CONCESSION AGREEMENT FOR PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION BETWEEN THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT AND THE EGYPTIAN GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND DOVER INVESTMENTS LIMITED IN
EXHIBIT
10.9
CONCESSION
AGREEMENT FOR PETROLEUM
EXPLORATION
AND EXPLOITATION
BETWEEN
THE
ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
AND
THE
EGYPTIAN GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
AND
DOVER
INVESTMENTS LIMITED
IN
EAST
WADI
ARABA AREA
GULF
OF SUEZ
A.R.E.
1
This
Agreement made and entered on this day of ,
2001, by
and between the ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT (hereinafter referred to variously
as
"A.R.E." or as the "GOVERNMENT"), the EGYPTIAN GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION,
a
legal entity created by Law No. 167 of 1958 as amended (hereinafter referred
to
variously as "EGPC") and Dover Investments Limited , a company organized
and
existing under the laws of Ontario,Canda (hereinafter referred to variously
as
"DOVER" or as "CONTRACTOR").
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS,
all minerals including petroleum, existing in mines and quarries in A.R.E.,
including the territorial waters, and in the seabed subject to its jurisdiction
and extending beyond the territorial waters, are the property of the State;
and
WHEREAS,
EGPC has applied for an exclusive concession for the exploration and
exploitation of petroleum in and throughout the area referred to in Article
II,
and described in Annex "A" and shown approximately on Annex "B", which are
attached hereto and made part hereof (hereinafter referred to as the "Area");
and
WHEREAS,
DOVER agree to undertake its obligations provided hereinafter as a CONTRACTOR
with respect to the Exploration, development and production of petroleum
in EAST
WADI ARABA Area; and
WHEREAS,
the GOVERNMENT desires hereby to grant such Concession; and
WHEREAS,
the Minister of Petroleum pursuant to the provisions of Law No. 86 of 1956,
may
enter into a concession agreement with EGPC, and with DOVER as a CONTRACTOR
in
the said Area.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
2
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
(a)
|
"Exploration"
shall include such geological, geophysical, aerial and other surveys
as
may be contained in the approved Work Programs and Budgets, and
the
drilling of such shot holes, core holes, stratigraphic tests, holes
for
the discovery of Petroleum or the appraisal of Petroleum discoveries
and
other related holes and xxxxx, and the purchase or acquisition
of such
supplies, materials, services and equipment therefor, all as may
be
contained in the approved Work Programs and Budgets. The verb "explore"
means the act of conducting
Exploration.
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(b)
|
"Development"
shall include, but not be limited to, all the operations and activities
pursuant to approved Work Programs and Budgets under this Agreement
with
respect to:
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(i)
|
the
drilling, plugging, deepening, side tracking, re-drilling, completing,
equipping of development xxxxx, the changing of the status of a
well,
and
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(ii)
|
design,
engineering, construction, installation, servicing and maintenance
of
equipment, lines, systems facilities, plants and related operations
to
produce and operate said development xxxxx, taking, saving, treating,
handling, storing, transporting and delivering petroleum, re-pressuring,
recycling and other secondary recovery projects,
and
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(iii)
|
transportation,
storage and any other work or activities necessary or ancillary
to the
activities specified in (i) and
(ii).
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(c)
|
"Petroleum"
means liquid crude oil of various densities, asphalt, gas, casinghead
gas
and all other hydrocarbon substances that may be found in, and
produced,
or otherwise obtained and saved from the Area under this Agreement,
and
all substances that may be extracted
therefrom.
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(d)
|
"Liquid
Crude Oil" or "Crude Oil" or "Oil" means any hydrocarbon produced
from the
Area which is in a liquid state at the wellhead or lease separators
or
which is extracted from the gas or casinghead gas in a plant. Such
liquid
state shall exist at sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60OF)
and atmospheric pressure of 14.65 PSIA. Such term includes distillate
and
condensate.
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(e)
|
"Gas"
means natural gas both associated and non-associated, and all of
its
constituent elements produced from any well in the Area (other
than Liquid
Crude Oil) and all non-hydrocarbon substances therein. Said term
shall
include residual gas, that Gas remaining after removal of
LPG.
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(f)
|
"LPG"
means liquefied petroleum gas, which is a mixture principally of
butane
and propane liquefied by pressure and
temperature.
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(g)
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A
"Barrel" shall consist of forty-two (42) United States gallons,
liquid
measure, corrected to a temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit
(60OF)
at atmospheric pressure of 14.65
PSIA.
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3
(h) (1)
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"Commercial
Oil Well" means the first well on any geological feature which
after
testing for a period of not more than thirty (30) consecutive days
where
practical, but in any event in accordance with sound and accepted
industry
production practices, and verified by EGPC, is found to be capable
of
producing at the average rate of not less than two thousand (2000)
Barrels
of oil per day (BOPD). The date of discovery of a "Commercial Oil
Well" is
the date on which such well is tested and completed according to
the
above.
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(2)
|
"Commercial
Gas Well" means the first well on any geological feature which
after
testing for a period of not more than thirty (30) consecutive days
where
practical, but in any event in accordance with sound and accepted
industry
production practices and verified by EGPC, is found to be capable
of
producing at the average rate of not less than fifteen million
(15,000,000) standard cubic feet of Gas per day (MMSCFD). The date
of
discovery of a "Commercial Gas Well" is the date on which such
well is
tested and completed according to the
above.
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(i)
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"A.R.E."
means ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT.
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(j)
|
"Effective
Date" means the date on which the text of this Agreement is signed
by the
GOVERNMENT, EGPC and CONTRACTOR, after the relevant Law is
issued.
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(k)
(1)
|
"Year"
means a period of twelve (12) months according to the Gregorian
Calendar.
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(2)
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"Calendar
Year" means a period of twelve (12) months according to the Gregorian
Calendar being 1st January to 31st
December.
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(l)
|
"Financial
Year" means the GOVERNMENT's financial year according to the laws
and
regulations of the A.R.E.
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(m)
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"Tax
Year" means the period of twelve (12) months according to the laws
and
regulations of the A.R.E.
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(n)
|
An
"Affiliated Company" means a
company:
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4
(i)
|
of
which the share capital, conferring a majority of votes at stockholders'
meetings of such company, is owned directly or indirectly by a
party
hereto; or
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(ii)
|
which
is the owner directly or indirectly of share capital conferring
a majority
of votes at stockholders' meetings of a party hereto; or
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(iii)
|
of
which the share capital conferring a majority of votes at stockholder's
meetings of such company and the share capital conferring a majority
of
votes at stockholders' meetings of a party hereto are owned directly
or
indirectly by the same company.
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(o)
|
"Exploration
Block" shall mean an area, the corner points of which have to be
coincident with three (3) minutes by three (3) minutes latitude
and
longitude divisions, according to the International Grid System
where
possible or with the existing boundaries of the Area covered by
this
Concession Agreement as set out in Annex
"A".
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(p)
|
"Development
Block" shall mean an area, the corner points of which have to be
coincident with one (1) minute by one (1) minute latitude and longitude
divisions, according to the International Grid System where possible
or
with the existing boundaries of the Area covered by this Concession
Agreement as set out in Annex "A".
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(q)
|
"Development
Lease(s)" shall mean the Development Block or Blocks covering the
geological structure capable of production, the corner points of
which
have to be coincident with one (1) minute by one (1) minute latitude
and
longitude divisions according to the International Grid System
where
possible or with the existing boundaries of the Area covered by
this
Concession Agreement as set out in Annex
"A".
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(r)
|
"Agreement"
shall mean this Concession Agreement and its
Annexes.
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(s)
|
"Gas
Sales Agreement" shall mean a written agreement between EGPC and
CONTRACTOR (as sellers) and EGPC (as buyer), which contains the
terms and
conditions for Gas sales from a Development Lease entered into
pursuant to
Article VII (e).
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(t)
|
"Standard
Cubic Foot" (SCF) is the amount of Gas necessary to fill one (1)
cubic
foot of space at atmospheric pressure of 14.65 PSIA at a base temperature
of sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60o
F).
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5
ARTICLE
II
ANNEXES
TO THE AGREEMENT
Annex
"A"
is a description of the area covered and affected by this Agreement, hereinafter
referred to as the "Area".
Annex
"B"
is a provisional illustrative map on the scale of approximately 1 : 500,000
indicating the Area covered and affected by this Agreement and described
in
Annex "A".
Annex
"C"
is the form of a Letter of Guaranty to be submitted by DOVER INVESTMENT LIMITED
to EGPC one (1) day before the time of signature by the Minister of Petroleum
of
this Agreement, for guaranteeing the execution of CONTRCATOR’s minimum
Exploration obligations hereunder for the initial three (3) year Exploration
period by paying and/or transferring a quantity of crude oil sufficient in
value
to cover the shortfall between the sum of three million and five hundred
thousand (3,500,000 )U.S. Dollars and the amount of money spent by CONTRACTOR
and approved by EGPC . In case CONTRACTOR extends the initial Exploration
Period
for Two (2) additional periods each of two (2) years respectively, each in
accordance with Article III (b) of the Agreement, a similar Letter of Guaranty
shall be issued and be submitted by CONTRACTOR on the day the CONTRACTOR
exercises its option to extend. The first such letter of Guaranty shall be
for
guaranteeing the payment and/or transfer of a quantity of crude oil sufficient
in value to cover the shortfall between the sum of four million U.S. Dollars
($4,000,000) and the amount of money spent by CONTRACTOR and approved by
EGPC
and the second such Letter of Guaranty shall be guaranteeing the payment
and/or
transfer of a quantity of crude oil sufficient in value to cover the shortfall
between the sum of four million and five hundred thousand U.S.Dollars
($4,500,000) and the amount of money spent by CONTRACTOR and approved by
EGPC
less in both instances any excess expenditures of the preceding Exploration
period permitted for carry forward in accordance with Article IV (b) third
paragraph of this Agreement. Each of the three Letters of Guaranty shall
remain
effective for six (6) months after the end of the relevant Exploration period.
