 
materiality as follows: 

                                                                                         Group                                                   Parent company  
                                                                              financial statements                                     financial statements 

                                                                       2020                         2019                           2020                           2019 

Materiality                                             $300,000                  $200,000                    $220,000                    $146,000 

Basis for determining 
materiality

Rationale for the 
benchmark applied

                  1% of total assets                                           1% of total assets adjusted for 

We considered total assets to be the most 
significant consideration for users of the 
financial statements as the Group 
continues to develop its portfolio of oil and 
gas assets through to production.

elimination of intercompany  
assets 

We consider adjusted total assets to 
be the most significant consideration 
for users of the financial statements 
as the Parent Company continues to 
develop its portfolio of oil and gas 
assets through to production.

Performance materiality                      $225,000                  $130,000                    $165,000                      $95,000 

Basis for determining 
performance 
materiality

75% (2019: 65%) of Group materiality 

The level of performance materiality was 
determined based on our assessment of 
the likelihood of error and the nature of the 
transactions undertaken by the Group.

75% (2019: 65%) of Parent Company 
materiality 

The level of performance materiality 
was determined based on our 
assessment of the likelihood of error 
and the nature of the transactions 
undertaken by the Parent Company.

Component materiality 

We set materiality for each component of the Group based on a percentage of between 50% and 73% (2019: 25% to 50%) 
of Group materiality dependent on the size and our assessment of the risk of material misstatement of that component. 
Component materiality ranged from $150,000 to $220,000 (2019: $50,000 to $146,000). In the audit of each component, 
we further applied performance materiality levels of 75% (2019: 65%) of the component materiality to our testing to ensure 
that the risk of errors exceeding component materiality was appropriately mitigated. 

Reporting threshold  

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them all individual audit differences in excess of $6,000 
(2019:$4,000).  We  also  agreed  to  report  differences  below  this  threshold  that,  in  our  view,  warranted  reporting  on 
qualitative grounds. 

Block Energy PLC

                  
    
 
 
 
                  
    
 
                  
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                                                
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Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Block Energy plc continued

43

Other information 

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the 
annual report and financial statements other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on 
the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our 
report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information 
and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our 
knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material 
inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material 
misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is 
a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard. 

Other Companies Act 2006 reporting 

Based on the responsibilities described below and our work performed during the course of the audit, we are required by 
the Companies Act 2006 and ISAs (UK) to report on certain opinions and matters as described below.  

Strategic report and Directors’ report          In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

                                                                          •     the information given in the Strategic report and the Directors’ report 

for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is 
consistent with the financial statements; and 

                                                                          •     the Strategic report and the Directors’ report have been prepared in 

accordance with applicable legal requirements. 

                                                                          In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and Parent 
Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have 
not  identified  material  misstatements  in  the  strategic  report  or  the 
Directors’ report. 

Matters on which we are required to 
report by exception

           We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to 

which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

                                                                          •     adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent 

Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received 
from branches not visited by us; or 

                                                                          •     the Parent Company financial statements are not in agreement with 

the accounting records and returns; or 

                                                                          •     certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not 

made; or 

                                                                          •     we have not received all the information and explanations we require 

for our audit. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Block Energy plc continued

44

Responsibilities of Directors 

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of 
the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the 
Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s and the Parent Company’s 
ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going 
concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the Parent Company or to cease 
operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error,  and  to  issue  an  auditor’s  report  that  includes  our  opinion.  Reasonable 
assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will 
always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered 
material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users 
taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line 
with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The 
extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: 

•      We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the Group and Parent 
Company and the industry in which it operates, and considered the risk of acts by the Group and Parent Company that 
were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. We considered the significant laws and regulations 
to be those relating to the accounting framework, Companies Act 2006, tax legislation and Oil & Gas Regulation.  

•      Based  on  our  understanding  we  designed  our  audit  procedures  to  identify  non-compliance  with  such  laws  and 
regulations impacting the Group and Parent Company. Our procedures involved making enquiries of Management and 
those charged with governance to understand their awareness of any non-compliance of laws or regulations, inquiring 
about the policies that have been established to prevent non-compliance with laws and regulations by officers and 
employees of the Group and Parent Company, inquiring about the Group and Parent Company’s methods of enforcing 
and monitoring compliance with such policies and reviewing board minutes to identify any instances of non-compliance.  

•      We assessed the susceptibility of the Group and Parent Company’s financial statements to material misstatement, 
including how fraud might occur by obtaining an understanding of the controls that the Group and Parent Company 
has established to address risks identified by the entity, or that otherwise seek to prevent, deter or detect fraud and 
considered this to be in management override of controls.  

•      We addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including testing a risk based selections of journals 
and  evaluating  whether  there  was  evidence  of  bias  in  Management’s  estimates  that  represented  a  material 
misstatement due to fraud. 

•      We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members 

and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit. 

Block Energy PLC

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Block Energy plc continued

45

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising 
that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from 
error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through collusion. There 
are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations 
is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it. 

A  further  description  of  our  responsibilities  is  available  on  the  Financial  Reporting  Council’s  website  at: 
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 

Use of our report 

This report is made solely to the Parent Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the 
Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Parent Company’s members those 
matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by 
law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Parent Company and the Parent Company’s 
members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

Anne Sayers (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Statutory Auditor 
London 
United Kingdom 
1 June 2021 

BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).  

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

261347 Block Energy pp46-pp49.qxp  04/06/2021  07:34  Page 46

46

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

for the year ended 31 December 2020 

                                                                                                                                                                                                     18 months 
                                                                                                                                                       Year ended                        period ended  
                                                                                                                                                    31 December                       31 December 
                                                                                                                                                                 2020                                     2019 
                                                                                                                     Note                                    $'000                                    $'000 

Continuing operation                                                                                                                                                                                     

Revenue                                                                                                            4                                    1,255                                       314 

Other cost of sales                                                                                                                                 (2,203)                                    (633) 

Depreciation and depletion of oil and gas assets                                              5                                      (781)                                    (574) 

Total cost of sales                                                                                                                                 (2,984)                                 (1,207) 

Gross loss                                                                                                                                              (1,729)                                    (893) 

Other administrative costs                                                                                                                      (3,295)                                 (3,783) 

Share based payments charge                                                                                                                 (641)                                    (862) 

Total administrative expenses                                                                         6,7                                   (3,936)                                 (4,645) 

Foreign exchange movement                                                                                                                        49                                      (657) 

Operating loss                                                                                                                                       (5,616)                                 (6,195) 

Finance income                                                                                                  8                                         14                                         69 

Other income                                                                                                      9                                       100                                           – 

Finance expense                                                                                                                                          (10)                                        (4) 

Loss for the year/period before taxation                                                                                             (5,512)                                 (6,130) 

Taxation                                                                                                            10                                           –                                           – 

Loss for the year/period from continuing  
operations (attributable to the equity  
holders of the parent)                                                                                                                           (5,512)                                 (6,130) 

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss: 

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations                                                                        (389)                                      483 

Total comprehensive loss for the year/period  

(attributable to the equity holders of the parent)                                                                              (5,901)                                 (5,647)  

Loss per share basic and diluted                                                                      11                                     (1.31)c                                  (1.96)c 

All activities relate to continuing operations. 

The notes on pages 50 to 71 form part of these consolidated financial statements. 

Block Energy PLC

 
261347 Block Energy pp46-pp49.qxp  04/06/2021  07:34  Page 47

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

at 31 December 2020

47

                                                                                                                                                    31 December                       31 December 
                                                                                                                                                                 2020                                     2019 
                                                                                                                      Note                                    $'000                                    $'000 

Non-current assets                                                                                                                                          

Intangible assets                                                                                              13                                           –                                           – 

Property, plant and equipment                                                                         14                                  21,311                                  12,713 

                                                                                                                                                              21,311                                  12,713 

Current assets 

Inventory                                                                                                          15                                    4,114                                    2,519 

Trade and other receivables                                                                            17                                    2,256                                       303 

Cash and cash equivalents                                                                              18                                    6,331                                    6,494 

Total current assets                                                                                                                             12,701                                    9,316 

Total assets                                                                                                                                          34,012                                  22,029 

Equity and liabilities 

Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of 
the Parent Company:                                                                                                                                         

Share capital                                                                                                    21                                    3,353                                    2,623 

Share premium                                                                                                 22                                  34,234                                  27,985 

Other reserves                                                                                                 23                                    9,120                                    1,114 

Foreign exchange reserve                                                                                                                            44                                       433 

Accumulated deficit                                                                                                                              (17,057)                                (11,545) 

Total equity                                                                                                                                           29,694                                  20,610 

Liabilities 

Trade and other payables                                                                                20                                    1,656                                    1,143 

Provisions                                                                                                         16                                    2,662                                       276 

Total current liabilities                                                                                                                          4,318                                    1,419 

Total equity and liabilities                                                                                                                   34,012                                  22,029 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 1 June 2021 and were signed on its behalf by:  

William McAvock                                   Paul Haywood 
Director                                                  Director

The notes on pages 50 to 71 form part of these consolidated financial statements. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
 
 
 
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48

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

at 31 December 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                Foreign                           
                                                                             Share                Share     Accumulated                 Other          Exchange                  Total 
                                                                           Capital            premium                deficit          Reserves            Reserve                Equity 
                                                                             $’000                 $’000                 $’000                 $’000                 $’000                 $’000 

Balance at 30 June 2018                                    2,192               12,221               (5,623)                  460                    (50)               9,200 

Loss for the period                                                       –                        –               (6,130)                      –                        –               (6,130) 
Exchange differences on translation  
of foreign operations                                                    –                        –                        –                        –                    483                    483 

Total comprehensive loss for the period                      –                        –               (6,130)                      –                    483               (5,647) 

Issue of shares                                                        431               16,655                        –                        –                        –               17,086 

Cost of issue                                                                –                  (891)                      –                        –                        –                  (891) 
Share based payments                                                –                        –                    208                    654                        –                    862 

Total transactions with owners                                 431               15,764                    208                    654                        –               17,057 

Balance at 31 December 2019                           2,623               27,985              (11,545)                1,114                    433               20,610 

Loss for the year                                                          –                        –               (5,512)                      –                        –               (5,512) 
Exchange differences on translation  
of foreign operations                                                    –                        –                        –                        –                  (389)                 (389) 

Total comprehensive loss for the year                         –                        –               (5,512)                      –                  (389)              (5,901) 

Issue of share options on  

acquisition of BRL                                                        –                        –                        –                 7,304                        –                 7,304 

Issue of shares                                                        730                 6,654                        –                        –                        –                 7,384 

Cost of issue                                                                –                  (405)                      –                        –                        –                  (405) 

Share based payments                                                –                        –                        –                    702                        –                    702 

Total transactions with owners                                 730                 6,249                        –                 8,006                        –               14,985 

Balance at 31 December 2020                           3,353               34,234             (17,057)               9,120                      44               29,694 

The notes on pages 50 to 71 form part of these consolidated financial statements. 

Block Energy PLC

 
261347 Block Energy pp46-pp49.qxp  04/06/2021  07:34  Page 49

Consolidated Statement of Cashflows 

for the year ended 31 December 2020

49

                                                                                                                                                                                                     18 months 
                                                                                                                                                Year ended                              period ended  
                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December  
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                        Note                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Cash flow from operating activities                                                                                                                                                            

Loss for the year/period before tax                                                                                                   (5,512)                                        (6,130) 

Adjustments for:                                                                                                                                                                                             

 Depreciation and depletion                                                                  5                                             781                                             574 

Impairment of PP&E                                                                         2,14                                             172                                                 – 

 Finance income                                                                                   8                                              (15)                                             (69) 

 Finance expense                                                                                                                                    9                                                 4 

 Share based payments expense                                                         7                                             641                                             862 

 Foreign exchange movement                                                                                                              (49)                                            657 

Operating cash flows before movements  
in working capital                                                                                                                           (3,973)                                        (4,102) 

 (Increase) in trade and other receivables                                                                                          (513)                                           (134) 

 Increase in trade and other payables                                                                                                 342                                             703 

 Decrease/(increase) in inventory                                                                                                        955                                         (2,185) 

Net cash used in operating activities                                                                                           (3,189)                                        (5,718) 

Cash flow from investing activities                                                                                                                                                            

Income received                                                                                                                                     15                                               37 

Expenditure in respect of intangible assets                                                                                              –                                            (264) 

Expenditure in respect of PP&E                                                                                                       (2,617)                                        (8,050) 

Net cash used in investing activities                                                                                           (2,602)                                        (8,277) 

Cash flow from financing activities                                                                                                                                                            

Proceeds from issue of equity                                                                                                           5,754                                        16,087 

Costs related to issue of equity                                                                                                           (405)                                           (891) 

Interest paid                                                                                                                                            (9)                                               (4) 

Net cash inflow from financing activities                                                                                      5,340                                        15,192 

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and  
cash equivalents in the year/period                                                                                                (451)                                         1,197 

Cash and cash equivalents at start of year/period                                                                      6,494                                          5,278 

Effects of foreign exchange rate changes on  

cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                   288                                               19 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year/period                                                                        6,331                                          6,494 

Significant non-cash transactions 

The only significant non-cash transactions were the issue of shares and share options detailed in notes 12 and 21. 

