Equinor first quarter 2024
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New
wells in Angola and Argentina also supported the increase.
The addition of onshore power plants in Poland and Brazil during 2023, and the start-up of Mendubim
solar projects in 2024, drove an
increase of 48% in renewable power generation for the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023.
Power generation from Triton Power
reduced compared to the same quarter of 2023 due to low clean spark spreads for the quarter.
Revenues were affected by gas prices which were lower than in the prior year. The impact of which was partially offset by increased
production and higher sales of third-party gas and liquids volumes. Strong margins were delivered
in the quarter from Crude, Products
and Liquids in our Marketing, Midstream and Processing segment. This was driven by the effective capturing of value
in tightening
markets which increased margins from physical sales and financial trading, as well as efficient shipping portfolio optimisation.
Adjusted operating and administrative expenses* remained relatively stable compared to the first quarter of the
prior year, with some
increases in operational and maintenance costs related to production and volume driven transportation
costs. Effects of an overall
underlift position, internationally and on the NCS, partially offset this. Costs associated with the development and future
capacity
building of the renewables and low carbon solutions portfolios also increased in the first quarter
of 2024 relative to the same period in
The ramp up of new fields, increased production and the inclusion of Buzzard contributed to an
overall increase in adjusted
depreciation, amortisation and net impairments* in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same
period in 2023.
During the first three months of the year, exploration costs associated with Bacalhau in Brazil were expensed, driving an increase in
exploration expenses relative to the same quarter in 2023.
Net financial items reduced from the same period in the prior year due to lower currency gains
from the continued strengthening of
USD versus NOK. Adjusted net financial items* are relatively consistent with the same period in
the prior year.
Taxes and net financial result
The impact of lower net financial items in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023 has resulted
in a higher relative share of income
from the NCS compared to the same period in the prior year. The effective reported tax rate of 66.6% for the first quarter of 2024
therefore increased compared to 63.8% in 2023.
The effective tax rate on adjusted operating income* of 65.8% for the first quarter of 2024
decreased compared to 70.8% in 2023 due
to lower relative share of adjusted operating income* from NCS and decreased prior period adjustments in 2024
compared with 2023.
An adjusted net income* result of USD 2,836 million and a net income of USD 2,672 million
were recorded in the first quarter of 2024
driven by a strong production delivery.
Cash flow, net debt and capital distribution
The strong operational performance in the first quarter of 2024 translated
into solid financial results and cash flow provided by
operating activities before taxes paid and working capital items of USD 9,689 million.
The downward movement in gas prices drove
the decrease of USD 5,616 million from the same period of the prior year.
Taxes paid of USD 3,849 million in the first quarter have been reduced
from the prior year outflow of USD 5,589 million reflecting the
impact of lower gas prices in 2023 relative to 2022.
The payment consists of the first of three Norwegian corporation tax instalments
relating to the income from the 2023 financial year to be made in 2024.
The final two will occur in the second quarter of 2024.
A working capital decrease of USD 3,181
million positively impacted the cash flow in the first quarter of 2024
primarily through a
reduction in trade receivables. The first quarter of 2023 had a
working capital decrease of USD 5,155 million.
Cash flow from operations after taxes paid* and net cash flow* for the first quarter of 2024 increased
significantly from the prior quarter
to USD 5,840 million, and USD 8 million respectively.
A decrease in liquid assets in the quarter, combined with increased equity caused a slight increase in the net debt
to capital employed
adjusted ratio* at the end of March 2024 from negative 21.6% at the end
of December 2023 to negative 19.8%.
The board of directors has decided an ordinary cash dividend of USD 0.35 per share, and to continue the
extraordinary cash dividend of USD 0.35 per share for the first quarter of 2024, in line with communication at
the Capital Markets Update in February.
Expected total capital distribution for 2024 is around USD 14 billion, including a share buy-back programme of
up to USD 6 billion. The board has decided to initiate a second tranche of the share buy-back programme of up
to USD 1.6 billion. The second tranche is subject to an authorisation from the Company’s annual general meeting 14 May 2024 and will commence after this.