It
is
understood that EGPC at any time has the right to give notice to CONTRACTOR
to
submit a bank letter of guarantee, in case the letter of guarantee by production
is not sufficient to cover his financial obligations for the current period
(s).
Annex
"D"
is the form of a Charter of the Operating Company to be formed as provided
for
in Article VI hereof.
Annex
"E"
is the Accounting Procedure.
Annex
"F"
is a current map of the National Gas Pipeline Grid System established by
the
Government. The point of delivery for gas shall be agreed upon by EGPC and
CONTRACTOR under a Gas Sales Agreement, which point of delivery shall be
located
at the flange connecting the development lease pipeline to the nearest point
on
the National Gas pipeline Grid System as depicted in Annex "F" or as otherwise
agreed by EGPC and CONTRACTOR .
0
Xxxxxxx
"X", "X", "X", "X","X" and "F" to this Agreement are hereby made part hereof,
and they shall be considered as having equal force and effect with the
provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
III
GRANT
OF
RIGHTS AND TERM
The
GOVERNMENT hereby grants EGPC and CONTRACTOR subject to the terms, covenants
and
conditions set out in this Agreement, which insofar as they are contrary
to or
inconsistent with any provisions of Law No. 66 of 1953, as amended, shall
have
the force of Law, an exclusive concession in and to the Area described in
Annexes "A" and "B".
(a)
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The
GOVERNMENT shall own and be entitled, as hereinafter provided to
a royalty
in cash or in kind of ten percent (10%) of the total quantity of
Petroleum
produced and saved from the Area during the development period
including
renewal. Said royalty shall be borne and paid by EGPC and shall
not be the
obligation of CONTRACTOR. The payment of royalties by EGPC shall
not be
deemed to result in income attributable to the
CONTRACTOR.
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(b)
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An
initial Exploration period of three (3) years shall start from
the
Effective Date. Two (2) successive extensions to the initial Exploration
period, each of two (2) years respectively, shall be granted to
CONTRACTOR
at its option, upon not less than thirty (30) days prior written
notice to
EGPC, such notice to be given not later than the end of the then
current
period, as may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Article
V (a),
and subject only to its having fulfilled its obligations hereunder
for
that period. This Agreement shall be terminated if neither a Commercial
Oil Discovery nor a Commercial Gas Discovery is established by
the end of
the seventh (7th) year of the Exploration period, as may be extended
pursuant to Article V (a). The election by EGPC to undertake a
sole risk
venture under paragraph (c) shall not extend the Exploration period
nor
affect the termination of this Agreement as to
CONTRACTOR.
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(c)
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Commercial
Discovery:
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(i)
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A
Commercial Discovery - whether of Oil or Gas - may consist of one
producing reservoir or a group of producing reservoirs, which is
worthy of
being developed commercially. After discovery of a Commercial Oil
or Gas
Well CONTRACTOR shall, unless otherwise agreed upon with EGPC,
undertake
as part of its Exploration program the appraisal of the discovery
by
drilling one or more appraisal xxxxx, to determine whether such
discovery
is worthy of being developed commercially, taking into consideration
the
recoverable reserves, production, pipeline and terminal facilities
required, estimated Petroleum prices, and all other relevant technical
and
economic factors.
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7
(ii)
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The
provisions laid down herein postulate the unity and indivisibility
of the
concepts of Commercial Discovery and Development Lease. They shall
apply
uniformly to Oil and Gas unless otherwise
specified.
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(iii)
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CONTRACTOR
shall give notice of a Commercial Discovery to EGPC immediately
after the
discovery is considered by CONTRACTOR to be worthy of commercial
development but in any event with respect to a Commercial Oil Well
not
later than thirty (30) days following the completion of the second
appraisal well or twelve (12) months following the date of the
discovery
of the Commercial Oil Well, whichever is earlier or with respect
to a
Commercial Gas Well not later than twenty four (24) months following
the
date of the discovery of the Commercial Gas Well (unless EGPC agrees
that
such period may be extended) except that CONTRACTOR shall also
have the
right to give such notice of Commercial Discovery with respect
to any
reservoir or reservoirs even if the well or xxxxx thereon are not
"Commercial" within the definition of "Commercial Well" if, in
its
opinion, a reservoir or a group of reservoirs, considered collectively,
could be worthy of commercial
development.
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CONTRACTOR
may also give a notice of a Commercial Oil Discovery in the event it wishes
to
undertake a Gas Recycling Project.
A
notice
of Commercial Gas Discovery shall contain all detailed particulars of the
discovery and especially the area of Gas reserves, the estimated production
potential and profile and field life.
Within
sixty (60) days following receipt of a notice of a Commercial Oil or Gas
Discovery, EGPC and CONTRACTOR shall meet and review all appropriate data
with a
view to mutually agreeing upon the existence of a Commercial Discovery. The
date
of Commercial Discovery shall be the date EGPC and CONTRACTOR jointly agree
in
writing that a Commercial Discovery exists.
(iv)
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If
Crude Oil is discovered but is not deemed by CONTRACTOR to be a
Commercial
Oil Discovery under the above provisions of this paragraph (c),
EGPC shall
one (1) month after the expiration of the period specified above
within
which CONTRACTOR can give notice of a Commercial Oil Discovery,
or
thirteen (13) months after the completion of a well not considered
to be a
"Commercial Oil Well", have the right, following sixty (60) days
notice in
writing to CONTRACTOR, at its sole cost, risk and expense, to develop,
produce and dispose of all Crude Oil from the geological feature
on which
the well has been drilled. Said notice shall state the specific
area
covering said geological feature to be developed, the xxxxx to
be drilled,
the production facilities to be installed and EGPC's estimated
cost
thereof. Within thirty (30) days after receipt of said notice CONTRACTOR
may, in writing, elect to develop such area as provided for in
the case of
Commercial Discovery hereunder. In such event all terms of this
Agreement
shall continue to apply to the specified
area.
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8
If
CONTRACTOR elects not to develop such area, the specific area covering said
geological feature shall be set aside for sole risk operations by EGPC, such
area to be mutually agreed upon by EGPC and CONTRACTOR on the basis of good
petroleum industry practice. EGPC shall be entitled to perform or in the
event
Operating Company has come into existence, to have Operating Company perform
such operations for the account of EGPC and at EGPC's sole cost, risk and
expense. When EGPC has recovered from the Crude Oil produced from such specific
area a quantity of Crude Oil equal in value to three hundred percent (300%)
of
the cost it has incurred in carrying out the sole risk operations, CONTRACTOR
shall have the option, only in the event there has been a separate Commercial
Oil Discovery, elsewhere within the Area, to share in further development
and
production of that specific area upon paying EGPC one hundred percent (100%)
of
such costs incurred by EGPC.
Such
one
hundred percent (100%) payment shall not be recovered by CONTRACTOR. Immediately
following such payment the specific area shall either (i) revert to the status
of an ordinary Development Lease under this Agreement and thereafter shall
be
operated in accordance with the terms hereof; or (ii) alternatively, in the
event that at such time EGPC or its Affiliated Company is conducting Development
operations in the area at its sole expense and EGPC elects to continue
operating, the area shall remain set aside and CONTRACTOR shall only be entitled
to its production sharing percentages of the Crude Oil as specified in Article
VII (b). The sole risk Crude Oil shall be valued in the manner provided in
Article VII (c). In the event of any termination of this Agreement under
the
provisions of Article III (b), this Agreement shall, however, continue to
apply
to EGPC's operation of any sole risk venture hereunder, although such Agreement
shall have been terminated with respect to CONTRACTOR pursuant to the provisions
of Article III (b) .
(d)
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Conversion
to a Development Lease:
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(i)
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Following
a Commercial Oil Discovery or a Commercial Gas Discovery the extent
of the
whole area capable of production to be covered by a Development
Lease
shall be mutually agreed upon by EGPC and CONTRACTOR and be subject
to the
approval of the Minister of Petroleum. Such area shall be converted
automatically into a Development Lease without the issue of any
additional
legal instrument or permission.
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9
(ii)
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Following
the conversion of an area to a Development Lease based on a Commercial
Gas
Discovery (or upon the discovery of Gas in a Development Lease
granted
following a Commercial Oil Discovery), EGPC shall endeavor with
diligence
to find adequate local markets capable of absorbing the production
of Gas
and shall advise CONTRACTOR of the potential outlets for such Gas,
and the
expected annual schedule of demand. Thereafter, EGPC and CONTRACTOR
shall
meet with a view to assessing whether the outlets for such Gas
and other
relevant factors warrant the development and production of the
Gas and in
case of agreement the Gas thus made available shall be disposed
of to EGPC
under a long-term Gas Sales Agreement in accordance with and subject
to
the conditions set forth in Article VII
.
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(iii)
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The
Development period of each Development Lease shall be as
follows:
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(aa)
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In
respect of a Commercial Oil Discovery, twenty (20) years from the
date of
such Commercial Discovery plus the Optional Extension Period (as
defined
below) provided that, in the event that, subsequent to the conversion
of a
Commercial Oil Discovery into a Development Lease, Gas is discovered
in
the same Development Lease and is used or is capable of being used
locally
or for export hereunder, the period of the Development Lease shall
be
extended only with respect to such Gas, LPG extracted from such
Gas and
Crude Oil in the form of condensate produced with such Gas for
twenty (20)
years from the date of first deliveries of Gas locally or for export
plus
the Optional Extension Period (as defined below) provided that
the
duration of such Development Lease based on a Commercial Oil Discovery
may
not be extended beyond thirty-five (35) years from the date of
such
Commercial Oil Discovery, unless otherwise agreed upon between
EGPC and
CONTRACTOR and subject to the approval of the Minister of
Petroleum.