The notes on pages 50 to 71 form part of these consolidated financial statements.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
261347 Block Energy pp50-pp71.qxp  04/06/2021  07:34  Page 50

50

Notes forming part of the Consolidated Financial 
Statements

Corporate information 

Block Energy Plc (“Block Energy”) gained admission to AIM on the 11 June 2018, trading under the symbol of BLOE. 

The  Consolidated  financial  statements  of  the  Group,  which  comprises  Block  Energy  Plc  and  its  subsidiaries,  for  the  year  ended 
31 December 2020 were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the directors on 1 June 2021. Block Energy is a Company 
incorporated in the UK whose shares are publicly traded. The address of the registered office is given in the officers and advisers section 
of this report. The Company’s administrative office is in London, UK. 

The nature of the Company’s operations and its principal activities are set out in the Strategic Report on pages 2 to 18 and the Report of 
the Directors on pages 19 to 22. 

1.    Significant Accounting policies 

IAS 8 requires that management shall use its judgement in developing and applying accounting policies that result in information which is 
relevant to the economic decision-making needs of users, that are reliable, free from bias, prudent, complete and represent faithfully the 
financial position, financial performance and cash flows of the entity. 

Basis of preparation 

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below. The policies 
have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. In the prior year, the Group changed its presentational 
currency from the pound sterling to the US dollar, which represented a change in accounting policy. All amounts presented are in thousands 
of US dollars unless otherwise stated. Foreign operations are included in accordance with the policies set out below.  

During the prior period, the Group changed its accounting reference date from 30 June to 31 December and consequently the prior period 
covers the 18 months period ended 31 December 2019.  

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) and 
IFRIC Interpretations Committee (‘IFRS IC’) and in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The Financial Statements 
have also been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of financial assets at fair value through profit 
or loss. 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions 
that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. The estimates and associated 
assumptions are based on historical experience and factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of 
which form the basis of making judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. 
Actual results may differ from these estimates. 

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Changes in accounting estimates may be necessary if there 
are changes in the circumstances on which the estimate was based, or as a result of new information or more experience. Such changes 
are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised. 

New and amended standards adopted by the Group 

During the current year the Group adopted all the new and revised standards, amendments and interpretations that are relevant to its 
operations and are effective for accounting periods beginning on 1 January 2020. This adoption did not have a material effect on the 
accounting policies of the Group.  

New standards that have been adopted in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 include: 

Definition of a Business (Amendments to IFRS 3) 
Amendments to IFRS 3 were mandatorily effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020. The Group has applied the 
revised definition of a business for acquisitions occurring on or after 1 January 2020 in determining whether an acquisition is accounted 
for in accordance with IFRS 3 Business Combinations. The amendments do not permit the Group to reassess whether acquisitions occurring 
prior to 1 January 2020 met the revised definition of a business. See note 12 for disclosures relating to the Group’s business combination 
occurring during the year ended 31 December 2020.  

IFRS 16 Leases 
The new standard recognises a lease asset and a lease liability for almost all leases and requires them to be accounted for in a consistent 
manner. This introduces a single lessee accounting model and eliminates the previous distinction between an operating lease and a finance 
lease. Management have identified material lease arrangements, and have assessed the impact of the Standard as immaterial, as almost 
all current leases in the Group are short term. 

Block Energy PLC

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Notes forming part of the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

51

New Accounting Standards issued but not yet effective 

The standards and interpretations that are relevant to the Group, issued, but not yet effective, up to the date of the Financial Statements 
are listed below. The Group intends to adopt these standards, if applicable, when they become effective. 

Standard                                                         Impact on initial application                                                                        Effective date 

IFRS 17                                                          Insurance Contracts                                                                                   1 January 2023 
IFRS 10 and IAS 28 (Amendments)               Long term interests in associates and joint ventures                                 Unknown 
Amendments to IAS 1                                    Classification of Liabilities as current or non-current                                 1 January 2023 
Amendments to IFRS 3                                  Reference to the Conceptual Framework                                                  1 January 2022 
Amendments to IAS 16                                  Property, Plant and Equipment – Proceeds before intended use              1 January 2022 
Amendments to IAS 37                                  Onerous contracts – Cost of fulfilling a contract                                        1 January 2022 
Annual Improvements to IFRS 
              1 January 2022 
Standard 2018-2020 Cycle

Amendments to IFRS 1 First time adoption of IFRS 
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, IFRS Leases

The Directors have evaluated the impact of transition to the above standards and do not consider that there will be a material impact of 
transition on the financial statements.  

Basis of consolidation 

Where the Company has control over an investee, it is classified as a subsidiary. The Company controls an investee if all three of the 
following elements are present: power over the investee, exposure to variable returns from the investee, and the ability of the investor to 
use its power to affect those variable returns. Control is reassessed whenever facts and circumstances indicate that there may be a change 
in any of these elements of control. De-facto control exists in situations where the Company has the practical ability to direct the relevant 
activities of the investee without holding the majority of the voting rights. In determining whether de-facto control exists the Company 
considers all relevant facts and circumstances, including: 

•       The size of the Company’s voting rights relative to both the size and dispersion of other parties who hold voting rights; 

•       Substantive potential voting rights held by the Company and by other parties; 

•       Other contractual arrangements; and 

•       Historic patterns in voting attendance. 

Business combinations and Goodwill 

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the results of business combinations using the purchase method. In the consolidated 
statement of financial position, the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are initially recognised at their fair 
values at the acquisition date. The difference between the consideration paid and the acquired net assets is recognised as goodwill. The 
results of acquired operations are included in the consolidated income statement from the date on which control is obtained. Any difference 
arising between the fair value and the tax base of the acquiree’s assets and liabilities that give rise to a deductible difference results in 
recognition of deferred tax liability. No deferred tax liability is recognised on goodwill. For the purposes of the current period of reporting 
the  figures  related  to  the  transaction  accounting  are  considered  provisional  as  permitted  under  the  requirements  of  the  accounting 
standards. These figures will be finalised within a period of twelve months from the acquisition date of the transaction.  

Acquisitions 

The Group and Company measure goodwill at the acquisition dates as: 

•       The fair value of the consideration transferred; plus 

•       The recognised amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree 

•       Plus, if the business combination is achieved in stages, the fair value of the existing equity interest in the acquiree; less the net 

recognised amount (generally fair value) of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed.  

When the excess is negative, a bargain purchase gain is recognised immediately in profit or loss.  

Cost related to the acquisition, other than those associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, that the Group incurs in connection 
with a business combination, are expensed as incurred.  

Asset Acquisition  

Acquisitions of mineral exploration licences through the acquisition of non-operational corporate structures that do not represent a business, 
and therefore do not meet the definition of a business combination, are accounted for as the acquisition of an asset. An example of such 
would be increases in working interests in licences.  

The consideration for the asset is allocated to the assets based on their relative fair values at the date of acquisition. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

                  
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Notes forming part of the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

52

Going concern  

The directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for a period of 13 months from the date of signing these financial statements. The Group’s 
forecasts are reviewed regularly to assess whether any actions to curtail expenditure or cut costs are required. The Group is in the final 
stages of preparing to drill a well at WR-BA location and, by the end of the year, plans to drill a second well and spud a third well. The 
forecasts assume the wells will produce oil and gas, which would be sold, and indicate the Group has sufficient funds to complete the 
drilling of the wells and to meet its liabilities as they fall due until June 2022. However, if any of the new wells do not produce commercial 
quantities of oil or gas, the Group would immediately revisit its plans to drill subsequent wells. The financial benefit of any additional capital 
projects would be assessed against capital requirements and balanced with ensuring that the Group and the Company can continue to 
meet their liabilities and commitments through to June 2022. The Company’s forecasts are considered together with the Group’s forecasts.  

The directors note that Covid-19 has had a significant negative impact on the global economy and oil prices, which may mean it would be 
more difficult to secure additional funding than it has historically been. As part of their going concern assessment, a reverse stress test has 
been performed, based on the scenario whereby, due to Covid-19 restrictions, if the Group were unable to continue with normal operations 
or were required to significantly reduce the forecasted production due to the capital expenditure not being incurred to complete the additional 
wells, a cash shortfall may occur. The global pandemic may also bring practical challenges to the timetables for drilling the wells and the 
consequent sale of oil and gas from those wells. The directors are confident that current capital projects are funded and have a reasonable 
expectation that they could secure additional funding, if needed, to fund additional capital projects. However, these conditions necessarily 
indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt over the Group and Company’s ability to continue as a going 
concern and therefore their ability to realise their assets and discharge their liabilities in the normal course of business. Whilst acknowledging 
this material uncertainty, the directors remain confident of making further cost savings and/or raising finance when required and, therefore, 
the directors consider it appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis. The financial statements do not include 
the adjustments that would result if the Group were unable to continue as a going concern. 

Intangible Assets  

Exploration and evaluation costs 
The Group applies the full cost method of accounting for Exploration and Evaluation (E&E) costs, having regard to the requirements of 
IFRS 6 ‘Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources’. Under the full cost method of accounting, costs of exploring and evaluating 
properties are accumulated and capitalised by reference to appropriate cash generating units (“CGUs”). Such CGU’s are based on 
geographic  areas  such  as  a  licence  area,  type  or  a  basin  and  are  not  larger  than  an  operating  segment  –  as  defined  by  IFRS  8 
‘Operating segments.  

E&E costs are initially capitalised within ‘Intangible assets’. Such E&E costs may include costs of licence acquisition, technical services 
and studies, seismic acquisition, exploration drilling and testing, but do not include costs incurred prior to having obtained the legal rights 
to explore an area, which are expensed directly to the statement of comprehensive income as they are incurred. Plant and equipment 
assets acquired for use in exploration and evaluation activities are classified as property, plant and equipment. 

However, to the extent that such an asset is consumed in developing an unproven oil and gas asset, the amount reflecting that consumption 
is recorded as part of the cost of the unproven oil and gas asset. 

Exploration and unproven oil and gas assets related to each exploration license/prospect are not amortised but are carried forward until 
the technical feasibility and commercial feasibility of extracting a mineral resource are demonstrated. 

Impairment of Exploration and Evaluation assets 
All capitalised exploration and evaluation assets and property, plant and equipment are monitored for indications of impairment. Where a 
potential impairment is indicated, assessment is made for the Group of assets representing a cash generating unit.  

In accordance with IFRS 6 the Group firstly considers the following facts and circumstances in their assessment of whether the Group’s 
exploration and evaluation assets may be impaired, whether:  

•       the period for which the Group has the right to explore in a specific area has expired during the period or will expire in the near future, 

and is not expected to be renewed; 

•       unexpected geological occurrences render the resource uneconomic;  

•       a significant fall in realised prices or oil and gas price benchmarks render the project uneconomic; or 

•       an increase in operating costs occurs. 

If any such facts or circumstances are noted, the Group perform an impairment test in accordance with the provisions of IAS 36. 

The aggregate carrying value is compared against the expected recoverable amount of the cash generating unit. The recoverable amount 
is the higher of value in use and the fair value less costs to sell. An impairment loss is reversed if the asset’s or cash-generating unit’s 
recoverable amount exceeds its carrying amount. A reversal of impairment loss is recognised in the profit or loss immediately.

