Energy may be key to the future of Australia's economy, but 2012 saw plunging profit for oil and gas producer Santos Limited (ASX: STO). However, the picture is better than the initial numbers suggest.
The company's full year results, released this morning, saw revenue rise 18% to $3.3 billion and net profit decline 31% to $519 million. This decline in profit is attributable to a lack of asset sales (in 2011, asset sales significantly boosted profits). Santos' underlying profit — which excludes those one-off items — actually rose 34% in 2012 to top $600 million.
Capturing domestic and Asian demand
During the year, the company also initiated Australia's first commercial production of natural gas from a shale well. Santos already provides 15% of Australia's natural gas, and its hefty footprint in Asia positions it to be a key supplier to energy-hungry China and Japan.
Santos' 2012 production came to 52 million barrels of oil equivalent, 10% higher than 2011 levels. The company has said it expects 2013 production to be in the range of 53 to 57 million barrels of oil equivalent. With some $3 billion in cash and more funds available in credit, the company is well positioned to continue to grow production.
But costs an ongoing concern
Looking to the future, company management has stated a goal of growing production between 5% and 6% annually, with the ultimate goal of achieving production of 80 to 90 million barrels of oil equivalent by 2020.
While the future appears bright, the rising cost of production in Australia figures as an ongoing concern, with cost controls a key issue not only for Santos but also for Woodside Petroleum (ASX: WPL) and Origin Energy (ASX: ORG), which recently cut jobs and profit forecasts because of cost blowouts.
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The Motley Fool's purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool's free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson. Motley Fool writer/analyst Catherine Baab-Muguira does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article.