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CONTRACTOR
shall immediately notify EGPC of any Gas Discovery but shall not
be
required to apply for a new Development Lease in respect of such
Gas.
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(bb)
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In
respect of a Commercial Gas Discovery, twenty (20) years from the
date of
first deliveries of Gas locally or for export plus the Optional
Extension
Period (as defined below) provided that, if subsequent to the conversion
of a Commercial Gas Discovery into a Development Lease, Crude Oil
is
discovered in the same Development Lease, CONTRACTOR's share of
such Crude
Oil from the Development Lease (except LPG extracted from Gas or
Crude Oil
in the form of condensate produced with Gas) and Gas associated
with such
Crude Oil shall revert entirely to EGPC upon the lapse of twenty
(20)
years from the date of such Crude Oil Discovery plus the Optional
Extension Period (as defined
below).
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10
Notwithstanding,
anything to the contrary under this Agreement, the duration of
a
Development Lease based on a Commercial Gas Discovery shall in
no case
exceed thirty-five (35) years from the date of such Commercial
Gas
Discovery, unless otherwise agreed upon between EGPC and CONTRACTOR
and
subject to the approval of the Minister of Petroleum.
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CONTRACTOR
shall immediately notify EGPC of any Oil Discovery but shall not
be
required to apply for a new Development Lease in respect of such
Crude
Oil.
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The
"Optional Extension Period" shall mean a period of five (5) years
which
may be elected by CONTRACTOR upon six (6) months written notice
to EGPC
prior to the expiry of the relevant twenty (20) year
period.
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(e)
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Development
operations shall upon the issuance of a Development Lease granted
following a Commercial Oil Discovery, be started promptly by Operating
Company and be conducted in accordance with good oil field practices
and
accepted petroleum engineering principles, until the field is considered
to be fully developed, it being understood that if associated gas
is not
utilized, EGPC and CONTRACTOR shall negotiate in good faith on
the best
way to avoid impairing the production in the interests of the
parties.
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In
the
event no Commercial Production of Oil in regular shipments is established
in any
Development Block within four (4) years from the date of the Commercial Oil
Discovery, such Development Block shall immediately be relinquished, unless
there is a Commercial Gas discovery on the Development Lease. Each Development
Block in a Development Lease being partly within the radius of drainage of
any
producing well in such Development Lease shall be considered as participating
in
the Commercial Production referred to above.
Development
operations in respect of Gas and Crude Oil in the form of condensate or LPG
to
be produced with or extracted from such Gas shall, upon the signature of
a Gas
Sales Agreement or commencement of a scheme to dispose of the Gas, whether
for
export as referred to in Article VII or otherwise, be started promptly by
Operating Company and be conducted in accordance with good gas field practices
and accepted petroleum engineering principles and the provisions of such
Agreement or scheme. In the event no Commercial Production of Gas is established
in accordance with such Gas Sales Agreement or scheme, the Development Lease
relating to such Gas shall be relinquished, unless otherwise agreed upon
by
EGPC.
If,
upon
application by CONTRACTOR it is recognized by EGPC that Crude Oil or Gas
is
being drained from an Exploration block under this Agreement into a Development
Block on an adjoining concession area held by CONTRACTOR, the Block being
drained shall be considered as participating in the Commercial Production
of the
Development Block in question and the Block being drained shall be converted
into a Development Lease with the ensuing allocation of costs and production
(calculated from the Effective Date or the date such drainage occurs, whichever
is later) between the two Concession Areas. The allocation of such costs
and
production under each Concession Agreement shall be in the same portion that
the
recoverable reserves in the drained geological structure underlying each
Concession Area bears to the total recoverable reserves of such structure
underlying both Concession Areas. The production allocated to a concession
area
shall be priced according to the concession agreement covering that concession
area.
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(f)
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CONTRACTOR
shall bear and pay all the costs and expenses required in carrying
out all
the operations under this Agreement but such costs and expenses
shall not
include any interest on investment. CONTRACTOR shall look only
to the
Petroleum to which it is entitled under this Agreement to recover
such
costs and expenses. Such costs and expenses shall be recoverable
as
provided in Article VII. During the term of this Agreement and
its
renewal, the total production achieved in the conduct of such operations
shall be divided between EGPC and CONTRACTOR in accordance with
the
provisions of Article VII.
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(g)
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(1)
Unless otherwise provided, CONTRACTOR shall be subject to Egyptian
income
tax laws and shall comply with the requirements of such laws with
respect
to the filing of returns, the assessment of tax, and keeping and
showing
of books and records.
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(2)
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CONTRACTOR's
annual income for Egyptian income tax purposes under this Agreement
shall
be an amount calculated as follows:
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The
total
of the sums received by CONTRACTOR from the sale or other disposition of
all
Petroleum acquired by CONTRACTOR pursuant to Article VII (a) and Article
VII
(b);
Reduced
by:
(i)
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The
costs and expenses of CONTRACTOR;
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(ii)
|
The
value as determined according to Article VII (c), of EGPC's share
of the
Excess Cost Recovery Petroleum repaid to EGPC in cash or in kind,
if
any,
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Plus:
An
amount
equal to CONTRACTOR's Egyptian income taxes grossed up in the manner shown
in
Article VI of Annex "E" .
For
purposes of above tax deductions in any Tax Year, Article VII (a) shall apply
only in respect of classification of costs and expenses and rates of
amortization, without regard to the percentage limitation referred to in
the
first paragraph of Article VII (a) (1). All costs and expenses of CONTRACTOR
in
conducting the operations under this Agreement which are not controlled by
Article VII (a) as above qualified shall be deductible in accordance with
the
provisions of the Egyptian Income Tax Law.
12
(3)
|
EGPC
shall assume, pay and discharge, in the name and on behalf of CONTRACTOR,
CONTRACTOR's Egyptian income tax out of EGPC's share of the Petroleum
produced and saved and not used in operations under Article VII.
All taxes
paid by EGPC in the name and on behalf of CONTRACTOR shall be considered
income to CONTRACTOR.
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(4)
|
EGPC
shall furnish to CONTRACTOR the proper official receipts evidencing
the
payment of CONTRACTOR's Egyptian income tax for each Tax Year within
ninety (90) days following the receipt by EGPC of CONTRACTOR's
tax
declaration for the preceding Tax Year. Such receipts shall be
issued by
the proper Tax Authorities and shall state the amount and other
particulars customary for such
receipts.
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(5)
|
As
used herein, Egyptian Income Tax shall be inclusive of all income
taxes
payable in the A.R.E. (including tax on tax) such as the tax on
income
from movable capital and the tax on profits from commerce and industry
and
inclusive of taxes based on income or profits including all dividends,
withholding with respect to shareholders and other taxes imposed
by the
GOVERNMENT of A.R.E. on the distribution of income or profits by
CONTRACTOR.
|
(6)
|
In
calculating its A.R.E. income taxes, EGPC shall be entitled to
deduct all
royalties paid by EGPC to the GOVERNMENT and CONTRACTOR's Egyptian
income
taxes paid by EGPC on CONTRACTOR's
behalf.
|
ARTICLE
IV
WORK
PROGRAM AND EXPENDITURES
DURING
EXPLORATION PERIOD
(a)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall commence Exploration operations hereunder not later than
six (6)
months after the Effective Date. Not later than the end of the
Twelfth
(12th
)
month after the Effective Date, CONTRACTOR shall start Exploratory
drilling operations in the Area during the initial Exploration
period with
a commitment of drilling two (2) well(s). EGPC shall make available
for
CONTRACTOR's use all seismic, xxxxx and other Exploration data
in EGPC's
possession with respect to the Area as EGPC is entitled to so
do.
|
13
(b)
|
The
initial Exploration period shall be three (3) years. CONTRACTOR
may extend
this Exploration period for two(2) successive extension periods
each of
two (2 ) years respectively in accordance with Article III (b),
each of
which upon at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to EGPC,
subject
to its expenditure of its minimum Exploration obligations and of
its
fulfillment of the drilling obligations hereunder, for the then
current
period.
|
CONTRACTOR
shall spend a minimum of three million and five hundred thousand ($3,500,000)
U.S. Dollars on Exploration operations and activities related thereto during
the
initial three (3) year Exploration period; provided that CONTRACTOR shall
drill
two (2) well(s). For the first two (2) year extension period that CONTRACTOR
elects to extend beyond the initial Exploration period, CONTRACTOR shall
spend a
minimum of four million ($4,000,000 ) U.S. Dollars and for the second two
(2)
year extension period that CONTRACTOR elects to extend beyond the two ( 2
) year
first extension period, CONTRACTOR shall also spend a minimum of four million
and five hundred thousand ($4,500,000) U.S. Dollars. During each of the first
and second extension periods that CONTRACTOR elects to extend beyond the
initial
Exploration period, CONTRACTOR shall drill two (2) well(s) .
Should
CONTRACTOR spend more than the minimum amount required to be expended or
drill
more xxxxx than the minimum required to be drilled during the initial three
(3)
year Exploration period, or during any period thereafter, the excess may
be
subtracted from the minimum amount of money required to be expended by
CONTRACTOR or minimum number of xxxxx required to be drilled during any
succeeding Exploration period(s) , as the case may be.
In
case
CONTRACTOR surrenders its Exploration rights under this Agreement as set
forth
above before or at the end of the three(3) years of the initial Exploration
period, having expended less than the total sum of three million and five
hundred thousand ($3,500,000) U.S. Dollars, on Exploration or in the event
at
the end of the three (3) years, CONTRACTOR has expended less than said sum
in
the Area, an amount equal to the difference between the said three million
and
five hundred thousand ($3,500,000) U.S. Dollars and the amount actually spent
on
Exploration shall be paid by CONTRACTOR to EGPC at the time of surrendering
or
within six (6) months from the end of the three (3) year of the initial
Exploration period, as the case may be. Any expenditure deficiency by CONTRACTOR
at the end of any additional period for the reasons above noted shall similarly
result in a payment by CONTRACTOR to EGPC of such deficiency. Provided this
Agreement is still in force as to CONTRACTOR, CONTRACTOR shall be entitled
to
recover any such payments as Exploration expenditure in the manner provided
for
under Article VII in the event of Commercial Production.