Block Energy PLC

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53

Property, plant and equipment – development and production (D&P) assets  

Capitalisation  
The costs associated with determining the existence of commercial reserves are capitalised in accordance with the preceding policy and 
transferred to property, plant and equipment as development assets following impairment testing. All costs incurred after the technical 
feasibility and commercial viability of producing hydrocarbons have been demonstrated are capitalised within development assets on a 
field-by-field basis. Subsequent expenditure is only capitalised where it either enhances the economic benefits of the development asset 
or replaces part of the existing development asset (where the remaining cost of the original part is expensed through the income statement). 
Costs of borrowing related to the ongoing construction of development and production assets and facilities are capitalised during the 
construction phase. Capitalisation of interest ceases once an asset is ready for production.  

Depreciation  
Capitalised oil assets are not subject to depreciation until commercial production starts. Depreciation is calculated on a unit-of-production 
basis in order to write off the cost of an asset as the reserves that it represents are produced and sold. Any periodic reassessment of 
reserves will affect the depreciation rate on a prospective basis. The unit-of-production depreciation rate is calculated on a field-by-field 
basis using proved, developed reserves as the denominator and capitalised costs as the numerator. The numerator includes an estimate 
of the costs expected to be incurred to bring proved, developed, not-producing reserves into production. Infrastructure that is common to 
a number of fields, such as gathering systems, treatment plants and pipelines are depreciated on a unit-of-production basis using an 
aggregate measure of reserves or on a straight line basis depending on the expected pattern of use of the underlying asset.  

Proven oil and gas properties 
Oil and gas properties are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. The initial cost comprises the purchase 
price  or  construction  cost  including  any  directly  attributable  cost  of  bringing  the  asset  into  operation  and  any  estimated 
decommissioning provision. 

Once a project reaches the stage of commercial production and production permits are received, the carrying values of the relevant 
exploration and evaluation asset are assessed for impairment and transferred to proven oil and gas properties and included within property 
plant and equipment. 

Proven oil and gas properties are accounted for in accordance with provisions of the cost model under IAS 16 “Property Plant and 
Equipment” and are depleted on unit of production basis based on the estimated proven and probable reserves of the pool to which 
they relate. 

Impairment of development and production assets 
A review is performed for any indication that the value of the Group’s D&P assets may be impaired such as:  

•       significant changes with an adverse effect in the market or economic conditions which will impact the assets; or 

•       obsolescence or physical damage of an asset; or 

•       an asset becoming idle or plans to dispose of the asset before the previously expected date; or 

•       evidence is available from internal reporting that indicates that the economic performance of an asset is or will be worse than expected. 

For D&P assets when there are such indications, an impairment test is carried out on the CGU. CGUs are identified in accordance with 
IAS 36 ‘Impairment of Assets’, where cash flows are largely independent of other significant asset Groups and are normally, but not always, 
single development or production areas. When an impairment is identified, the depletion is charged through the Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income if the net book value of capitalised costs relating to the CGU exceeds the associated estimated future discounted 
cash flows of the related commercial oil reserves. 

The CGU’s identified by the company are Corporate along with West Rustavi, Rustaveli, Satskhenisi and Norio given they are independent 
projects under individual Production Sharing Contracts (“PSCs”). An assessment is made at each reporting as to whether there is any 
indication that previously recognised impairment charges may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such an indication exists, the 
Group estimates the recoverable amount. A previously recognised impairment charge is reversed only if there has been a change in the 
estimates used to determine the assets recoverable amount since the last impairment charge was recognised. If this is the case the carrying 
amount of the asset is increased to its recoverable amount, not to exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of 
depreciation, had no impairment charges been recognised for the asset in prior years. 

Property, plant and equipment and depreciation 
Property, plant and equipment which are awaiting use in the drilling campaigns, and storage, are recorded at historical cost less accumulated 
depreciation. Property, plant and equipment are depreciated using the straight line method over their estimated useful lives, as follows: 

•       PP&E – 6 years  

The carrying value of Property, plant and equipment is assessed annually and any impairment charge is charged to the Consolidated 
Statement of Comprehensive income.  

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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54

Leases 

In the current year, the Group adopted ‘IFRS 16: Leases’, which requires operating and finance leases to be accounted for in a consistent 
manner. There was no material impact on the Group from the adoption of this standard year-on-year. 

The Group assesses whether a contract is or contains a lease, at inception of the contract. The Group recognises a right-of-use asset and 
a corresponding lease liability with respect to all lease arrangements in which it is the lessee, except for short-term leases (defined as 
leases with a lease term of 12 months or less) and leases of low value assets (such as tablets and personal computers, small items of 
office furniture and telephones). For these leases, the Group recognises the lease payments as an operating expense on a straight-line 
basis over the term of the lease unless another systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits 
from the leased assets are consumed.  

Inventories 

Crude oil inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The cost of crude oil is the cost of production, including direct 
labour and materials, depreciation and an appropriate portion of fixed overheads allocated based on normal operating capacity of the 
production facilities, determined on a weighted average cost basis. Net realisable value of crude oil is based on the market price of similar 
crude oil at the balance sheet date and costs to sell, adjusted if the sale of inventories after that date gives additional evidence about its 
net realisable value at the balance sheet date.  

The cost of crude oil is expensed in the period in which the related revenue is recognised. 

Inventories of drilling tubulars and drilling chemicals are valued at the lower of cost or net realisable value, where cost represents the 
weighted average unit cost for inventory lines on a line by line basis. Cost comprises all costs of purchase, costs of conversion and other 
costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. 

Decommissioning provision 

Provisions for decommissioning are recognised in full when wells have been suspended or facilities have been installed.  

A corresponding amount equivalent to the provision is also recognised as part of the cost of either the related oil and gas exploration and 
evaluation asset or property, plant and equipment as appropriate. The amount recognised is the estimated cost of decommissioning, 
discounted to its net present value, and is reassessed each year in accordance with local conditions and requirements.  

Changes in the estimated timing of decommissioning or decommissioning cost estimates are dealt with prospectively by recording an 
adjustment to the provision, and a corresponding adjustment to the related asset.  

The unwinding of the discount on the decommissioning provision is included as a finance cost. 

Taxation and deferred tax 

Income tax expense represents the sum of the current tax and deferred tax charge for the period. 

The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date. 

Deferred tax is recognised on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial information and the 
corresponding tax bases and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. 

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary 
differences can be utilised. 

Judgement is applied in making assumptions about future taxable income, including oil and gas prices, production, rehabilitation costs 
and expenditure to determine the extent to which the Group recognises deferred tax assets, as well as the anticipated timing of the utilisation 
of the losses. 

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted and are expected to apply in the period when 
the liability is settled, or the asset realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited to the statement of comprehensive income, except when it 
relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. 

Foreign currencies 

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into US dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing at the 
reporting date: $1.3678/£1 (2019: $1.3254/£1). Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate ruling at the date of 
the transaction. Exchange differences are taken to the Statement of Comprehensive Income. 

The Company’s functional currency is the pound sterling and its presentational currency is the US dollar and accordingly the financial 
statements have also been prepared in US dollars. The functional currencies of Block Norioskhevi Ltd, Satskhenisi Limited, Georgia New 
Ventures Inc and Block Rustaveli Limited are the US dollar and the functional currencies of their branches in Georgia are the Georgian Lari. 

Block Energy PLC

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55

Foreign operations 

The assets are translated into US dollars at the exchange rate at the reporting date and income and expenses of the foreign operations 
are translated at the average exchange rates. Exchange differences arising on translation are recognised in other comprehensive income 
and presented in the other reserves category in equity.  

Determination of functional currency and presentational currency 

The determination of an entity’s functional currency is assessed on an entity by entity basis. A company’s functional currency is defined as 
the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates. The functional currency of the Parent Company is the 
pound sterling, because it operates in the UK, where the majority of its transactions are in pounds sterling. The functional currencies of 
Block Norioskhevi Ltd, Satskhenisi Limited, Georgia New Ventures Inc and Block Rustaveli Limited are the US dollar, because the majority 
of their transactions by value is in US dollars, and the functional currencies of their branches in Georgia are the Georgian Lari, because 
the majority of their transactions by value is in Georgian Lari.  

The presentational currency of the Group for year ended 31 December 2020 is US dollars. The presentational currency is an accounting 
policy choice.  

Revenue  

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognised when the Group satisfies its performance obligation of transferring control of oil to 
a customer. Transfer of control is usually concurrent with both transfer of title and the customer taking physical possession of the oil, which 
is determined by reference to the oil sales agreement. This performance obligation is satisfied at that point in time. 

The transaction price is agreed between the Group and the customer, with the amount of revenue recognised being determined by 
considering the terms of the Production Sharing Contract (“PSC”) and the oil sales agreement for each oil sale.  

Finance income and expenses  

Finance costs are accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and at the effective interest rate applicable. Finance 
expenses comprise interest or finance costs on borrowings. 

Borrowings 

Borrowings are recorded initially at fair value, net of attributable transaction costs. Borrowings are subsequently carried at their amortised 
cost and finance charges, including any premium payable on settlement or redemption, are recognised in the profit or loss over the term 
of the instrument using the effective rate of interest.  

Financial instruments 

The Group adopted the amendments to IFRS 9 in the prior period. The amendments to IFRS 9 clarify that for the purpose of assessing 
whether a prepayment feature meets the ‘solely payments of principal and interest’ (SPPI) condition, the party exercising the option may 
pay or receive reasonable compensation for the prepayment irrespective of the reason for prepayment. In other words, financial assets 
with prepayment features with negative compensation do not automatically fail SPPI. 

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the Group’s balance sheet when the Group becomes party to the contractual 
provisions of the instrument.  

Fair value  
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market 
participants at the measurement date. All assets and liabilities, for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the Financial Statements, 
are categorised within the fair value hierarchy, described as follows, based on the lowest-level input that is significant to the fair value 
measurement as a whole: 

Level 1 – quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;  

Level 2 – valuation techniques for which the lowest-level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly or indirectly 
observable; and  

Level 3 – valuation techniques for which the lowest-level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is unobservable.  

Financial assets  
Financial assets are initially recognised at fair value, and subsequently measured at amortised cost, less any allowances for losses using 
the expected credit loss model, being the difference between all contractual cash flows that are due to the Group in accordance with the 
contract and all the cash flows that the Group expects to receive.  

Impairment provisions for receivables from related parties and loans to related parties are recognised based on a forward looking expected 
credit loss model. The methodology used to determine the amount of the provision is based on whether there has been a significant 
increase in credit risk since initial recognition of the financial asset.  

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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56

For those where the credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition of the financial asset, twelve month expected credit 
losses along with gross interest income are recognised. For those for which credit risk has increased significantly, lifetime expected credit 
losses along with the gross interest income are recognised. For those that are determined to be credit impaired, lifetime expected credit 
losses along with interest income on a net basis are recognised. 

Financial liabilities  
Financial liabilities are classified as either financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss (FVTPL) or as other financial liabilities. 
The Group derecognises financial liabilities when, and only when, the Group’s obligations are discharged or cancelled, or they expire.  

Financial liabilities are classified at FVTPL when the financial liability is either held for trading or it is designated at FVTPL. A financial 
liability is classified as held for trading if it has been incurred principally for the purpose of repurchasing it in the near term or is a derivative 
that is not a designated or effective hedging instrument.  

Financial liabilities at FVTPL are measured at fair value, with any gains or losses arising on changes in fair value recognised in profit or 
loss. The net gain or loss recognised in profit or loss incorporates any interest paid on the financial liability.  

Other financial liabilities, including borrowings, are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs and are subsequently measured 
at amortised cost using the effective interest method, with interest expense recognised on an effective yield basis.  

The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial liability and of allocating interest expense over 
the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments through the expected life 
of the financial liability, or, where appropriate, a shorter period, to the net carrying amount on initial recognition.  

Share based payments 

The fair value of options and warrants granted to directors and others in respect of services provided is recognised as an expense in the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income with a corresponding increase in equity reserves – ‘other reserves’.  

On exercise or cancellation of share options and warrants, the proportion of the share based payment reserve relevant to those options 
and warrants is transferred from other reserves to the accumulated deficit. On exercise, equity is also increased by the amount of the 
proceeds received.  

The fair value is measured at grant date charged in the accounting period during which the option and warrants becomes unconditional.  

