MEG Energy posts smaller-than-expected loss on lower costs

MEG Energy
Alberta oilsands producer MEG Energy reported a drop in net operating costs in Q4. Company photo.

MEG Energy

Feb 9 (Reuters) – Canadian oil sands producer MEG Energy Corp reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss as production costs fell.

MEG, whose key operations are in the Athabasca oil sands region in Alberta, said net operating costs fell 3.3 per cent to C$8.24 per barrel in the fourth quarter.

The company’s non-energy operating costs fell 11.8 per cent to C$4.99 per barrel in the three months ended Dec. 31.

MEG’s quarterly revenue also topped analysts’ estimates as the average realized price for bitumen jumped 56 per cent in the quarter.

However, bitumen production fell 2.1 per cent to 81,780 barrels per day (b/d).

MEG’s net loss widened to C$305 million ($232.42 million) or C$1.34 per share, for the quarter from C$297 million, or C$1.32 per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, the Calgary, Alberta-based company lost 32 Canadian cents per share.

Revenue rose 27.2 per cent to C$566 million.

Analysts’ on average had estimated adjusted earnings of 33 Canadian cents per share and revenue of C$523.5 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

(Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri and Anil D’Silva)