Without
prejudice to Article III (b), in case no Commercial Oil Discovery is established
or no notice of Commercial Gas Discovery is given by the end of the seventh
(7th) year, as may be extended pursuant to Article V (a) or in case CONTRACTOR
surrenders the Area under this Agreement prior to such time, EGPC shall not
bear
any of the aforesaid expenses spent by CONTRACTOR.
14
(c)
|
At
least four (4) months prior to the beginning of each Financial
Year or at
such other times as may mutually be agreed to by EGPC and CONTRACTOR,
CONTRACTOR shall prepare an Exploration Work Program and Budget
for the
Area setting forth the Exploration operations which CONTRACTOR
proposes to
carry out during the ensuing Year.
|
The
Exploration Work Program and Budget shall be reviewed by a joint committee
to be
established by EGPC and CONTRACTOR after the Effective Date of this Agreement.
This Committee, hereinafter referred to as the "Exploration Advisory Committee",
shall consist of six (6) members, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by
EGPC
and three (3) by CONTRACTOR. The Chairman of the Exploration Advisory Committee
shall be designated by EGPC from among the members appointed by it. The
Exploration Advisory Committee shall review and give such advice as it deems
appropriate with respect to the proposed Work Program and Budget. Following
review by the Exploration Advisory Committee, CONTRACTOR shall make such
revisions as CONTRACTOR deems appropriate and submit the Exploration Work
Program and Budget to EGPC for its approval.
Following
such approval, it is further agreed that:
(i)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall not substantially revise or modify said Work Program and
Budget nor
reduce the approved budgeted expenditure without the approval of
EGPC;
|
(ii)
|
In
the event of emergencies involving danger of loss of lives or property,
CONTRACTOR may expend such additional unbudgeted amounts as may
be
required to alleviate such danger. Such expenditure shall be considered
in
all aspects as Exploration expenditure and shall be recovered pursuant
to
the provisions of Article VII
hereof.
|
(d)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall advance all necessary funds for all materials, equipment,
supplies,
personnel administration and operations pursuant to the Exploration
Work
Program and Budget and EGPC shall not be responsible to bear or
repay any
of the aforesaid costs.
|
(e)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall be responsible for the preparation and performance of the
Exploration Work Program which shall be implemented in a workmanlike
manner and consistent with good industry practices.
|
Except
as
is appropriate for the processing of data, specialized laboratory engineering
and development studies thereon, to be made in specialized centers outside
A.R.E., all geological and geophysical studies as well as any other studies
related to the performance of this Agreement, shall be made in the
A.R.E.
15
CONTRACTOR
shall entrust the management of Exploration operations in the A.R.E. to its
technically competent General Manager and Deputy General Manager. The names
of
such Manager and Deputy General Manager shall, upon appointment, be forthwith
notified to the GOVERNMENT and to EGPC. The General Manager and, in his absence,
the Deputy General Manager shall be entrusted by CONTRACTOR with sufficient
powers to carry out immediately all lawful written directions given to them
by
the GOVERNMENT or its representative under the terms of this Agreement. All
lawful regulations issued or hereafter to be issued which are applicable
hereunder and not in conflict with this Agreement shall apply to
CONTRACTOR.
(f)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall supply EGPC, within thirty (30) days from the end of each
calendar
quarter, with a Statement of Exploration activity showing costs
incurred
by CONTRACTOR during such quarter. CONTRACTOR's records and necessary
supporting documents shall be available for inspection by EGPC
at any time
during regular working hours for three (3) months from the date
of
receiving each statement.
|
Within
the three (3) months from the date of receiving such Statement, EGPC shall
advise CONTRACTOR in writing if it considers:
(1)
|
that
the record of costs is not correct;
|
(2)
|
that
the costs of goods or services supplied are not in line with the
international market prices for goods or services of similar quality
supplied on similar terms prevailing at the time such goods or
services
were supplied, provided however, that purchases made and services
performed within the A.R.E. shall be subject to Article
XXVI;
|
(3)
|
that
the condition of the materials furnished by CONTRACTOR does not
tally with
their prices; or
|
(4)
|
that
the costs incurred are not reasonably required for
operations.
|
CONTRACTOR
shall confer with EGPC in connection with the problem thus presented, and
the
parties shall attempt to reach a settlement, which is mutually
satisfactory.
Any
reimbursement due to EGPC out of the Cost Recovery Petroleum as a result
of
reaching agreement or of an arbitral award shall be promptly made in cash
to
EGPC, plus simple interest at LIBOR plus two and half percent (2.5 %) per
annum
from the date on which the disputed amount(s) would have been paid to EGPC
according to Article VII (a) (2) and Annex "E" of this Agreement (i.e., the
date
of rendition of the relevant Cost Recovery Statement) to the date of payment.
The LIBOR rate applicable shall be the average of the figure or figures
published by the Financial Times representing the mid-point of the rates
(bid
and ask) applicable to one month U.S. Dollars deposits in the London Interbank
Eurocurrency Market on each fifteenth (15th) day of each month occurring
between
the date on which the disputed amount(s) would have been paid to EGPC and
the
date on which it is settled.
16
If
the
LIBOR rate is available on any fifteenth (15th) day but is not published
in the
Financial Times in respect of such day for any reason, the LIBOR rate chosen
shall be that offered by Citibank N.A. to other leading banks in the London
Interbank Eurocurrency Market for one month U.S. Dollar deposits.
If
such
fifteenth (15th) day is not a day on which LIBOR rates are quoted in the
London
Interbank Eurocurrency Market, the LIBOR rate to be used shall be that quoted
on
the next following day on which such rates are quoted.
If
within
the time limit of the three (3) month period provided for in this paragraph,
EGPC has not advised CONTRACTOR of its objection to any Statement, such
Statement shall be considered as approved.
(g)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall supply all funds necessary for its operations in the A.R.E.
under
this Agreement in freely convertible currency from abroad. CONTRACTOR
shall have the right to freely purchase Egyptian currency in the
amounts
necessary for its operations in the A.R.E. from any bank or entity
authorized by the GOVERNMENT to conduct foreign currency
exchanges.
|
(h)
|
EGPC
is authorized to advance to CONTRACTOR the Egyptian currency required
for
the operations under this Agreement against receiving from CONTRACTOR
an
equivalent amount of U.S. Dollars at the official A.R.E. rate of
exchange,
such amount in U.S. Dollars shall be deposited in an EGPC account
abroad
with a correspondent bank of the National Bank of Egypt, Cairo.
Withdrawals from said account shall be used for financing EGPC's
and its
Affiliated Companies' foreign currency requirements subject to
the
approval of the Minister of
Petroleum.
|
17
ARTICLE V
MANDATORY
AND VOLUNTARY RELINQUISHMENTS
(a)
|
MANDATORY:
|
At
the
end of the third (3rd) year after the Effective Date hereof, CONTRACTOR shall
relinquish to the GOVERNMENT a total of twenty five percent ( 25%) of the
original Area on the Effective date not then converted to a Development Lease
or
Lease(s). Such relinquishment shall be in a single unit of whole Exploration
Blocks not converted to Development Leases so as to enable the relinquishment
requirements to be precisely fulfilled.
At
the
end of the fifth (5th) year after the Effective Date hereof, CONTRACTOR shall
relinquish to the GOVERNMENT an additional twenty five percent ( 25% ) of
the
original Area on the Effective date not then converted to a Development Lease
or
Lease(s). Such relinquishment shall be in a single unit of whole Exploration
Blocks not converted to Development Leases so as to enable the relinquishment
requirements to be precisely fulfilled.
Without
prejudice to Articles III and XXIII and the last three paragraphs of this
Article V (a), at the end of the seventh (7th) year of the Exploration period,
CONTRACTOR shall relinquish the remainder of the Area not then converted
to a
Development Lease(s).
It
is
understood that at the time of any relinquishment the areas to be converted
into
Development Leases and which are submitted to the Minister of Petroleum for
his
approval according to Article III (d) shall, subject to such approval, be
deemed
converted to Development Leases.
CONTRACTOR
shall not be required to relinquish any Exploration Block or Blocks on which
a
Commercial Oil or Gas Well is discovered before the period of time referred
to
in Article III (c) given to CONTRACTOR to determine whether such Well is
a
Commercial Discovery worthy of Development or to relinquish an Exploration
Block
in respect of which a notice of Commercial Gas Discovery has been given to
EGPC
subject to EGPC's right to agree on the existence of a Commercial Discovery
pursuant to Article III (c), and without prejudice to the requirements of
Article III (e).
In
the
event at the end of the initial Exploration period or either of the two
successive extensions of the initial Exploration period, a well is actually
drilling or testing, CONTRACTOR shall be allowed up to six (6) months to
enable
it to discover a Commercial Oil or Gas Well or to establish a Commercial
Discovery, as the case may be. However, any such extension of up to six (6)
months shall reduce the length of the next succeeding Exploration Period,
as
applicable, by that amount.
18
(b)
|
VOLUNTARY:
|
CONTRACTOR
may, voluntarily, during any period relinquish all or any part of the Area
in
whole Exploration Blocks or parts of Exploration Blocks provided that at
the
time of such voluntary relinquishment its Exploration obligations under Article
IV (b) have been satisfied for such period.
Any
relinquishments hereunder shall be credited toward the mandatory provisions
of
Article V (a) .
Following
Commercial Discovery, EGPC and CONTRACTOR shall mutually agree upon any area
to
be relinquished thereafter, except for the relinquishment provided for above
at
the end of the total Exploration period.