The fair value of options and warrants are calculated using the Black-Scholes model, taking into account the terms and conditions upon 
which the options and warrants were granted. Vesting conditions are non-market and there are no market vesting conditions. These vesting 
conditions are included in the assumptions about the number of options and warrants that are expected to vest. At the end of each reporting 
period, the Company revises its estimate of the number of options and warrants that are expected to vest. The exercise price is fixed at 
the date of grant and no compensation is due at the date of grant. Where equity instruments are granted to persons other than employees, 
the statement of comprehensive income is charged with the fair value of the goods and services received.  

2.    Critical accounting judgments, estimates and assumptions 

The Group makes estimates and assumptions regarding the future. Estimates and judgements are continuously evaluated based on 
historical experiences and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. 
In the future, actual experience may deviate from these estimates and assumptions. The key assumptions concerning the future and other 
key sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying 
amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year, are described below. 

Recoverable value of Development & Production assets – judgement, estimates and assumptions 

Costs capitalised in respect of the Group’s development and production assets are required to be assessed for impairment under the 
provisions of IAS 36. Such an estimate requires the Group to exercise judgement in respect of the indicators of impairment and also in 
respect of inputs used in the models which are used to support the carrying value of the assets. Such inputs include estimates of oil and 
gas reserves, production profiles, oil price, oil quality discount, capital expenditure, inflation rates, and pre-tax discount rates that reflect 
current market assessments of (a) the time value of money; and (b) the risks specific to the asset for which the future cash flow estimates 
have not been adjusted. The directors concluded that there was an impairment of $172,000 on the carrying value of the development and 
production assets at Satskhenisi oilfield. 

Block Energy PLC

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57

Asset Decommissioning Provisions – estimates and assumptions 

The Group’s activities are subject to various laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment. The Group recognises 
management’s best estimate of the asset decommissioning costs in the period in which they are incurred. Such estimates of costs include 
pre-tax discount rates that reflect current market assessments of (a) the time value of money; and (b) the risks specific to the asset for 
which  the  future  cash  flow  estimates  have  not  been  adjusted.  Actual  costs  incurred  in  future  periods  could  differ  materially  from 
the estimates.  

Additionally, future changes to environmental laws and regulations, life of development and production assets, estimates and discount 
rates could affect the carrying amount of this provision. The Board assessed the extent of decommissioning required as at 31 December 
2020 and concluded that a provision of $1,641,000 (2019: $276,000) should be recognised in respect of future decommissioning obligations 
at Rustaveli, West Rustavi, Satskhenisi and Norio (refer note 16). 

Share Options – estimates and assumptions 

Share options issued by the Group relates to the Block Energy Plc Share Option Plan. The grant date fair value of such options is calculated 
using a Black-Scholes model whose input assumptions are derived from market and other internal estimates.  

The key estimates include volatility rates and the expected life of the options, together with the likelihood of non-market performance 
conditions being achieved. Refer note 25. 

Accounting for business combinations and fair value – estimates and assumptions  

Business combinations are accounted for at fair value. The assessment of fair value is subjective and depends on a number of assumptions. 
These assumptions include assessment of discount rates, and the amount and timing of expected future cash flows from assets and 
liabilities. In addition, the selection of specific valuation methods for individual assets and liabilities requires judgment. The specific valuation 
methods applied will be driven by the nature of the asset or liability being assessed. The consideration given to a seller for the purchase 
of a business or a company is accounted for at its fair value. When the consideration given includes elements that are not cash, such as 
shares or options to acquire shares, the fair value of the consideration given is calculated by reference to the specific nature of the 
consideration given to the seller. See note 12. 

3.    Segmental disclosures 

IFRS 8 requires segmental information for the Group on the basis of information reported to the chief operating decision maker for decision 
making purposes. The Company considers this role as being performed by the Board of Directors. The Group’s operations are focused on 
oil and gas development and production activities (Oil Extraction segment) in Georgia and has a corporate head office in the UK (Corporate 
segment). Based on risks and returns the directors consider that there are two operating segments that they use to assess the Group’s 
performance and allocate resources being the Oil Extraction in Georgia, and the Corporate segment including unallocated costs.  

The segmental results are as follows: 

                                                                                                           Oil                                   Corporate                                         Group  
                                                                                                Extraction                                    and other                                            Total 
Year ended 31 December 2020                                                    $’000                                          $’000                                          $’000  

Revenue                                                                                         1,255                                                 –                                          1,255 

Cost of sales                                                                                 (2,203)                                                –                                         (2,203) 

Depreciation and depletion                                                              (768)                                             (13)                                           (781) 

Administrative costs                                                                         (807)                                        (3,129)                                        (3,936) 

Other income                                                                                     100                                                 –                                             100 

Net Finance costs and income                                                            29                                               24                                               53 

Loss from operating activities                                                   (2,394)                                        (3,118)                                        (5,512) 

Total non-current assets                                                               21,304                                                 8                                        21,311 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
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58

                                                                                                           Oil                                   Corporate                                         Group  
                                                                                                Extraction                                    and other                                            Total 
18 month period ended 31 December 2019                                $’000                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Revenue                                                                                            314                                                 –                                             314 

Cost of sales                                                                                    (633)                                                –                                            (633) 

Depreciation and depletion                                                              (571)                                               (3)                                           (574) 

Administrative costs                                                                      (1,049)                                        (3,596)                                        (4,645) 

Net Finance costs, income and forex                                                    –                                            (592)                                           (592) 

Loss from operating activities                                                   (1,939)                                        (4,191)                                        (6,130) 

Total non-current assets                                                               12,702                                               11                                        12,713 

                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
Segmental Assets                                                                                                                            $’000                                          $’000 

Oil exploration – Georgia                                                                                                                 26,483                                        15,991 

Corporate and other                                                                                                                          7,529                                          6,038 

                                                                                                                                                        34,012                                        22,029 

                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
Segmental Liabilities                                                                                                                       $’000                                          $’000 

Oil exploration – Georgia                                                                                                                   3,239                                          1,157 

Corporate and other                                                                                                                          1,079                                             262 

                                                                                                                                                          4,318                                          1,419 

4.    Revenue 

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Crude oil revenue                                                                                                                              1,255                                             314 

                                                                                                                                                          1,255                                             314  

Block Rustaveli Limited contributed $308,000 of new crude sales to the group since acquisition on 23 November 2020.  

The first crude oil sale from the West Rustavi oil field was made in November 2019. 

5.    Depreciation and Depletion on Oil and Gas assets 

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Depreciation of PP&E                                                                                                                           109                                               52 

Depletion of oil and gas assets                                                                                                            672                                             522 

                                                                                                                                                             781                                             574 

Block Energy PLC

 
 
 
 
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59

6.    Expenses by nature 

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Employee benefit expense                                                                                                                1,559                                          2,132 

Share option charge                                                                                                                             460                                             660 

Warrants charge                                                                                                                                   181                                             202 

Fees to Auditor in respect of the Group audit                                                                                         94                                               38 

Fees to Auditor in respect of the Company audit                                                                                   94                                               38 

Fees to Auditor for other non-audit services                                                                                           39                                                 – 

Regulatory fees                                                                                                                                      38                                               81 

Operating lease expense                                                                                                                       57                                               54 

7.    Directors and employees 

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Employment costs (inc. directors’ remuneration): 

Wages and salaries                                                                                                                           2,149                                          2,341 

Pensions                                                                                                                                               147                                             251 

Share based payments                                                                                                                        641                                             862 

Social security costs                                                                                                                               48                                             108 

                                                                                                                                                          2,985                                          3,562 

The share based payments comprised the fair value of options granted to directors and employees in respect of services provided. 

Wages and salaries include amounts that are recharged between subsidiaries. Some of these costs are then capitalised as development 
and production assets and others are administration expenses. 

The average monthly number of employees during 2020 was 102 (2019: 37) split as follows: 

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Management                                                                                                                                            5                                                 7 

Technical                                                                                                                                                77                                               17 

Administration                                                                                                                                         20                                               13 

                                                                                                                                                             102                                               37 

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Amounts attributable to the highest paid director: 

Director’s salary and bonus                                                                                                                  350                                             399 

Pension                                                                                                                                                  25                                               31 

Share based payments                                                                                                                          67                                                 – 

                                                                                                                                                             442                                             430 

Key management and personnel are considered to be the directors.  

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
 
 
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60

8.    Finance Income 

                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Settlement of loan                                                                                                                                    –                                               32 

Other finance income                                                                                                                             14                                               37 

                                                                                                                                                               14                                               69 

During the prior period, the Company reached a settlement agreement on the loan for $59,000, whereby it was agreed to settle the loan 
for an amount of £20,000 ($27,000), through the issue of 500,000 at £0.04p, resulting in a gain on settlement of loan of £24,550 ($32,000) 
being recorded in finance income. 

9.    Other income 

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Sale of materials                                                                                                                                   100                                                 – 

                                                                                                                                                             100                                                 – 

During the period, materials to be used in the construction of the gas pipeline from the Early Production Facility at West Rustavi were sold 
for $100,000 (2019: $nil). 

10.  Taxation 

Based on the results for the period, there is no charge to UK or foreign tax. This is reconciled to the accounting loss as follows: 

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
UK taxation                                                                                                                                       $’000                                          $’000 

UK Loss on ordinary activities                                                                                                          (5,512)                                        (6,034) 

Loss before taxation at the average UK standard rate  

of 19% (2019:19%)                                                                                                                          (1,047)                                        (1,146) 

Effect of:                                                                                                   

Zero tax rate income                                                                                                                           (257)                                             (60) 

Tax losses for which no deferred income tax asset was recognised                                                 1,304                                          1,206 

Current tax                                                                                                                                                –                                                 – 

The Group offsets deferred tax assets and liabilities if, and only if, it has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and current 
tax liabilities and the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities related to corporation taxes levied by the same tax authority. Due to 
the tax rates applicable in the jurisdictions of the Group’s subsidiary entities (being 0%) no deferred tax liabilities or assets are considered 
to arise.  

For any other jurisdictions which the Group has not recognised deferred income tax assets for tax losses carried forward for entities in 
which it is not considered probable that there will be sufficient future taxable profits available for offset. Unrecognised deferred income tax 
assets related to unused tax losses. The Company has UK corporation tax losses available to carry forward against future profits of 
approximately $13,808,000 (2019: $8,296,000). 

Block Energy PLC

 
 
 
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61

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
Unrecognised gross deferred tax position                                                                                   $’000                                          $’000  

Tax losses bought forward                                                                                                                 8,296                                          2,262 

Timing differences bought forward                                                                                                           –                                                 – 

Total unrecognised gross deferred tax position at start of year/period                                              8,296                                          2,262 

Tax losses not recognised in the year/period                                                                                    5,512                                          6,034 

Movement in timing differences                                                                                                                –                                                 – 

Tax losses carried forward                                                                                                               13,808                                          8,296 

Timing differences carried forward                                                                                                           –                                                 – 

Total unrecognised gross deferred tax position at start of year/period                                            13,808                                          8,296 

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 
Unrecognised deferred tax asset                                                                                                   $’000                                          $’000  

Tax losses                                                                                                                                          1,304                                          1,206 

Timing differences                                                                                                                                    –                                                 – 

Total unrecognised deferred asset                                                                                                    1,304                                          1,206 

11.  Loss per share 

The calculation for earnings per Ordinary Share (basic and diluted) is based on the consolidated loss attributable to the equity shareholders 
of the Company is as follows: 

                                                                                                                                                Year ended            18 months period ended  
                                                                                                                                    31 December 2020                     31 December 2019 

Loss attributable to equity Shareholders ($’000)                                                                            (5,512)                                        (6,130) 

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares                                                                      419,300,390                               312,998,744 

Loss per Ordinary share ($/cents)                                                                                                   (1.31)c                                        (1.96)c 

Earnings and diluted loss per Ordinary Share are calculated using the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the 
period. Diluted share loss per share has not been calculated as the options and warrants have no dilutive effect given the loss arising in 
the year/period.  

12.  Acquisition of Subsidiaries and associated PSC interests 

Acquisition of Block Rustaveli Limited (“BRL”) 

On 23 November 2020, the Company acquired 100% of the share capital of Schlumberger Rustaveli Company Limited (“SRCL”). The 
completion of the acquisition means the Company now holds licences for Georgian onshore blocks IX and XIB. The Company changed the 
name of the acquired company to Block Rustaveli Limited on 9 December 2020. The principal activity is oil and gas extraction and it was 
acquired for the purposes of expanding the Company’s production and development business in Georgia.  

