Sonoro Signs Asphalt License Agreement With the Al-Salah ad Din Provincial Government in the Republic of Iraq
By Sonoro Energy Ltd., PRNESunday, October 3, 2010
CALGARY, Canada, October 4, 2010 - Sonoro Energy Ltd. ("Sonoro" or "the Company") (TSXV:SNV.V) is pleased to
announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sonoro Energy Iraq B.V. ("Sonoro
Iraq"), and its partner, Berkeley Petroleum Mesopotamia Asphalts Limited
(together, the "Licensee"), have signed an Asphalt License Agreement (the
"Agreement") with the Al-Salah ad Din Provincial Government in the Republic
of Iraq.
The Salah ad Din Province lies just to the North of Baghdad and lies
within the trend of mega oilfields including production of roughly 300,000
barrels oil equivalent per day. It is estimated that Iraq may hold the
world's fourth largest heavy oil resources behind Canada, Venezuela and
Russia. The key terms of the Agreement are the following:
- Sonoro Iraq will have a 70% working interest and will be the operator and Berkeley will have a 30% working interest. - Licensee has the exclusive rights to explore, develop and produce asphalts and related organics within the entire Al-Salah ad Din Province and to sell the asphalts and its related organics produced (and/or the by-products after processing) domestically and/or internationally. - The Agreement provides for an initial exploration period of 5 years and is followed by a 30 year exploitation period with extensions for any carved out exploitation areas to develop asphalts and related organics. - Licensee has the right to construct and operate asphalt-heavy oil topping facilities within the Al-Salah ad Din Province, with certain processing capacity commitments. - Licensee is entitled to 50% of the revenues from the sales of asphalts and related organics (and its by-products after processing), after tax and after cost recovery. - 80% of the revenues are available for cost recovery. Licensee is committed to a minimum initial investment commitment of US$1.5 million.
The Al-Salah ad Din Provincial Government has obtained the necessary
Provincial and Central Government Ministry approvals to grant these rights
under the Agreement.
Sonoro Iraq and Berkeley entered into an agreement whereby Sonoro Iraq
has a 70% working interest and operatorship, while Berkeley retains a 30%
working interest which is carried by Sonoro Iraq for the initial facility and
exploration operations.
Sonoro Iraq obtained its interest in the License through Berkeley, and
accordingly is paying Berkeley a US$250,000 signing bonus and issuing 23.75
million shares in Sonoro Energy Ltd. at a deemed price of $0.38 per share.
Berkeley will also have a carried interest on exploration expenses, while
Sonoro Iraq will have a preferential entitlement to recover its expenses
before Berkeley can receive income on their equity interests in the project.
In addition, Sonoro Iraq obtained further preferential rights from Berkeley
and its affiliates to pursue similar asphalt opportunities in the Republic of
Iraq as well as preferential rights to participate in at least one other
conventional petroleum exploration and or development project Berkeley is
currently pursuing within the petroleum sector in Iraq.
Richard Wadsworth commented, "This is a remarkable opportunity for our
Company to take its technical experience and process into one of the largest
known petroleum areas in the world. We are now aligned with the Province of
Al-Salah ad Din to process and develop certain hydrocarbon resources and
facilities." Mr. Wadsworth further stated "I would like to thank Berkeley for
utilizing its knowledge of Iraq and its extensive relationships to secure
these assets and allow Sonoro Iraq to become its operating partner. I would
also like to thank our Chairman, Mr. Adam Ranjit Sumel, for his contributions
in assisting me in closing this transaction and being in Baghdad for the
official signing."
The Company has also established its international structure and
subsidiaries to efficiently operate Middle Eastern projects. Mr. Haithem
Al-Sindy will lead Sonoro's efforts in Iraq as Country Manager at its newly
established offices in Baghdad and Tikrit, the Provincial capital city of
Al-Salah ad Din. With the signing of the Agreement, Sonoro will rapidly
continue to expand its teams and further strategic alliances.
Sonoro Iraq will seek to identify its first exploration area and facility
location over the next 3 months. The Company is planning to have a topping
facility operational within 18 months.
Sonoro will continue to pursue additional oil and gas development
opportunities in the Middle East and internationally with an initial focus on
heavy oil, bitumen and asphalt resources in Iraq. The Company's proprietary
technology and operational experience provides a strategic competitive
advantage in capturing and developing such resources.
The terms and conditions of the grant of shares in association with the
above are subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in
this release that are forward-looking statements, including the exploration
success and development plans in Iraq, are subject to risks and
uncertainties, including those specific factors disclosed under the heading
"Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian
securities regulators. Such information contained herein represents
management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information
currently available. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any
forward-looking statement except in compliance with applicable securities
laws.
For further information: For further information: Richard Wadsworth,
Chief Executive Officer, at: Tel: +1(403)-774-4050, Email:
IR@SonoroEnergy.com, www.SonoroEnergy.com
For further information: For further information: Richard Wadsworth, Chief Executive Officer, at: Tel: +1(403)-774-4050, Email: IR at SonoroEnergy.com, www.SonoroEnergy.com
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