ARTICLE
VI
OPERATIONS
AFTER COMMERCIAL DISCOVERY
(a)
|
On
Commercial Discovery, EGPC and CONTRACTOR shall form in the A.R.E.
an
operating company pursuant to Article VI (b) and Annex (D) (hereinafter
referred to as "Operating Company") which company shall be named
by mutual
agreement between EGPC and CONTRACTOR and such name shall be subject
to
the approval of the Minister of Petroleum. Said company shall be
a private
sector company. Operating Company shall be subject to the laws
and
regulations in force in the A.R.E. to the extent that such laws
and
regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement
or
the Charter of Operating Company.
|
However,
Operating Company and CONTRACTOR shall, for the purpose of this Agreement,
be
exempted from the following laws and regulations as now or hereafter amended
or
substituted:
-
|
Law
No. 48 of 1978, on the employee regulations of public sector
companies;
|
-
|
Law
No. 159 of 1981, promulgating the law on joint stock
companies;
|
-
|
Law
No. 97 of 1983 promulgating the law concerning public sector organizations
and companies;
|
-
|
Law
No. 203 of 1991 promulgating the law on public business sector
companies;
and
|
-
|
Law
No. 38 of 1994, organizing dealings in foreign
currencies.
|
19
(b)
|
The
Charter of Operating Company is hereto attached as Annex "D". Within
thirty (30) days after the date of Commercial Oil Discovery or
within
thirty (30) days after signature of a Gas Sales Agreement or commencement
of a scheme to dispose of Gas (unless otherwise agreed upon by
EGPC and
CONTRACTOR), the Charter shall take effect and Operating Company
shall
automatically come into existence without any further procedures.
The
Exploration Advisory Committee shall be dissolved forthwith upon
the
coming into existence of the Operating
Company.
|
(c)
|
Ninety
(90) days after the date Operating Company comes into existence
in
accordance with paragraph (b) above, it shall prepare a Work Program
and
Budget for further Exploration and Development for the remainder
of the
year in which the Commercial Discovery is made; and not later than
four
(4) months before the end of the current Financial Year (or such
other
date as may be agreed upon by EGPC and CONTRACTOR) and four (4)
months
preceding the commencement of each succeeding Financial Year thereafter
(or such other date as may be agreed upon by EGPC and CONTRACTOR),
Operating Company shall prepare an annual Production Schedule,
Work
Program and Budget for further Exploration and Development for
the
succeeding Financial Year. The Production Schedule, Work Program
and
Budget shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for
approval.
|
(d)
|
Not
later than the twentieth (20th) day of each month, Operating Company
shall
furnish to CONTRACTOR a written estimate of its total cash requirements
for expenditure for the first half and the second half of the succeeding
month expressed in U.S. Dollars having regard to the approved Budget.
Such
estimate shall take into consideration any cash expected to be
on hand at
month end.
|
Payment
for the appropriate period of such month shall be made to the correspondent
bank
designated in paragraph (e) below on the first (1st) day and fifteenth (15th)
day respectively, or the next following business day, if such day is not
a
business day.
(e)
|
Operating
Company is authorized to keep at its own disposal abroad in an
account
opened with a correspondent bank of the National Bank of Egypt,
Cairo, the
foreign funds advanced by CONTRACTOR. Withdrawals from said account
shall
be used for payment for goods and services acquired abroad and
for
transferring to a local bank in the A.R.E. the required amount
to meet the
expenditures in Egyptian Pounds for Operating Company in connection
with
its activities under this
Agreement.
|
Within
sixty (60) days after the end of each Financial Year, Operating Company shall
submit to the appropriate exchange control authorities in the A.R.E. a
statement, duly certified by a recognized firm of auditors, showing the funds
credited to that account, the disbursements made out of that account and
the
balance outstanding at the end of the Year.
20
(f)
|
If
and for as long during the period of production operations there
exists an
excess capacity in facilities which can not during the period of
such
excess be used by the Operating Company, EGPC and CONTRACTOR will
consult
together to find a mutually agreed formula whereby EGPC may use
the excess
capacity if it so desires without any unreasonable financial or
unreasonable operational disadvantage to the
CONTRACTOR.
|
ARTICLE
VII
RECOVERY
OF COSTS AND EXPENSES AND
PRODUCTION
SHARING
(a) (1)
|
Cost
Recovery Petroleum:
|
Subject
to the auditing provisions under this Agreement, CONTRACTOR shall recover
quarterly all costs, expenses and expenditures in respect of all the
Exploration, Development and related operations under this Agreement to the
extent and out of thirty percent (30%) of all Petroleum produced and saved
from
all Development Leases within the Area hereunder and not used in Petroleum
operations. Such Petroleum is hereinafter referred to as "Cost Recovery
Petroleum".
For
the
purpose of determining the classification of all costs, expenses and
expenditures for their recovery, the following terms shall apply:
1.
|
"Exploration
Expenditures" shall mean all costs and expenses for Exploration
and the
related portion of indirect expenses and
overheads.
|
2.
|
"Development
Expenditures" shall mean all costs and expenses for Development
(with the
exception of Operating Expenses) and the related portion of indirect
expenses and overheads.
|
3.
|
"Operating
Expenses" shall mean all costs, expenses and expenditures made
after
initial Commercial Production, which costs, expenses and expenditures
are
not normally depreciable.
|
21
However,
Operating Expenses shall include workover, repair and maintenance of assets
but
shall not include any of the following: sidetracking, redrilling and changing
of
the status of a well, replacement of assets or part of an asset, additions,
improvements, renewals or major overhauling that extend the life of the
asset.
Exploration
Expenditures, Development Expenditures and Operating Expenses shall be recovered
from Cost Recovery Petroleum in the following manner:-
(i)
|
Exploration
Expenditures, including those accumulated prior to the commencement
of
initial Commercial Production, which for the purposes of this Agreement
shall mean the date on which the first regular shipment of Crude
Oil or
the first deliveries of Gas are made, shall be recoverable at the
rate of
twenty five percent (25%) per annum starting either in the Tax
Year in
which such expenditures are incurred and paid or the Tax Year in
which
initial Commercial Production commences, whichever is the later
date.
|
(ii)
|
Development
Expenditures, including those accumulated prior to the commencement
of
initial Commercial Production which for the purposes of this Agreement
shall mean the date on which the first regular shipment of Crude
Oil or
the first deliveries of Gas are made, shall be recoverable at the
rate of
twenty five percent (25 %) per annum starting either in the Tax
Year in
which such expenditures are incurred and paid or the Tax Year in
which
initial Commercial Production commences, whichever is the later
date.
|
(iii)
|
Operating
Expenses, incurred and paid after the date of initial Commercial
Production, which for the purposes of this Agreement shall mean
the date
on which the first regular shipment of Crude Oil or the first deliveries
of Gas are made, shall be recoverable either in the Tax Year in
which such
costs and expenses are incurred and paid or the Tax Year in which
initial
Commercial Production occurs, whichever is the later
date.
|
(iv)
|
To
the extent that, in a Tax Year, costs, expenses or expenditures
recoverable per paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) preceding, exceed
the value
of all Cost Recovery Petroleum for such Tax Year, the excess shall
be
carried forward for recovery in the next succeeding Tax Year(s)
until
fully recovered, but in no case after the termination of this Agreement,
as to CONTRACTOR.
|
(v)
|
The
recovery of costs and expenses, based upon the rates referred to
above,
shall be allocated to each quarter proportionately (one fourth
to each
quarter). However, any recoverable costs and expenses not recovered
in one
quarter as thus allocated, shall be carried forward for recovery
in the
next quarter.
|
(2)
|
Except
as provided in Article VII (a) (3) and Article VII (e) (1), CONTRACTOR
shall each quarter be entitled to take and own all Cost Recovery
Petroleum, which shall be taken and disposed of in the manner determined
pursuant to Article VII (e). To the extent that the value of all
Cost
Recovery Petroleum [as determined in Article VII (c)] exceeds the
actual
recoverable costs and expenditures, including any carry forward
under
Article VII (a) (1) (iv), to be recovered in that quarter, then
the value
of such Excess Cost Recovery Petroleum shall be split between EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR in accordance with the percentages specified in Article
VII (b)
1 below and EGPC 's shares shall be paid by CONTRACTOR to EGPC
either (i)
in cash in the manner set forth in Article IV of the Accounting
Procedure
contained in Annex "E" or (ii) in kind in accordance with Article
VII(a)
(3).
|
22
(3)
|
Ninety
(90) days prior to the commencement of each Calendar Year EGPC
shall be
entitled to elect by notice in writing to CONTRACTOR to require
payment of
up to one hundred percent (100%) of EGPC's share of Excess Cost
Recovery
Petroleum in kind. Such payment will be in Crude Oil from the Area
F.O.B.
export terminal or other agreed delivery point provided that the
amount of
Crude Oil taken by EGPC in kind in a quarter shall not exceed the
value of
Cost Recovery Crude Oil actually taken and separately disposed
of by
CONTRACTOR from the Area during the previous quarter. If EGPC's
entitlement to receive payment of its share of Excess Cost Recovery
Petroleum in kind is limited by the foregoing provision, the balance
of
such entitlement shall be paid in
cash.
|
(b)
|
Production
Sharing
|
(1)
|
The
remaining seventy percent (70%) of the Petroleum shall be divided
between
EGPC and the CONTRACTOR according to the following shares: Such
shares
shall be taken and disposed of pursuant to Article VII
(e):
|
Crude
Oil
Crude
Oil produced and
saved
under this Agreement
and
not used in Petroleum
operations.
Barrels oil per day
(BOPD)
(quarterly average).
|
EGPC
SHARE
|
CONTRACTOR
SHARE
|
That
portion or increment
up
to 25,000 BOPD.
|
(Seventy
Five percent)
(75
%)
|
(Twenty
Five percent)
(25
%)
|
That
portion or increment
exceeding
25,000 BOPD
|
(Eighty
percent)
(80
%)
|
(Twenty
percent)
(
20%)
|
(ii)
|
Gas
and LPG
|
it
is
understood and agreed upon that the aforementioned production segment shall
apply to all Gas and LPG after converting to equivalent Barrels of crude
oil.