On acquisition, the Company issued Schlumberger one US dollar and an option to acquire 120 million 0.25p Ordinary Shares in Block 
Energy Plc, at a nil exercise price, representing 16% of Block’s enlarged ordinary share capital (at 31 December 2020). The Options are 
exercisable between 12 and 24 months from 23 November 2020.  

The fair value of the 120 million share options issued was based on the published closing price of the Ordinary Shares in Block Energy 
Plc on 23 November 2020 of 4.45p per share. Following the acquisition, the finalisation of the completion statement led to a payment by 
Schlumberger of $278,190 to Block Energy Plc, which has been recognised as a reduction in the fair value of the consideration paid by 
Block Energy Plc for this acquisition, because the payment was a contractual working capital adjustment to compensate Block Energy Plc 
for liabilities that were deemed to be for the seller’s account. 

Under IFRS 3, a business must have three elements: inputs, processes and outputs. BRL has these three elements and, therefore, this 
transaction has been accounted for as a business combination.  

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
 
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62

The amounts recognised in respect of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed of the business combination are as set out 
in the table below: 

                                                                                        Net book value                          Provisional Fair                 Provisional Fair value  
                                                                                   of assets acquired                      value adjustments                      of assets acquired 
                                                                                                       $’000                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Development and production assets                                                     –                                          6,258                                          6,258 

Exploration and evaluation assets                                                  6,593                                         (6,593)                                                – 

PP&E                                                                                                 506                                                                                                506 

Oil inventory                                                                                      867                                             147                                          1,014 

Inventory and spare parts                                                               1,535                                                 –                                          1,535 

Financial liabilities                                                                            (275)                                                –                                            (275) 

Provision for baseline oil liability                                                            –                                            (655)                                           (655) 

Provision for decommissioning costs                                            (1,562)                                                –                                         (1,562) 

Total identifiable assets acquired  
and liabilities assumed                                                                7,664                                            (843)                                         6,821 

Provisional Fair Value of Consideration Paid:                                                                                                                                 $’000 

Share options issued at nil cost                                                                                                                                                            7,099 

Less cash received from seller to adjust consideration                                                                                                                          (278) 

Total consideration                                                                                                                                                                            6,821 

Provisional goodwill on acquisition                                                                                                                                                        – 

Analysis of cash flows on acquisition                                                                                                                                              $’000 

Payment on acquisition of subsidiary                                                                                                                                                          – 

Net cash acquired on acquisition                                                                                                                                                                – 

Net cash inflow of acquisition                                                                                                                                                                  – 

Since the acquisition of BRL on 23 November 2020, BRL has contributed $308,000 and $183,000 in the current year to the Group revenue 
and loss respectively. If the acquisition had occurred on 1 January 2020, consolidated pro-forma revenue and loss for the year ended 
31 December 2020 would have been $483,000 and $7,534,000 respectively. 

All of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed were fair valued. PP&E and spare parts inventory were fair valued based on 
the items’ condition and application of an industry accepted discount to the original cost. The oil inventory was fair valued by management 
based on the net realisable value at the acquisition date. Given the subjectivity in valuing undeveloped reserves and unevaluated acreage, 
a market approach was used to fair value the development and production assets, whereby the seller marketed the business for sale and 
the acquisition price paid was deemed to be the fair value of the sum of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Therefore, 
the fair value of the development and production assets was calculated as the difference between the acquisition price paid and the fair 
value of the other identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. For the purposes of the current period of reporting, the fair values 
related to the transaction accounting are considered provisional, as permitted under the requirements of the accounting standards. These 
fair values will be finalised within a period of twelve months from the acquisition date. 

Acquisition of interest in the West Rustavi PSC 

At 30 June 2018, the total Group interest in the West Rustavi PSC was 25%. 

During the 18 months period ended 31 December 2019, Block Energy Plc, through Georgia New Ventures Inc. (“GNV”), increased its 
working interest in the West Rustavi PSC from 25% to 100% through a three staged settlement, as follows: 

•       Stage 1: Increase from 25% to 71.5% working interest by acquiring an additional 46.5% working interest for the consideration of 

$250,000 cash and $500,000 in shares –completed on 13 March 2019. 

•       Stage 2: increase from 71.5% to 90% working interest by acquiring an additional 18.5% working interest for the consideration of 

$250,000 in cash –completed on 12 July 2019. 

•       Stage 3: increase from 90% to 100% working interest by acquiring an additional 10% working interest for the consideration of $500,000 

in shares –completed on 19 July 2019. 

The increases in working interest on this transaction have been treated as asset acquisitions and recorded at cost.  

Block Energy PLC

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63

13.  Intangible assets 

                                                                                                                                          Exploration and  
                                                                                                  Licences                           Evaluation cost                                            Total 
Cost                                                                                                $’000                                          $’000                                          $’000 

At 1 July 2018                                                                                 1,894                                                 –                                          1,894 

Additions during the period                                                                250                                               14                                             264 

Transfer to property, plant and equipment                                    (2,144)                                             (14)                                        (2,158) 

At 31 December 2019                                                                           –                                                 –                                                 – 

At 31 December 2020                                                                          –                                                 –                                                 – 

The additions in the prior period are a result of the West Rustavi PSC increase from 25% to 100%. The transfer to PP&E in the prior period 
relates to the West Rustavi ($1,887,000) and Satskhenisi PSC ($257,000). 

14.  Property, Plant and Equipment 

                                                                                                      Development/                            Computer/ 
                                                                    Licence                            Production                Office Equipment/                                              
                                                                         area                                  Assets                     Motor Vehicles                                     Total 
Cost                                                                $’000                                    $’000                                    $’000                                    $’000 

At 1 July 2018                                                 1,641                                       208                                           –                                    1,849 

Transfer from intangibles                                2,158                                           –                                           –                                    2,158 

Additions                                                         1,186                                    8,011                                       129                                    9,326 

At 31 December 2019                                    4,985                                    8,219                                       129                                  13,333 

Additions                                                         2,207                                       565                                       210                                    2,982 

Additions through acquisition                                                                      6,258                                       506                                    6,764 

Disposals                                                            (69)                                      (69)                                      (54)                                    (192) 

Foreign exchange movements                              –                                           –                                        (14)                                      (14) 

At 31 December 2020                                   7,123                                  14,973                                       777                                  22,873 

Accumulated Depreciation 

At 1 July 2018                                                      18                                         28                                           –                                         46 

Charge for the period                                            –                                       567                                           7                                       574 

At 31 December 2019                                         18                                       595                                           7                                       620 

Disposals                                                               –                                           –                                        (11)                                       (11) 

Charge for the year/period                                607                                         65                                       109                                       781 

Impairment charge                                            172                                           –                                           –                                       172 

At 31 December 2020                                      779                                       660                                       105                                    1,562 

Carrying Amount 

At 31 December 2019                                    4,967                                    7,624                                       122                                  12,713 

At 31 December 2020                                   6,326                                  14,313                                       672                                  21,311 

Carrying amount of property plant and equipment by cash generative unit: 

                                                                              Norio      Satsk henisi     West Rustavi           Rustaveli          Corporate                  Total 
Carrying amount                                                  $’000                $’000                 $’000                 $’000                 $’000                 $’000 

At 31 December 2020                                          2,298                   230               11,767                 6,866                    150               21,311 

At 31 December 2019                                           2,465                   435                 9,671                        –                    142               12,713 

At the end of the current year, the directors concluded there were no impairment indicators in the current period that warranted impairment 
testing to be prepared with respect to the carrying value of the assets of the Group.  

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
  
 
 
 
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64

15.  Inventory 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December  
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Spare parts and consumables                                                                                                           2,918                                          1,763 

Crude oil                                                                                                                                            1,196                                             756 

                                                                                                                                                          4,114                                          2,519 

Inventories recognised as an expense during the year amounted to $886,000 (2019: $756,000). 

16.  Provisions 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December  
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Decommissioning provision                                                                                                               1,917                                             276 

Baseline oil liability                                                                                                                               745                                                 – 

                                                                                                                                                          2,662                                             276 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December  
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

At 1 January                                                                                                                                         276                                                 – 

Decommissioning provision arising from the acquisition                                                                   1,562                                                 – 

Additional decommissioning provision in the year/period                                                                       79                                             276 

Baseline oil liability arising from the acquisition                                                                                   654                                                 – 

Additional baseline oil liability provided in the year                                                                                91                                                 – 

At 31 December                                                                                                                                2,662                                             276 

Decommissioning provisions are based on management estimates of work and the judgement of the directors. By its nature, the detailed 
scope of work required, and timing of such work is uncertain.  

The baseline oil liability arises from the acquisition of BRL during the year. Under the production sharing contract for Block XIB, BRL is 
obliged to deliver a certain quantity of oil to the State of Georgia in quarterly instalments by May 2022. As at 31 December 2020, BRL 
owed 2,534.5 tonnes of baseline oil with a present value of $745,000 to the State of Georgia. 

17.  Trade and other receivables 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December  
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Other receivables                                                                                                                              2,196                                             166 

Prepayments                                                                                                                                          60                                             137 

                                                                                                                                                          2,256                                             303 

As at 31 December 2020, other receivables includes proceeds receivable from the share issue on 30 December 2020 amounting to 
$1,314,000 and $278,000 receivable from Schlumberger following the Completion Statement and acquisition of BRL (see note 12).  

18.   Cash and cash equivalents 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December  
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                               6,331                                          6,494 

Cash and cash equivalents consist of balances in bank accounts used for normal operational activities. The vast majority of the cash was 
held in an institution with a Standard & Poor’s credit rating of A-1.

Block Energy PLC

 
 
 
 
 
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65

19.  Non-cash transactions 

See note 21 for all non-cash transactions. 

20.  Trade and Other Payables 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December  
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Trade and other payables                                                                                                                    989                                          1,066 

Accruals                                                                                                                                                667                                               77 

                                                                                                                                                          1,656                                          1,143 

Trade and other payables principally comprise amounts outstanding for corporate services and operational expenditure.  

21.  Share capital 

                                                                                           No. Ordinary                               No. Deferred                                      Nominal 
Called up, allotted, issued and fully paid                                      Shares                                        Shares                                       Value $ 

As at 1 July 2018                                                                 259,047,601                            2,095,165,355                                   2,192,028 

Issue of equity on 4 March 2019                                             1,846,791                                                 –                                          6,045 

Issue of equity on 13 March 2019                                           9,550,000                                                 –                                        31,654 

Issue of equity on 15 April 2019                                              1,837,500                                                 –                                          5,941 

Issue of equity on 1 May 2019                                                3,624,326                                                 –                                        11,783 

Issue of equity on 15 May 2019                                                 225,000                                                 –                                             715 

Issue of equity on 21 May 2019                                            42,820,000                                                 –                                      135,405 

Issue of equity on 23 May 2019                                              1,723,650                                                 –                                          5,434 

Issue of equity on 4 June 2019                                             66,270,000                                                 –                                      210,175 

Issue of equity on 15 June 2019                                             1,469,125                                                 –                                          4,672 

Issue of equity on 13 June 2019                                                650,674                                                 –                                          2,052 

Issue of equity on 5 July 2019                                                    375,000                                                 –                                          1,174 

Issue of equity on 15 July 2019                                               4,098,995                                                 –                                        12,858 

Issue of equity on 19 December 2019                                        900,000                                                 –                                          2,930 

As at 31 December 2019                                                     394,438,662                            2,095,165,355                                   2,622,866 

Issue of equity on 1 June 2020                                               1,654,824                                                 –                                          5,204 

Issue of equity on 10 June 2020                                           39,609,348                                                 –                                      126,134 

Issue of equity on 1 July 2020                                                    188,435                                                 –                                             588 

Issue of equity on 1 August 2020                                               407,374                                                 –                                          1,333 

Issue of equity on 1 September 2020                                         544,400                                                 –                                          1,814 

Issue of equity on 1 October 2020                                             724,433                                                 –                                          2,343 

Issue of equity on 2 November 2020                                          450,541                                                 –                                          1,456 

Issue of equity on 1 December 2020                                          524,076                                                 –                                          1,754 

Issue of equity on 31 December 2020                                 176,000,000                                                 –                                      589,017 

As at 31 December 2020                                                   614,542,093                            2,095,165,355                                   3,352,509 

On 2 June 2020, the Company issued 1,654,824 Ordinary Shares, details of which are set out below: 

150,731 Ordinary Shares have been allotted to Philip Dimmock, Chairman, at an average price of 3.98p in settlement of fees amounting 
to £6,000 due to him and 100,486 Ordinary Shares have been allotted to Chris Brown, Non-Executive Director, at an average price of 
3.98p in settlement of fees of £4,000 due to him.  

