Vedanta Limited awarded 41 exploration blocks in India pursuant to Open Acreage Licensing Policy at a total bid cost of US$551 million

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vedanta Limited has been successfully awarded 41 exploration blocks in sedimentary basins throughout India pursuant to the Indian Open Acreage Licensing Policy ("OALP") at a total bid cost of US$551 million. The OALP is a government-led initiative organised by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons of the Government of India (GoI).

The 41 blocks awarded to the Company comprise 33 onshore blocks and 8 offshore blocks. Subject to approval from the shareholders of Vedanta Resources plc, the Company will enter into 41 revenue sharing contracts ("RSCs") with the GoI to effect the Transaction. Following the signing of the RSCs, a licence permitting exploration, development and production operations of all types of hydrocarbons will be granted pursuant to the terms of the relevant RSC in relation to each Block.

The exploration period shall consist of two phases: (i) the Initial Exploration Phase; and (ii) the Subsequent Exploration Phase. In total, the exploration period will be a duration of six years for all Blocks, subject to any extension granted. The development and production period of each contract will be a maximum of 20 years from the date of grant of the petroleum mining lease following discovery of previously unknown deposits of hydrocarbons and approval of the relevant field development plan, subject to any extension granted.

The Group believes that the Transaction complements its existing strategy to focus on production growth. The OALP is the first major auction of hydrocarbon blocks to take place in India since 2010 and provides an opportunity for the Group to acquire new acreages from all available areas in the sedimentary basins of India. The objective of licensing the Blocks is to acquire fresh seismic data and drill exploration wells to establish resources and reserves of oil and/or gas.

The bid cost of US$551 million represents the Company's total committed capital expenditure on the Blocks during the exploration phase and will be satisfied in cash using the Group's existing cash resources. It is expected that this capital expenditure will occur over a period of approximately three to four years.

Vedanta Limited would have to (in case of any commercial discoveries in any Block, and subject to the terms of the RSCs and applicable law) share a specified proportion of the net revenue from each Block with the GoI. Pursuant to the RSCs, the average (unweighted) revenue share for the Blocks shall be 33 per cent for the initial two years in the case of onshore Blocks, three years in the case of shallow water Blocks or five years in the case of deep and ultra deep water Blocks. Following these initial periods, the revenue share payable to the GoI shall vary depending on the amount of revenue received.

About Vedanta Limited

Vedanta Limited is a diversified natural resources company, whose business primarily involves producing oil & gas, zinc - lead - silver, aluminium, copper, iron ore and commercial power. The company has a presence across India, South Africa and Namibia. Vedanta Ltd has a portfolio of world-class, low-cost, scalable assets that consistently generate strong profitability and have robust cash flows. The company holds industry-leading market shares across its core divisions.

Vedanta Limited is the Indian subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Plc, a London-listed company. Governance and Sustainable Development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety and environment and on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company is conferred with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) 'Sustainable Plus Platinum label', ranking among the top 10 most sustainable companies in India. To access the Vedanta Sustainable Development Report 2017, please visit http://sd.vedantaresources.com/SustainableDevelopment2016-17/

Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India. The company is in the Nifty 50 Index and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more information please visit www.vedantalimited.com

Vedanta Limited
Vedanta, 75, Nehru Road,
Vile Parle (East), Mumbai - 400 099
www.vedantalimited.com

Registered Office:
Regd. Office: 1st Floor, 'C' wing, Unit 103,
Corporate Avenue, Atul Projects,
Chakala, Andheri (East),
Mumbai – 400 093

CIN: L13209MH1965PLC291394

Disclaimer

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" – that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "should" or "will." Forward–looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets including the London Metal Exchange, fluctuations in interest and or exchange rates and metal prices; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different that those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

For further information, please contact:

Communications
Arun Arora
Head Communications
Tel: +91-1244593000
gc@vedanta.co.in

Investor Relations
Rashmi Mohanty
Director – Investor Relations
Tel: +91-22-6646-1531
vedantaltd.ir@vedanta.co.in

Sneha Tulsyan
Associate Manager – Investor Relations

Related Links

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SOURCE Vedanta Limited