23
(2)
|
After
the end of each contractual year during the term of any Gas Sales
Agreement entered into pursuant to Article VII (e), EGPC and CONTRACTOR
(as sellers) shall render to EGPC (as buyer) a statement for an
amount of
Gas, if any, equal to the amount by which the quantity of Gas of
which
EGPC (as buyer) has taken delivery falls below seventy five percent
(75%)
of the Contract quantities of Gas as established by the applicable
Gas
Sales Agreement (the "Shortfall"), provided the Gas is available.
Within
sixty (60) days of receipt of the statement, EGPC (as buyer) shall
pay
EGPC and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) for the amount of the Shortfall,
if any.
The Shortfall shall be included in EGPC's and CONTRACTOR's entitlement
to
Gas pursuant to Article VII (a) and Article VII (b) in the fourth
(4th)
quarter of such contractual year.
|
Quantities
of Gas not taken but to be paid for shall be recorded in a separate Take-or-Pay
Account. Quantities of Gas ("Make Up Gas") which are delivered in subsequent
years in excess of seventy five percent (75%) of the contract quantities
of Gas
as established by the applicable Gas Sales Agreement, shall be set against
and
reduce quantities of Gas in the Take-or-Pay account to the extent thereof
and,
to that extent, no payment shall be due in respect of such Gas. Such Make
Up Gas
shall not be included in CONTRACTOR's entitlement to Gas pursuant to Article
VII
(a) and Article VII (b). CONTRACTOR shall have no rights to such Make Up
Gas.
The
percentages set forth in Article VII (a) and this Article VII (b) in respect
of
LPG produced from a plant constructed and operated by or on behalf of EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR shall apply to all LPG available for delivery.
(c)
|
Valuation
of Petroleum:
|
(1)
|
Crude
Oil:
|
(i)
|
The
Cost Recovery Crude Oil to which CONTRACTOR is entitled hereunder
shall be
valued by EGPC and CONTRACTOR at "Market Price" for each calendar
quarter.
|
(ii)
|
"Market
Price" shall mean the weighted average prices realized from sales
by EGPC
or CONTRACTOR during the quarter, whichever is higher, provided
that the
sales to be used in arriving at the weighted average(s) shall be
sales of
comparable quantities on comparable credit terms in freely convertible
currency from F.O.B. point of export sales to non-affiliated companies
at
arm's length under all Crude Oil sales contracts then in effect,
but
excluding Crude Oil sales contracts involving barter
and,
|
24
(1)
|
Sales,
whether direct or indirect, through brokers or otherwise, of EGPC
or
CONTRACTOR to any Affiliated
Company.
|
(2)
|
Sales
involving a quid pro quo other than payment in a freely convertible
currency or motivated in whole or in part by considerations other
than the
usual economic incentives for commercial arm's length crude oil
sales.
|
(iii)
|
It
is understood that in the case of C.I.F. sales, appropriate deductions
shall be made for transport and insurance charges to calculate
the F.O.B.
point of export price; and always taking into account the appropriate
adjustment for quality of Crude Oil, freight advantage or disadvantage
of
port of loading and other appropriate adjustments. Market Price
shall be
determined separately for each Crude Oil or Crude Oil mix, and
for each
port of loading.
|
(iv)
|
If
during any calendar quarter, there are no such sales by EGPC and/or
CONTRACTOR under the Crude Oil sales contracts in effect, EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR shall mutually agree upon the Market Price of the barrel
of
Crude Oil to be used for such quarter, and shall be guided by all
relevant
and available evidence including current prices in freely convertible
currency of leading crude oils produced by major oil producing
countries
(in the Arabian Gulf or the Mediterranean Area), which are regularly
sold
in the open market according to actual sales contracts terms but
excluding
paper sales and sales promises where no crude oil is delivered,
to the
extent that such sales are effected under such terms and conditions
(excluding the price) not significantly different from those under
which
the crude oil to be valued, was sold, and always taking into consideration
appropriate adjustments for crude oil quality, freight advantage
or
disadvantage of port of loading and other appropriate adjustments,
as the
case may be, for differences in gravity, sulphur, and other factors
generally recognized by sellers and purchasers, as reflected in
crude
prices, transportation ninety (90) days insurance premiums, unusual
fees
borne by the seller, and for credit terms in excess of sixty (60)
days,
and the cost of loans or guarantees granted for the benefit of
the sellers
at prevailing interest rates.
|
It
is the
intent of the Parties that the value of the Cost Recovery Crude Oil shall
reflect the prevailing market price for such Crude Oil.
(v)
|
If
either EGPC or CONTRACTOR considers that the Market Price as determined
under sub-paragraph (ii) above does not reflect the prevailing
Market
Price or in the event EGPC and CONTRACTOR fail to agree on Market
Price
for any Crude Oil produced under this Agreement for any quarter
within
fifteen (15) days after the end thereof, any party may elect at
any time
thereafter to submit to a single arbitrator the question, what
single
price per barrel, in the arbitrator's judgment, best represents
for the
pertinent quarter the Market Price for the Crude Oil in question.
The
arbitrator shall make his determination as soon as possible following
the
quarter in question. His determination shall be final and binding
upon all
the parties. The arbitrator shall be selected in the manner described
below.
|
25
In
the
event EGPC and CONTRACTOR fail to agree on the arbitrator within thirty (30)
days from the date any party notifies the other that it has decided to submit
the determination of the Market Price to an arbitrator, such arbitrator shall
be
chosen by the appointing authority designated in accordance with Article
XXIV
(e), or such other appointing authority with access to such expertise as
may be
agreed to between EGPC and CONTRACTOR, with regard to the qualifications
for
arbitrators set forth below, upon written application of one or both of EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR. Copies of such application by one of them shall be promptly sent
to
the other.
The
arbitrator shall be as nearly as possible a person with an established
reputation in the international petroleum industry as an expert in pricing
and
marketing crude oil in international commerce. The arbitrator shall not be
a
citizen of a country which does not have diplomatic relations with the A.R.E.,
and Canada. He may not be, at the time of selection, employed by, or an
arbitrator or consultant on a continuing or frequent basis to, the American
Petroleum Institute, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
or
the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, or a consultant on
a
continuing basis to EGPC, CONTRACTOR or an Affiliated Company of either,
but
past occasional consultation with such companies, with other petroleum
companies, governmental agencies or organizations shall not be a ground for
disqualification. He may not have been, at any time during the two (2) years
before selection, an employee of any petroleum company or of any governmental
agency or organization.
Should
a
selected person decline or be unable to serve as arbitrator or should the
position of arbitrator fall vacant prior to the decision called for, another
person shall be chosen in the same manner provided in this paragraph. EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR shall share equally the expenses of the arbitrator.
The
arbitrator shall make his determination in accordance with the provisions
of
this paragraph, based on the best evidence available to him. He will review
oil
sales contracts as well as other sales data and information but shall be
free to
evaluate the extent to which any contracts, data or information is substantiated
or pertinent. Representatives of EGPC and CONTRACTOR shall have the right
to
consult with the arbitrator and furnish him written materials provided the
arbitrator may impose reasonable limitations on this right. EGPC and CONTRACTOR
each shall cooperate with the arbitrator to the fullest extent and each shall
insure such cooperation of its trading companies. The arbitrator shall be
provided access to crude oil sales contracts and related data and information
which EGPC and CONTRACTOR or their trading companies are able to make available
and which in the judgment of the arbitrator might aid the arbitrator in making
a
valid determination.
26
(vi)
|
Pending
Market Price agreement by EGPC and CONTRACTOR or determination
by the
arbitrator, as applicable, the Market Price agreed for the quarter
preceding the quarter in question shall remain temporarily in effect.
In
the event either EGPC or CONTRACTOR should incur a loss by virtue
of the
temporary continuation of the Market Price of the previous quarter,
it
shall promptly be reimbursed such loss by the other party plus
simple
interest at the LIBOR plus two and one - half percent (2.5%) per
annum
rate provided for in Article IV (f) from the date on which the
disputed
amount(s) should have been paid to the date of
payment.
|
(2)
|
Gas
and LPG
|
(i)
|
The
Cost Recovery and Production Shares of Gas subject to a Gas Sales
Agreement between EGPC and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) and EGPC (as
buyer)
entered into pursuant to Article VII (e) shall be valued, delivered
to and
purchased by EGPC at a price determined monthly according to the
following
formula :
|
PG=
F x
H
Where
:
PG
= the
value of the Gas in U.S. Dollars per thousand cubic feet
(MCF).
H
= the
number of British Thermal Units (BTU’s) per thousand cubic
feet
(MCF) of Gas.
F
= a
value in U.S. Dollars per million British Thermal Units (mmbtu)
determined
monthly set as follows :
The
price
of Gas produced from EAST WADI ARABA Concession Agreement will be based on
the
Concession Agreement formula and defining the Gulf of Suez Blend price per
barrel as equal to Xxxxx crude price per barrel minus US$ 2.00 (two United
States Dollars) with minimum (floor) and maximum (ceiling) price according
to
the following table :
Price
of Xxxxx ( US$ / barrel )
|
F
(
US$ / mmbtu )
|
Less
than or equal to 12
|
1.50
|
Greater
than or equal to 24
|
2.50
|
27
Between the minimum and maximum Gas Price , following formula shall be applied :
PG
=
0.0233 x B (6.33 - { 0.07725 X B } ) x D
Where
:
PG
= The
same definition of PG above
B
=
Barrel Xxxxx xxxxx in U.S. Dollars
D |
=
The number in Millions British Thermal Units
|
(MMBTU’s)
per thousand cubic feet of Gas
|
(
The number of British Thermal Units per
|
1000
standard cubic feet)
|
Where
Xxxxx is the monthly average price expressed in US Dollars per barrel for
XXXXX
(DTD) quoted in “Xxxxx’x Oilgram Price Report” for “Spot Crude Price Assessment
- International” for the month in question.