1,124,058 Ordinary Shares have been allotted to two consultants to the Company as settlement for services provided on the Georgian 
operations during the period from February 2019 to March 2020 with a total value of £57,229. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
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66

75,000 Ordinary Shares have been allotted to Timothy Parson, former Non-Executive Director of the Company, as settlement for services 
provided on the Georgian operations during 2017 with a total value of £3,000. 

204,549 Ordinary Shares have been allotted to an adviser to the Company in lieu of cash settlement for services provided to the Company 
during the two months period from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2020 with a total value of £3,433. 

On 10 June 2020, the Company issued 39,609,348 new Ordinary Shares at their nominal value to the EBT. 

On 1 July 2020, the Company issued 188,435 Ordinary Shares to two service providers in lieu of cash settlement for series provided to 
the Company with a total value £4,417 ($5,513).  

On 3 August 2020, the Company issued 407,374 Ordinary Shares of 0.25p each to three service providers in lieu of cash settlement for 
services provided to the Company with a total value of £10,000 ($13,088). 

On 2 September 2020, the Company issued 544,400 Ordinary Shares 0.25p each to three service providers in lieu of cash settlement for 
services provided to the Company with a total value of £13,184 ($17,574). 

On 2 October 2020, the Company issued 724,433 Ordinary Shares 0.25p each to four service providers in lieu of cash settlement for 
services provided to the Company with a total value of £19,212 ($24,853). 

On 2 November 2020, the Company issued 450,451 Ordinary Shares 0.25p each to four service providers in lieu of cash settlement for 
services provided to the Company with a total value of £11,268 ($14,565). 

On 2 December 2020, the Company issued 524,076 Ordinary Shares 0.25p each to seven service providers in lieu of cash settlement for 
services provided to the Company with a total value of £15,819 ($21,177). 

On 30 December 2020, the Company raised gross proceeds of £5,280,000 ($7,068,287) through the placing of 176,000,000 Ordinary 
Shares at 3p per share. 

The Ordinary Shares consist of full voting, dividend and capital distribution rights and they do not confer any rights for redemption. The 
Deferred Shares have no entitlement to receive dividends or to participate in any way in the income or profits of the Company, nor is there 
entitlement to receive notice of, speak at, or vote at any general meeting or annual general meeting. 

22.  Share premium account 

                                                                                                                                                                                                             $’000 

Balance at 1 January 2020                                                                                                                                                                27,985 

Premium arising on issue of equity shares                                                                                                                                           6,654 

Share issue costs                                                                                                                                                                                   (405) 

Balance at 31 December 2020                                                                                                                                                         34,234 

                                                                                                                                                                                                             $’000 

Balance at 1 July 2018                                                                                                                                                                       12,221 

Premium arising on issue of equity shares                                                                                                                                         16,655 

Share issue costs                                                                                                                                                                                   (891) 

Balance at 31 December 2019                                                                                                                                                          27,985 

23.  Reserves 

The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within owners’ equity. 

Reserves                                                 Description and purpose 
Share Capital                                          Amount subscribed for share capital at nominal value. 

Share premium account                          Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value, less attributable costs. 

Other reserves                                        The other reserves comprises the fair value of all share options and warrants which have been 

charged over the vesting period, net of the amount relating to share options which have expired, 
been cancelled and have vested. It also comprises of the fair value of the share options issued 
as part of the consideration paid for the acquisition of the subsidiary BRL and the movement 
has been shown in the Consolidated Statement of the Changes in Equity. 

Foreign exchange reserve                      Exchange differences on translating the net assets of foreign operations 

Accumulated deficit                                 Cumulative net gains and losses recognised in the income statement and in respect of foreign 

exchange.  

Block Energy PLC

 
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67

24.  Warrants 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December 
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                    Weighted                                    Weighted 
                                                                                                                        Number of             average         Number of             average 
                                                                                                                           Warrants   exercise price           Warrants   exercise price 

Outstanding at the beginning of the period                                                       8,070,335                    10p        11,142,115                      6p 

Additions                                                                                                           8,750,167                      3p          6,011,308                    11p 

Exercised                                                                                                                        –                        –        (7,612,500)                    4p 

Lapsed                                                                                                                            –                        –        (1,470,588)                  15p 

Outstanding at the end of the period                                                              16,820,502                      6p          8,070,335                    10p 

As at 31 December 2020, all warrants were available to exercise and were exercisable at prices between 3p and 11p (31 December 2019: 
4p and 11p). The weighted average life of the warrants is 3.6 years (31 December 2019: 3.2 years). The additions during the period 
represent warrants issued with 5 year terms (2019: 3 years). The fair value of additions during the period was $376,000 (2019: $500,000). 

25.  Share based payments  

During the year, the Group operated a Block Energy Plc Share Option Plan (Share Option Scheme).  

Under IFRS 2, an expense is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income for share based payments, to recognise their fair 
value at the date of grant. The application of IFRS 2 gave rise to a charge of $641,000 for the year ended 31 December 2020. The equivalent 
charge for the 18 months period ended 31 December 2019 was $862,000.  

The Group recognised total expenses (all of which related to equity settled share-based payment transactions) under the current plans of: 

                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Share option scheme                                                                                                                           460                                             660 

Warrants charge                                                                                                                                   181                                             202 

                                                                                                                                                             641                                             862 

Share Option Scheme 

The Option Plan provides for an exercise price equal to or higher than the closing market price of the Group shares on the date of the 
grant. The vesting period varies between 66 days to 3 years. The options expire if they remain unexercised after the exercise period has 
lapsed and have been valued using the Black Scholes model. 

The following table sets out details of all outstanding options granted under the Share Option Scheme.  

                                                                                                                                 2020                  2020                  2019                  2019 
                                                                                                                                                    Weighted                                    Weighted  
                                                                                                                                                      average                                      average 
                                                                                                                             Options   exercise price             Options   exercise price  

Outstanding at beginning of year/period                                                         27,437,856                 $0.07        23,698,332                 $0.05 

Granted during the year                                                                                    9,230,112                 $0.00          6,325,000                 $0.15 

Exercised during the year                                                                                (1,997,622)               $0.03        (1,723,650)               $0.05 

Expired during the year                                                                                   (3,331,633)               $0.06           (861,826)               $0.05 

Outstanding at the end of the year/period                                                 31,338,713                 $0.01        27,437,856                 $0.07 

Exercisable at the end of the year/period                                                       30,040,857                 $0.01        12,494,603                 $0.04 

The weighted average exercise price of the share options exercisable at 31 December 2020 is $0.01 (31 December 2019: $0.04). The weighted 
average contractual life of the share based payments outstanding at 31 December 2020 is 3.6 years (31 December 2019: 8.5 years).  

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
 
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68

The estimated fair values of options which fall under IFRS 2, and the inputs used in the Black-Scholes model to calculate those fair values 
are as follows: 

                                        Number       Estimated             Share         Exercise        Expected        Expected                Risk        Expected 
Date of grant                 of options        fair value               price               price          volatility                  life          free rate        dividends 

30 June 2017                1,200,000              $0.04              $0.01              $0.03                84%        5.5 years             1.16%                  0% 

6 April 2018                   4,400,000              $0.05              $0.04              $0.03                84%         10 years             1.34%                  0% 

11 June 2018              18,098,332              $0.04              $0.05              $0.05                84%         10 years             1.23%                  0% 

21 October 2019           6,325,000              $0.05              $0.06              $0.15              109%        9.0 years             0.63%                  0% 

All share based payment charges are calculated using the fair value of options. 

For the options granted prior to 30 June 2018, expected volatility was determined by reviewing benchmark values from comparator 
companies. For the options granted after 30 June 2018, expected volatility was determined by reference to the volatility of historic trading 
prices of the Company’s shares. 

26.  Borrowings 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December  
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Short term loans – unsecured                                                                                                                  –                                                 – 

                                                                                                                                                                 –                                                 – 

All loans are denominated in pounds sterling and presented in US dollars.  

As at 1 July 2018 there was a current loan balance of $59,000. The interest was payable annually at the rate of 20%. During the prior 
period, the Company reached a settlement agreement on the loan for an amount of £20,000 ($27,000), through the issue of 500,000 at 
£0.04p, resulting in a gain on settlement of loan of £24,550 ($32,000) being recorded in finance income. 

Movement in borrowings is analysed as follows:  

                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

At beginning of year/period                                                                                                                      –                                               59 

Settlement of loan through issue of shares                                                                                              –                                              (27) 

Gain on settlement of loan recorded through SOCI                                                                                 –                                              (32) 

At end of year/period                                                                                                                             –                                                 – 

27.  Financial instruments  

Capital Risk Management 

The Company manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising the 
return to stakeholders. The overall strategy of the Company and the Group is to minimise costs and liquidity risk.  

The capital structure of the Group consists of equity attributable to equity holders of the parent, comprising issued share capital, foreign 
exchange and other reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Changes of Equity. 

The Group is exposed to a number of risks through its normal operations, the most significant of which are interest, credit, foreign exchange 
and liquidity risks. The management of these risks is vested to the Board of Directors. 

The sensitivity has been prepared assuming the liability outstanding was outstanding for the whole period. In all cases presented, a negative 
number in profit and loss represents an increase in finance expense / decrease in interest income.  

Block Energy PLC

 
 
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Notes forming part of the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

69

Fair Value Measurements Recognised in the Statement of Financial Position 

The following provides an analysis of the Group’s financial instruments that are measured subsequent to initial recognition at fair value, 
grouped into Levels 1 & 2 based on the degree to which the fair value is observable.  

–      Level 1 fair value measurements are those derived from inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, 

either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices).  

–      Level 2 fair value measurements are those derived from valuation techniques that include inputs for the asset or liability that are not 

based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).  

–      Level 3 assets are assets whose fair value cannot be determined by using observable inputs or measures, such as market prices or 
models. Level 3 assets are typically very illiquid, and fair values can only be calculated using estimates or risk-adjusted value ranges. 

Credit risk 

Credit risk is the risk that the Group will suffer a financial loss as a result of another party failing to discharge an obligation and arises from 
cash and other liquid investments deposited with banks and financial institutions and receivables from the sale of crude oil. 

For deposits lodged at banks and financial institutions these are all held through a recognised financial institution. The maximum exposure 
to credit risk is $6,331,000 (2019: $6,494,000). The Group does not hold any collateral as security. 

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and financial assets represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk at year 
end. The Group has no material financial assets that are past due. 

The Company has made unsecured interest-free loans to its subsidiary companies. Although the loans are repayable on demand, they 
are unlikely to be repaid until the projects become successful and the subsidiaries start to generate revenues. An assessment of the 
expected credit loss arising on intercompany loans is detailed in note 6 to the parent Company financial statements. 

Market risk 

Market risk arises from the Group’s use of interest bearing and foreign currency financial instruments. It is the risk that future cash flows 
of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in interest rates (interest rate risk), and foreign exchange rates (currency risk). 

There are no variable interest bearing loans in the Group. No risk therefore identified. 

Currency risk 

Foreign currency risk can only arise on financial instruments that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency in which 
they are measured. Translation-related risks are therefore not included in the assessment of the entity’s exposure to currency risks. 
Translation exposures arise from financial and non-financial items held by an entity (for example, a subsidiary) with a functional currency 
different from the group’s presentation currency. However, foreign currency-denominated inter-company receivables and payables which 
do not form part of a net investment in a foreign operation would be included in the sensitivity analysis for foreign currency risks; this is 
because, even though the balances eliminate in the consolidated balance sheet, the effect on profit or loss of their revaluation under IAS 
21 is not fully eliminated. 

A 10% increase in the strength of the pound sterling against the US dollar would cause an estimated increase of $628,577 (2019: $140,000 
increase) in the profit after tax of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2020, with a 10% weakening causing an equal and opposite 
decrease. The impact on equity is the same as the impact on profit after tax. 

The Group’s cash and cash equivalents and liquid investments are mainly held in US dollars, pounds sterling and Georgian Lari. At 
31 December 2020, 90% of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents and liquid investments were held in pounds sterling. 9% in Georgian 
Lari and the remainder in US dollars, Euros and Canadian dollars (31 December 2019: 76% in US dollars). 

Liquidity risk 

Liquidity risk arises from the possibility that the Group and its subsidiaries might encounter difficulty in settling its debts or otherwise meeting 
its obligations related to financial liabilities. In addition to equity funding, additional borrowings have been secured in the past to finance 
operations. The Company manages this risk by monitoring its financial resources and carefully plans its expenditure programmes. Financial 
liabilities of the Group comprise trade payables which mature in less than twelve months. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

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Notes forming part of the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

70

28.  Categories of financial instruments 

In terms of financial instruments, these solely comprise of those measured at amortised cost and are as follows: 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December  
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Liabilities at amortised cost                                                                                                               1,656                                          1,143 

                                                                                                                                                          1,656                                          1,143 

Cash and cash equivalents at amortised cost                                                                                   6,331                                          6,494 

Financial assets at amortised cost                                                                                                    2,196                                             166 

                                                                                                                                                          8,527                                          6,660 

No collateral has been pledged in relation thereto. 

29.  Subsidiaries 

At 31 December 2020, the Group consists of the following subsidiaries, which are wholly owned by the Company. 

                                                                                                                          Proportion of voting rights          Proportion of voting rights  
                                                                                                                                     and equity interest                      and equity interest 
Company                                                          Country of Incorporation                                           2020                                           2019 

Block Norioskhevi Ltd                                             British Virgin Islands                                          100%                                          100% 

Satskhenisi Ltd                                                              Marshall Islands                                          100%                                          100% 

Georgia New Ventures Inc.                                                      Bahamas                                          100%                                          100% 

Block Operating Company LLC                                                  Georgia                                          100%                                          100% 

Block Rustaveli Limited*                                         British Virgin Islands                                          100%                                                 – 

Ensign Resources Limited**                                                  Isle of Man                                                 –                                          100% 

* The company was acquired on 23 November 2020.  

** The company was liquidated during the year. 

Subsidiaries – Nature of business  

The principal activity of Georgia New Ventures Inc, Satskhenisi Ltd, Block Norioskhevi Ltd and Block Rustaveli Limited is oil and gas 
development and production. 

The principal activity of Block Operating Company LLC is to be the operator of the oil and gas licenses held in Georgia. 

Ensign Resources is dormant, but held the Antubia Ltd company and associated Ghanaian mining asset until February 2018. 

Registered Office 

The registered office of Georgia New Ventures Inc. is Bolam House, King and George Streets, P.O. Box CB 11.343, Nassau, Bahamas.  

The registered office of Satskhenisi Ltd is Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960. 

The registered office of Block Norioskhevi Ltd is Trident chambers, P.O.Box 146, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. 

The registered office of Block Operating Company LLC is 13A Tamarashvili Street, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia. 

The registered office of Block Rustaveli Limited is Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. 

The registered office of Ensign Resources Limited is Falcon Cliff, Palace Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 4LB. 

Block Energy PLC

 
 
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Notes forming part of the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

71

30.  Commitments 

Commitments at the reporting date that have not been provided for were as follows; 

Operating lease commitment 

UK operating lease commitment  
At 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2019, the total of future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases for 
each of the following periods was: 

                                                                                                                                             31 December                              31 December  
                                                                                                                                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Within 1 year                                                                                                                                                                                             37 

Between 1 and 5 years                                                                                                                             –                                                 – 

Total                                                                                                                                                                                                           37 

31.  Related party transactions 

Key management personnel comprises of the directors and details of their remuneration are set out in Note 7 and the Remuneration 
Report.  

On 1 June 2020, 75,000 Ordinary Shares were issued to Timothy Parson, former Non-Executive Director of the Company, as settlement 
for services provided on the Georgian operations during 2017 with a total value of £3,000 ($4,000). 

In the prior year, on 5 June 2019, the Company issued 1,091,291 Ordinary Shares as payment of deferred consideration per the Taoudeni 
Resources Limited share purchase agreement (details of which were set out in the Company’s AIM Admission Document dated 4 June 
2018). 977,383 of these Ordinary Shares were allotted to Plutus Strategies Limited, a company in which Paul Haywood, Chief Executive, 
and Niall Tomlinson, former Executive Director, have an interest. The agreement to issue these shares was completed on 3 March 2016 
at a time when the Company’s share price (adjusted for subsequent share consolidations) was 15p. 

As a result of the issues on 5 June 2019 of 163,418 Ordinary Shares to Philip Dimmock and 69,957 Ordinary Shares to Chris Brown, UK 
income tax and employee’s National Insurance contributions were payable. The Company paid these liabilities of $10,000 for Philip 
Dimmock and $3,000 for Chris Brown to the tax collector during September 2019 and this effectively formed a loan to the two directors. 
Both directors had repaid the loans in full by 31 December 2019. 

During the prior period, the Company registered as an employer in Canada and Canadian income tax and employee’s social security were 
payable. In December 2019, the Company paid these liabilities of $77,000 for Roger McMechan to the tax collector and this effectively 
formed a loan to the director. This loan was fully repaid to the Company on 3 June 2020 by offsetting it against the payment in lieu of 
notice payable pursuant to the termination of his employment.  

32.  Events occurring after year end 

On 15 February 2021, the Company commenced its first gas sales from its West Rustavi field. 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
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72

Parent Company Statement of Financial Position 

At 31 December 2020 

Company number: 05356303 

                                                                                                        Note                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Non-current assets 

Investments                                                                                           4                                          7,027                                                 1 

Property, plant and equipment                                                              5                                                 8                                               11 

                                                                                                                                                          7,035                                               12 

Current assets 

Trade and other receivables                                                                  6                                        22,816                                        16,888 

Cash and cash equivalents                                                                   7                                          5,657                                          5,865 

Total current assets                                                                                                                      28,473                                        22,753 

Total assets                                                                                                                                    35,508                                        22,765 

Capital and reserves attributable to equity shareholders 

Share capital                                                                                         9                                          3,336                                          2,623 

Share premium                                                                                                                                34,234                                        27,985 

Other reserves                                                                                                                                   9,121                                          1,115 

Foreign exchange reserve                                                                                                                    449                                             400 

Accumulated deficit                                                                                                                        (12,711)                                        (9,620) 

Total equity                                                                                                                                    34,429                                        22,503 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables                                                                   10                                          1,079                                             262 

Total current liabilities                                                                                                                    1,079                                             262 

Total equity and liabilities                                                                                                             35,508                                        22,765 

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 by choosing not to present its individual 
Statement of Comprehensive Income and related notes that form part of these approved financial statements. 

The Company’s loss for the period from continuing and discontinued operations is $3,091,000 (2019: loss of $4,008,000). 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 1 June 2021 and were signed on its 
behalf by:  

William McAvock                                     Paul Haywood 
Director                                                  Director 

The notes on pages 75 to 79 form part of these financial statements.

Block Energy PLC

 
 
 
 
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Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity 

At 31 December 2020

73

                                                                                                                                                                                Foreign  
                                                                             Share                Share     Accumulated                 Other           Currency                  Total 
                                                                            capital            premium                deficit            Reserve            Reserve                equity 
                                                                             $’000                 $’000                 $’000                 $’000                 $’000                 $’000 

Balance at 30 June 2018 – restated  
and unaudited                                                     2,192               12,221               (5,819)                  460                    (75)               8,979 

Comprehensive income                                                                                                                                                                                  

Loss for the 18 months period                                     –                        –               (4,008)                      –                        –               (4,008) 

Exchange differences on translation  
of foreign operations                                                    –                        –                        –                        –                    475                    475 

Total comprehensive income for  
the 18 months period                                                –                        –               (4,008)                      –                    475               (3,533) 

Transactions with owners  
recognised directly in equity 

Shares issued                                                          414               16,655                        –                        –                        –               17,069 

Cost of issue                                                                –                  (891)                      –                        –                        –                  (891) 

Share based payments                                                –                        –                    207                    655                        –                    862 

Total transactions with owners                                 414               15,764                    207                    655                        –               17,040 

Balance at 31 December 2019                           2,606               27,985               (9,620)                1,115                    400               22,486 

Comprehensive income                                                                                                                                                                                  

Loss for the year                                                          –                        –               (3,091)                      –                        –               (3,091) 

Exchange differences on translation  
of foreign operations                                                    –                        –                        –                        –                      49                      49 

Total comprehensive income for the year               –                        –               (3,091)                      –                      49               (3,042) 

Transactions with owners recognised  
directly in equity                                                                                                                                                                                              

Shares issued                                                          730                 6,654                        –                        –                        –                 7,384 

Cost of issue                                                                –                  (405)                      –                        –                        –                  (405) 

Share based payments                                                –                        –                        –                 8,006                        –                 8,006 

Total transactions with owners                                 730                 6,249                        –                 8,006                        –               14,985 

Balance at 31 December 2020                           3,336               34,234               12,711                 9,121                    449               34,429 

The notes on pages 75 to 79 form part of these financial statements.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
 
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74

Parent Company Statement of Cashflows 

for the year ended 31 December 2020

                                                                                                        Note                                           2020                                           2019 
                                                                                                                                                          $’000                                          $’000 

Cash flow from operating activities 

Loss for the period before income tax                                                                                              (3,091)                                        (4,008) 

Adjustments for: 

Depreciation                                                                                                                                             5                                                 – 

Finance income                                                                                                                                     (15)                                           (180) 

Finance expense                                                                                                                                      –                                                 3 

Share based payments expense                                                           2                                             725                                             862 

Foreign exchange movement                                                                                                                 29                                             549 

Operating cash flows before movements 
in working capital                                                                                                                           (2,347)                                        (2,774) 

(Increase) in trade and other receivables                                              6                                              (14)                                             (23) 

Increase in trade and other payables                                                  10                                             922                                               14 

Net cash used in operating activities                                                                                           (1,439)                                        (2,783) 

Cash flow from investing activities 

Finance income                                                                                                                                      15                                               37 

Expenditure in respect of property, plant and equipment                                                                        (1)                                             (14) 

Inter-Group amounts (drawn down)                                                                                                 (4,136)                                      (11,828) 

Net cash used in investing activities                                                                                           (4,122)                                      (11,805) 

Cash flow from financing activities 

Proceeds from issue of ordinary share capital                                                                                  5,737                                        16,086 

Costs related to issue of ordinary share capital                                                                                  (405)                                           (891) 

Net cash inflow from financing activities                                                                                      5,332                                        15,195 

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents  
in the year/period                                                                                                                              (229)                                            607 

Cash and cash equivalents at start of year/period                                                                      5,865                                          5,274 

Effects of foreign exchange                                                                                                                    21                                              (16) 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year/period                            7                                          5,657                                          5,865 

Significant non-cash transactions 

Please refer to note 8 in the Parent company notes for non-cash transactions. 

The notes on pages 75 to 79 form part of these financial statements.

Block Energy PLC

 
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Notes forming part of the Parent Company Financial 
Statements 

75

For the year ended 31 December 2020

1.    Accounting policies 

Basis of preparation 
These financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis and in line with International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRS) and IFRIC interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and in conformity with the Companies 
Act 2006. All accounting policies are consistent with those adopted by the Group. These accounting policies are detailed in the notes to 
the consolidated financial statements, note 1. Any deviations from these Group policies by the Company are detailed below. 

Going concern 
The directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for a period of 13 months from the date of signing these financial statements. The Group’s 
forecasts are reviewed regularly to assess whether any actions to curtail expenditure or cut costs are required. The Group is in the final 
stages of preparing to drill a well at WR-BA location and, by the end of the year, plans to drill a second well and spud a third well. The 
forecasts assume the wells will produce oil and gas, which would be sold, and indicate the Group has sufficient funds to complete the 
drilling of the wells and to meet its liabilities as they fall due until June 2022. However, if any of the new wells do not produce commercial 
quantities of oil or gas, the Group would immediately revisit its plans to drill subsequent wells. The financial benefit of any additional capital 
projects would be assessed against capital requirements and balanced with ensuring that the Group and the Company can continue to 
meet their liabilities and commitments through to June 2022. The Company’s forecasts are considered together with the Group’s forecasts.  