In
the
event that the value of F cannot be determined because Xxxxx’x Oilgram Price
Report is not published at all during a month, the Parties shall meet and
agree
the value of Xxxxx by reference to other published sources. In the event
that
there are no such published sources or if the value of Xxxxx cannot be
determined pursuant to the foregoing for any other reason, the Parties shall
meet and agree a value of Xxxxx.
(ii)
|
The
Cost Recovery and Production Shares of LPG produced from a plant
constructed and operated by or on behalf of EGPC and CONTRACTOR
shall be
separately valued for Propane and Butane at the outlet of such
LPG plant
according to the following formula (unless otherwise agreed between
EGPC
and CONTRACTOR):
|
PLPG
= 0.95
PR -
(J X 0.85 X F
)
6
42.96
X
10
Where
PLPG
=
LPG price (separately determined for Propane and Butane) in U.S. Dollars
per
metric ton.
PR
= The
average over a period of a month of the figures representing the mid-point
between the high and low prices in U.S. Dollars per metric ton quoted in
"Xxxxx'x LPGaswire" during such month for Propane and Butane FOB Ex-Ref/Stor.
West Mediterranean.
28
J
= BTU's
removed from the Gas stream by the LPG plant per metric ton of LPG
produced.
F
= a
value in U.S. Dollars per metric ton of the crude oil of Gulf of Suez Blend
“FOB
Ras Shukheir” A.R.E. calculated by referring to “Xxxxx’x Oilgram Price Report”
during a month under the heading “Spot Crude Price Assessment for Suez Blend”.
This value reflects the total averages of the published low and high values
for
a Barrel during such month divided the number of days in such month for which
such values were quoted. The value per metric ton shall be calculated on
the
basis of a conversion factor to be agreed upon annually between EGPC and
CONTRACTOR.
In
the
event that Xxxxx’x LPGaswire is issued on certain days during a month but not on
other, the value of PR shall be calculated using only those issues which
are
published during such month. In the event that the value of PR can not be
determined because Xxxxx’x LPGaswire is not published at all during a month,
EGPC and CONTRACTOR shall meet and agree to the value of PR by reference
to
other published sources. In the event that there are no such other published
sources or if the value of PR cannot be determined pursuant to the foregoing
for
any other reason, EGPC and CONTRACTOR shall meet and agree the value of PR
by
reference to the value of LPG (Propane and Butane) delivered FOB from the
Mediterranean Area.
Such
valuation of LPG is based upon delivery at the delivery point specified in
Article VII (e) (2) (iii).
(iii)
|
The
prices of Gas and LPG so calculated shall apply during the same
month.
|
(iv)
|
The
Cost Recovery and Production Shares of Gas and LPG disposed of
by EGPC and
CONTRACTOR other than to EGPC pursuant to Article VII (e) shall
be valued
at their actual realized price.
|
(d)
|
Forecasts:
|
Operating
Company shall prepare (not less than ninety (90) days prior to the beginning
of
each calendar semester following first regular production) and furnish in
writing to CONTRACTOR and EGPC a forecast setting out a total quantity of
Petroleum that Operating Company estimates can be produced, saved and
transported hereunder during such calendar semester in accordance with good
oil
and gas industry practices.
29
Operating
Company shall endeavor to produce each calendar semester the forecast quantity.
The Crude Oil shall be run to storage tanks or offshore loading facilities
constructed, maintained and operated according to Government Regulations,
by
Operating Company in which said Crude Oil shall be metered or otherwise measured
for royalty, and other purposes required by this Agreement. Gas shall be
handled
by Operating Company in accordance with the provisions of Article VII (e)
.
(e)
|
Disposition
of Petroleum:
|
(1)
|
EGPC
and CONTRACTOR shall have the right and the obligation to separately
take
and freely export or otherwise dispose of, currently all of the
Crude Oil
to which each is entitled under Article VII (a) and Article VII
(b).
Subject to payment of sums due to EGPC under Article VII (a) (2)
and
Article IX, CONTRACTOR shall have the right to remit and retain
abroad all
funds acquired by it including the proceeds from the sale of its
share of
Petroleum.
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary under this Agreement priority shall be given to
meet
the requirements of the A.R.E. market from CONTRACTOR's share under Article
VII
(b) of the Crude Oil produced from the Area and EGPC shall have the preferential
right to purchase such Crude Oil at a price to be determined pursuant to
Article
VII (c). The amount of Crude Oil so purchased shall be a portion of CONTRACTOR's
share under Article VII (b). Such amount shall be proportional to CONTRACTOR's
share of the total production of crude oil from the concession areas in the
A.R.E. that are also subject to EGPC's preferential right to purchase. The
payment for such purchased amount shall be made by EGPC in U.S. Dollars or
in
any other freely convertible currency remittable by CONTRACTOR
abroad.
It
is
agreed upon that EGPC shall notify CONTRACTOR, at least forty-five (45) days
prior to the beginning of the Calendar Semester, of the amount to be purchased
during such semester under this Article VII (e) (1).
(2)
|
With
respect to Gas and LPG produced from the
Area:
|
(i)
|
Priority
shall be given to meet the requirements of the local market as
determined
by EGPC.
|
(ii) |
In
the event that EGPC is to be the buyer of Gas, the disposition
of Gas to
the local markets as indicated above shall be by virtue of long
term Gas
Sales Agreements to be entered into between EGPC and CONTRACTOR
(as
sellers) and EGPC (as buyer).
|
EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR (as sellers) shall have the obligation to deliver Gas to the
following point where such Gas shall be metered for sales, royalty, and other
purposes required by this Agreement:
30
(a)
|
In
the event no LPG plant is constructed to process such Gas, the
delivery
point shall be at the flange connecting the Lease pipeline to the
nearest
point on the National Gas Pipeline Grid System as depicted in Annex
"F"
hereto, or as otherwise agreed by EGPC and
CONTRACTOR.
|
(b)
|
In
the event an LPG plant is constructed to process such Gas, such
Gas shall,
for the purposes of valuation and sales, be metered at the inlet
to such
LPG Plant. However, notwithstanding the fact that the metering
shall take
place at the LPG Plant inlet, CONTRACTOR shall through the Operating
Company build a pipeline suitable for transport of the processed
Gas from
the LPG Plant outlet to the nearest point on the National Gas Pipeline
Grid System as depicted in Annex "F" hereto, or otherwise agreed
by EGPC
and CONTRACTOR. Such pipeline shall be owned in accordance with
Article
VIII (a) by EGPC, and its cost shall be financed and recovered
by
CONTRACTOR as Development Expenditures pursuant to Article
VII.
|
(iii)
|
EGPC
and CONTRACTOR shall consult together to determine whether to build
an LPG
plant for recovering LPG from any Gas produced hereunder. In the
event
EGPC and CONTRACTOR decide to build such a plant, the plant shall,
as is
appropriate, be in the vicinity of the point of delivery as determined
in
Article II and Article VII(e)2(ii). The delivery of LPG for, royalty
and
other purposes required by this Agreement shall be at the outlet
of the
LPG plant. The costs of any such LPG plant shall be recoverable
in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement unless the Minister
of
Petroleum agrees to accelerated
recovery.
|
(iv)
|
EGPC
(as buyer) shall have the option to elect, by ninety (90) days
prior
written notice to EGPC and CONTRACTOR (as sellers), whether payment
for
the Gas which is subject to a Gas Sales Agreement between EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR (as sellers) and EGPC (as buyer) and LPG produced from
a plant
constructed and operated by or on behalf of EGPC and CONTRACTOR,
as valued
in accordance with Article VII (c), and to which CONTRACTOR is
entitled
under the Cost Recovery and Production Sharing provisions of Article
VII,
of this Agreement, shall be made 1) in cash or 2) in
kind.
|
Payments
in cash shall be made by EGPC (as buyer) at intervals provided for in the
relevant Gas Sales Agreement in U.S. Dollars, remittable by CONTRACTOR
abroad.
Payments
in kind shall be calculated by converting the value of Gas and LPG to which
CONTRACTOR is entitled into equivalent barrels of Crude Oil to be taken
concurrently by CONTRACTOR from the Area, or to the extent that such Crude
Oil
is insufficient, Crude Oil from CONTRACTOR's other concession areas or such
other areas as may be agreed. Such Crude Oil shall be added to the Crude
Oil
that CONTRACTOR is otherwise entitled to lift under this Agreement. Such
equivalent barrels shall be calculated on the basis of the provisions of
Article
VII (c) relating to the valuation of Cost Recovery Crude Oil.
31
Provided
that:
(aa)
|
Payment
of the value of Gas and LPG shall always be made in cash in U.S.
Dollars
remittable by CONTRACTOR abroad to the extent that there is insufficient
Crude Oil available for conversion as provided for
above;
|
(bb)
|
Payment
of the value of Gas and LPG shall always be made in kind as provided
for
above to the extent that payments in cash are not made by
EGPC.
|
Payments
to CONTRACTOR (whether in cash or kind), when related to CONTRACTOR's Cost
Recovery Petroleum, shall be included in CONTRACTOR's Statement of Recovery
of
Costs and of Cost Recovery Petroleum referred to in Article IV of Annex "E"
of
this Agreement.