The directors note that Covid-19 has had a significant negative impact on the global economy and oil prices, which may mean it is harder 
to secure additional funding than it has historically been. As part of their going concern assessment, a reverse stress test has been 
performed, based on the scenario whereby, due to Covid-19 restrictions, if the Group were unable to continue with normal operations or 
were required to significantly reduce the forecasted production due to the capital expenditure not being incurred to complete the additional 
wells, a cash shortfall may occur. The global pandemic may also bring practical challenges to the timetables for drilling the wells and the 
consequent sale of oil and gas from those wells. The directors are confident that current capital projects are funded and have a reasonable 
expectation that they could secure additional funding, if needed, to fund additional capital projects. However, these conditions necessarily 
indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt over the Group and Company’s ability to continue as a going 
concern  and  therefore  their  ability  to  realise  their  assets  and  discharge  their  liabilities  in  the  normal  course  of  business..  Whilst 
acknowledging this material uncertainty, the directors remain confident of making further cost savings and/or raising finance when required 
and therefore the directors consider it appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis. The financial statements 
do not include the adjustments that would result if the Group were unable to continue as a going concern. 

Investments in subsidiaries 
Investments in subsidiaries are recorded at cost. The Company assesses investments for impairment whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If any such indication of impairment exists, the Company makes 
an estimate of its recoverable amount. Where the carrying amount of an investment exceeds its recoverable amount, the investment is 
considered impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount. Where these circumstances have reversed, the impairment previously 
made is reversed to the extent of the original cost of the investment.  

2.    Employees 

                                                                                                                                                                                                     18 months  
                                                                                                                                                                      Year ended        period ended 
                                                                                                                                                                   31 December        31 December  
                                                                                                                                                                                2020                     2019 
                                                                                                                                                                                $’000                     $’000 

Employment costs consist of: 

Wages and salaries                                                                                                                                                 1,022                    1,222 

Pension                                                                                                                                                                      147                       251 

Share based payments                                                                                                                                              641                       862 

Social security costs                                                                                                                                                    48                       108 

                                                                                                                                                                               1,858                    2,443

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
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Notes forming part of the Parent Company Financial Statements continued

76

The average monthly number of employees during the period was 9 (2019: 8) split as follows: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                     18 months  
                                                                                                                                                                      Year ended        period ended 
                                                                                                                                                                   31 December        31 December  
                                                                                                                                                                                2020                     2019 
                                                                                                                                                                                $’000                     $’000 

Management                                                                                                                                                                  5                           5 

Technical                                                                                                                                                                        3                           2 

Administration                                                                                                                                                                1                           1 

                                                                                                                                                                                      9                           8 

3.    Directors’ Emoluments 

Directors’ Emoluments are disclosed in the Remuneration Report of the consolidated financial statements. 

4.    Investments 

                                                                                                                                                                                                              2020 
Shares in Group undertakings                                                                                                                                                              $’000 

Balance at 1 January                                                                                                                                                                                   1 

Additions in year – acquisition of BRL                                                                                                                                                  6,821 

FX movement on translation of assets                                                                                                                                                    205 

Balance at 31 December                                                                                                                                                                    7,027 

Investments in subsidiaries are recorded at cost, which is the fair value of the consideration paid. On 23 November 2020, the Company 
acquired  100%  of  the  issued  share  capital  of  Block  Rustaveli  Limited  for  a  total  consideration  of  $6,821,000.  For  a  breakdown  of 
consideration, including details of the fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, please refer to note 12 to the 
consolidated financial statements. 

At 31 December 2020, the carrying amount of the Company’s net assets of $35,508,000 exceeded the Group’s net assets of $34,012,000. 
This is identified by IAS 36 Impairment of Assets as an indicator that assets may be impaired. Following a review of the assets held by the 
Company, the directors do not believe an impairment is necessary at this time, but will keep this under review. 

5.    Property, plant and equipment 

                                                                                                                                           Computer                    Office 
                                                                                                                                          Equipment            Equipment                      Total 
                                                                                                                                                  $’000                     $’000                     $’000 

Cost 

At 1 January 2020                                                                                                                           13                           1                         14 

Additions                                                                                                                                           2                           –                           2 

At 31 December 2020                                                                                                                    15                           1                         16 

Depreciation 

At 1 January 2020                                                                                                                           (3)                          –                          (3) 

Depreciation charge                                                                                                                        (5)                          –                          (5) 

At 31 December 2020                                                                                                                    (8)                          –                          (8) 

Carrying amount                                                                                                                                                                                             

At 1 January 2020                                                                                                                           10                           1                          11 

At 31 December 2020                                                                                                                      7                           1                           8 

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Notes forming part of the Parent Company Financial Statements continued

77

6.    Trade and other receivables 

                                                                                                                                                                                2020                     2019 
                                                                                                                                                                                $’000                     $’000 

Prepayments                                                                                                                                                                47                         22 

Other receivables                                                                                                                                                    1,862                       139 

Amounts due from Group undertakings                                                                                                                20,907                  16,727 

                                                                                                                                                                             22,816                  16,888 

All of the above amounts are due within one year. 

Other receivables includes an amount of $278,190 which was due from Schlumberger following the Completion Statement for the acquisition 
of the subsidiary BRL. This was received in March 2021. 

All trade and other receivables are denominated in pounds sterling. Amounts due from Group undertakings are denominated in US dollars 
and interest free and repayable on demand.  

Under IFRS 9, the Expected Credit Loss (“ECL”) Model is required to be applied to the intercompany loans receivable from subsidiary 
companies, which are held at amortised cost. An assessment of the expected credit loss arising on intercompany loans has been calculated 
and a loss allowance of $504,000 has been provided for in the parent Company financial statements during 2019. The directors estimated 
that no further increase in this allowance was required in 2020. 

7.    Cash at bank 

                                                                                                                                                                                2020                     2019 
                                                                                                                                                                                $’000                     $’000 

Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                     5,657                    5,865 

Cash and cash equivalents consist of balances in bank accounts used for normal operational activities. The bank account is held within 
an institution with a credit rating of A-1. 

At 31 December 2020, 99.9% of the cash balances held by the Company were held in pounds sterling. 

8.    Non – cash transactions 

Details of non-cash transactions can be found in note 19 to the consolidated financial statements. 

9.    Share capital 

Details of share capital and movements in the period are set out in note 21 to the consolidated financial statements. 

10.  Trade and other payables 

                                                                                                                                                                                2020                     2019 
                                                                                                                                                                                $’000                     $’000 

Trade and other payables                                                                                                                                          413                       195 

Accruals                                                                                                                                                                     666                         67 

                                                                                                                                                                               1,079                       262 

Trade and other payables at 31 December 2020 comprised balances in US dollars and pounds sterling. 

11.  Categories of financial instruments 

In terms of financial instruments, these solely comprise of those measured at amortised cost and are as follows: 

                                                                                                                                                                   31 December        31 December  
                                                                                                                                                                                2020                     2019 
                                                                                                                                                                                $’000                     $’000 

Trade and other payables                                                                                                                                       1,079                       262 

Total financial liabilities at amortised cost                                                                                                         1,079                       262 

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Notes forming part of the Parent Company Financial Statements continued

78

The carrying amounts of trade and other payables are considered to be the same as their fair values due to their short-term nature. 

                                                                                                                                                                   31 December        31 December  
                                                                                                                                                                                2020                     2019 
                                                                                                                                                                                $’000                     $’000 

Other receivables                                                                                                                                                    1,862                       139 

Amounts due from Group undertakings                                                                                                                20,907                  16,727 

Cash and cash equivalents at amortised cost                                                                                                        5,657                    5,865 

Total financial assets at amortised cost                                                                                                           28,426                  22,731 

The amounts due from Group undertakings includes a loss allowance of $504,000 (2019: $504,000). The loans are repayable on demand 
and are interest-free. They are all denominated in US dollars, which differs from the parent Company’s functional currency of pounds 
sterling, and therefore there is an exposure to foreign currency risk. There is no exposure to price risk as the underlying investments are 
expected to be held to maturity. 

12.  Financial and Capital Risk Management  

The Company’s exposure to financial risks is managed as part of the Group. Full details about the Group’s exposure to financial risks and 
how these risks could affect the Group’s future financial performance are given in note 27 to the consolidated financial statements. 
Information specific to the Company is given below. 

Credit risk 
For deposits lodged at banks and financial institutions these are all held through a recognised financial institution. The maximum exposure 
to credit risk is $5,657,000 (2019: $5,865,000). The Company does not hold any collateral as security.  

The Company has made unsecured interest-free loans to its subsidiary companies. Although the loans are repayable on demand, they 
are unlikely to be repaid until the projects become successful and the subsidiaries start to generate revenues. An assessment of the 
expected credit loss arising on intercompany loans has been calculated and a loss allowance of $504,000 has been provided for in the 
parent Company financial statements. The directors estimated that no further increase in this allowance was required in 2020. 

Currency risk 
Foreign currency risk is the risk that fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in foreign 
exchange rates.  

The Company undertakes transactions denominated in currencies other than its functional currency (which is the pound sterling). For 
transactions denominated in US dollars, the Company manages this risk by holding US dollar against actual or expected US dollar 
commitments to act as an economic hedge against exchange rate movements.  

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents and liquid investments are mainly held in pounds sterling and US dollars. At 31 December 
2020, 99% of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents and liquid investments were held in pounds sterling. A 10% movement in the strength 
of the pound sterling against the US dollar would increase the net assets of the Company by $514,000. 

The exposure to other foreign currency exchange movements is not material. This sensitivity analysis includes foreign currency 
denominated monetary items and assumes all other variables remain unchanged. Whilst the effect of any movement in exchange 
rates upon revaluing foreign currency denominated monetary items is charged or credited to the income statement, the economic 
effect of holding pounds sterling against actual or expected commitments in pounds sterling is an economic hedge against exchange 
rate movements. 

Capital management 
The capital of the Company is managed as part of the capital of the Group as a whole. Full details, are contained in note 27 to the 
consolidated financial statements. 

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Notes forming part of the Parent Company Financial Statements continued

79

13.  Commitments 

Commitments at the reporting date that have not been provided for were as follows; 

UK operating lease commitment  
At 31 December, the total of future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases for each of the following periods was: 

                                                                                                                                                                                2020                     2019 
                                                                                                                                                                                $’000                     $’000 

Within 1 year                                                                                                                                                                                             37 

Between 1 and 5 years                                                                                                                                                  –                           – 

Total                                                                                                                                                                               –                         37 

14.  Related party transactions 

At 31 December 2020, the following subsidiaries owed the parent Company for payments made and recovered on their behalf.  

•       Block Norioskhevi Ltd – $3,703,000 (31 December 2019: $3,432,000) 

•       Georgia New Ventures Inc – $15,115,000 (31 December 2019: $12,503,000) 

•       Satskhenisi Ltd – $668,000 (31 December 2019: $1,116,000) 

•       Block Operating Company LLC – $1,142,000 (31 December 2019: $182,000) 

•       Block Rustaveli Limited - $261,000 

A total loss allowance of $504,000 (2019: $504,000) was recognised in relation to the loan to Satskhenisi Ltd. Further detail on related 
party transactions can be found in note 31 to the consolidated financial statements. The disclosure of fees paid to consultancy companies 
for key management services can be seen in the Remuneration Report. 

15.  Information included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements 

Some of the information included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements is directly relevant to the financial statements of the 
Company. Please refer to the following:  

Note 29 – Subsidiaries 

Note 32 – Events occurring after the year end 

Note 25 – Share-based payments 

Note 6 – Auditors’ remuneration 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020

 
261347 Block Energy pp72-pp80.qxp  04/06/2021  07:42  Page 80

Perivan  261347

The  Company’s  strategy  is  to  become  the  leading 
independent oil and gas company in Georgia. It plans to 
develop and exploit its portfolio of low cost, high impact 
development assets in a proven region of Georgia, and 
to scale up its existing production and reserves via the 
implementation of efficient work programmes.

3rd Floor, Lansdowne House 
57 Berkeley Square 
London W1J 6ER
www.blockenergy.co.uk

Annual Report and Financial Statements  
Year Ended
31 December 2020