(v)
|
Should
EGPC (as buyer) fail to enter into a long-term Gas Sales Agreement
with
EGPC and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) within five (5) years (unless
otherwise
agreed) from a notice of Commercial Gas Discovery pursuant to Article
III,
EGPC and CONTRACTOR shall have the right to take and freely dispose
of the
quantity of Gas and LPG in respect of which the notice of Commercial
Discovery is given by exporting such Gas and
LPG.
|
(vi)
|
The
proceeds of sale of CONTRACTOR's share of Gas and LPG disposed
of pursuant
to the above sub-paragraph (v) may be freely remitted or retained
abroad
by CONTRACTOR.
|
(vii)
|
In
the event EGPC and CONTRACTOR agree to accept new Gas and LPG producers
to
join in an ongoing export project, such producers shall have to
contribute
a fair and equitable share of the investment
made.
|
(viii) (aa)
|
Upon
the expiration of the five (5) year period referred to in Article
VII (e)
(2) (v), CONTRACTOR shall have the obligation to exert its reasonable
efforts to find an export market for Gas
reserves.
|
(bb)
|
In
the event at the end of the five (5) year period referred to under
Article
VII (e) (2) (v), CONTRACTOR and EGPC have not entered into a Gas
Sales
Agreement, CONTRACTOR shall retain its rights to such Gas reserves
for a
further period of up to seven (7) years, subject to Article VII
(e) (2),
during which period EGPC shall attempt to find a market for Gas
reserves.
|
(cc)
|
In
the event that CONTRACTOR is not exporting the Gas and CONTRACTOR
has not
entered into a Gas Sales Agreement pursuant to Article VII (e)
(2) prior
to the expiry of twelve (12) years from CONTRACTOR's notice of
Commercial
Gas Discovery, CONTRACTOR shall surrender the Gas reserves in respect
of
which such notice has been given. It being understood that CONTRACTOR
shall, at any time prior to the expiry of such twelve (12) year
period,
surrender the Gas reserves, if CONTRACTOR is not exporting the
Gas and
CONTRACTOR does not accept an offer of a Gas Sales Agreement from
EGPC
within six (6) months from the date such offer is made provided
that the
Gas Sales Agreement offered to CONTRACTOR shall take into consideration
the relevant technical and economic factors to enable a commercial
contract including :
|
32
-
|
A
sufficient delivery rate.
|
-
|
Delivery
pressure to enter the National Gas Pipeline Grid System at the
point of
delivery.
|
-
|
Delivered
Gas quality specifications not more stringent than those imposed
or
required for the National Gas Pipeline Grid
System.
|
-
|
The
Gas prices as specified in this Agreement
.
|
(dd)
|
In
the event that CONTRACTOR has not entered into a Gas Sales Agreement
pursuant to Article VII (e) (2) or otherwise found an acceptable
scheme
for commercial disposal of such Gas , at the time of the expiration
of
twelve (12) years from CONTRACTOR’s notice of Commercial Discovery of Gas
or failing agreement with EGPC on gas disposal at the expiration
of twelve
(12) years , CONTRACTOR shall surrender to EGPC such Development
Lease (s)
in which Gas discovery is made.
|
(ix)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall not be obligated to surrender a Development Lease based on
a
Commercial Gas Discovery, if Crude Oil has been discovered in commercial
quantities in the same Development
Lease.
|
(f)
|
Operations:
|
If
following the reversion to EGPC of any rights to Crude Oil hereunder, CONTRACTOR
retains rights to Gas in the same Development Lease, or if, following surrender
of rights to Gas hereunder, CONTRACTOR retains rights to Crude Oil in the
same
Development Lease, operations to explore for or exploit the Petroleum, the
rights to which have reverted or been surrendered (Oil or Gas as the case
may
be) may only be carried out by Operating Company which shall act on behalf
of
EGPC alone, unless CONTRACTOR and EGPC agree otherwise.
33
g)
|
Tanker
Scheduling:
|
At
a
reasonable time prior to the commencement of Commercial Production EGPC and
CONTRACTOR shall meet and agree upon a procedure for scheduling tanker liftings
from the agreed upon point of export.
ARTICLE
VIII
TITLE
TO
ASSETS
(a)
|
EGPC
shall become the owner of all CONTRACTOR acquired and owned assets
which
assets were charged to Cost Recovery by CONTRACTOR in connection
with the
operations carried out by CONTRACTOR or Operating Company in accordance
with the following:
|
(1)
|
Land
shall become the property of EGPC as soon as it is
purchased.
|
(2)
|
Title
to fixed and movable assets shall be transferred automatically
and
gradually from CONTRACTOR to EGPC as they become subject to recovery
in
accordance with the provisions of Article VII; however the full
title to
fixed and movable assets shall be transferred automatically from
CONTRACTOR to EGPC when its total cost has been recovered by CONTRACTOR
in
accordance with the provisions of Article VII or at the time of
termination of this Agreement with respect to all assets chargeable
to the
operations whether recovered or not, whichever first
occurs.
|
The
book
value of the assets created during each calendar quarter shall be communicated
by CONTRACTOR to EGPC or by Operating Company to EGPC and CONTRACTOR within
thirty (30) days of the end of each quarter.
(b)
|
During
the term of this Agreement and the renewal period EGPC, CONTRACTOR
and
Operating Company are entitled to the full use and enjoyment of
all fixed
and movable assets referred to above in connection with operations
hereunder or under any other Petroleum concession agreement entered
into
by the Parties. Proper accounting adjustment shall be made. CONTRACTOR
and
EGPC shall not dispose of the same except with agreement of the
other.
|
(3)
|
CONTRACTOR
and Operating Company may freely import into the A.R.E., use therein
and
freely export at the end of such use, machinery and equipment which
they
either rent or lease in accordance with good industry practices,
including
but not limited to the lease of computer hardware and
software.
|
34
ARTICLE
IX
BONUSES
(a)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall pay to EGPC as a signature bonus the sum of three hundred
thousand
($300,000) U.S.Dollars on the Effective Date.
|
(b)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall pay to EGPC the sum of two million ($2,000,000) U.S. Dollars
as a
production bonus when the total average daily production from the
Area
first reaches the rate of twenty five (25,000) Barrels per day
for a
period of thirty (30) consecutive producing days. Payment will
be made
within fifteen (15) days
thereafter.
|
(c)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall also pay to EGPC the additional sum of four million ($4,000,000)
U.S. Dollars as a production bonus when the total average daily
production
from the Area first reaches the rate of fifty thousand (50,000)
Barrels
per day for a period of thirty (30) consecutive producing days.
Payment
will be made within fifteen (15) days
thereafter.
|
(d)
|
All
the above mentioned bonuses shall in no event be recovered by
CONTRACTOR.
|
(e)
|
In
the event that EGPC elects to develop any part of the Area pursuant
to the
sole risk provisions of Article III (c) (iv), production from such
sole
risk area shall be considered for the purposes of this Article
IX only if
CONTRACTOR exercises its option to share in such production, and
only from
the initial date of sharing.
|
(f)
|
Gas
shall be taken into account for purposes of determining the total
average
daily production from the Area under Article IX (b-c) by converting
daily
Gas delivered into equivalent barrels of daily Crude Oil production
in
accordance with the following
formula:
|
MSCF
x H x 0.136 = equivalent barrels of Crude
Oil
|
where
MSCF
= one thousand Standard Cubic Feet of
Gas.
|
H
=
the number of million British Thermal Units (BTU's per MSCF).
|
35
ARTICLE
X
OFFICE
AND SERVICE OF NOTICES
CONTRACTOR
shall maintain an office in A.R.E. at which notices shall be validly
served.
The
General Manager and Deputy General Manager shall be entrusted by CONTRACTOR
with
sufficient power to carry out immediately all local written directions given
to
them by the Government or its representatives under the terms of this Agreement.
All lawful regulations issued or hereafter to be issued which are applicable
hereunder and not in conflict with this Agreement shall apply to the duties
and
activities of the General Manager and Deputy General Manager.
All
matters and notices shall be deemed to be validly served which are delivered
to
the office of the General Manager or which are sent to him by registered
mail to
CONTRACTOR's office in the A.R.E.
All
matters and notices shall be deemed to be validly served which are delivered
to
the office of the Chairman of EGPC or which are sent to him by registered
mail
at EGPC's main office in Cairo.
ARTICLE
XI
SAVING
OF
PETROLEUM AND PREVENTION OF LOSS
(a)
|
Operating
Company shall take all proper measures, according to generally
accepted
methods in use in the oil and gas industry to prevent loss or waste
of
Petroleum above or under the ground in any form during drilling,
producing, gathering, and distributing or storage operations. The
GOVERNMENT has the right to prevent any operation on any well that
it
might reasonably expect would result in loss or damage to the well
or the
Oil or Gas field.
|
(b)
|
Upon
completion of the drilling of a productive well, Operating Company
shall
inform the GOVERNMENT or its representative of the time when the
well will
be tested and the production rate
ascertained.
|
(c)
|
Except
in instances where multiple producing formations in the same well
can only
be produced economically through a single tubing string, Petroleum
shall
not be produced from multiple oil bearing zones through one string
of
tubing at the same time, except with the prior approval of the
GOVERNMENT
or its representative, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
|
36
(d)
|
Operating
Company shall record data regarding the quantities of Petroleum
and water
produced monthly from each Development Lease. Such data shall be
sent to
the GOVERNMENT or its representative on the special forms provided
for
that purpose within thirty (30) days after the data are obtained.
Daily or
weekly statistics regarding the production from the Area shall
be
available at all reasonable times for examination by authorized
representatives of the GOVERNMENT.
|
(e)
|
Daily
drilling records and the graphic logs of xxxxx must show the quantity
and
type of cement and the amount of any other materials used in the
well for
the purpose of protecting Petroleum, gas bearing or fresh water
strata.
|
(f)
|
Any
substantial change of mechanical conditions of the well after its
completion shall be subject to the approval of the representative
of the
GOVERNMENT.
|
ARTICLE
XII
CUSTOMS
EXEMPTIONS
(a)
|
EGPC,
CONTRACTOR, and Operating Company shall be permitted to import
and shall
be exempted from customs duties, any taxes, levies or fees (including
fees
imposed by Ministerial Decision No. 254 of 1993 issued by the Minister
of
Finance, as now or hereafter amended or substituted) of any nature
(except
where an actual service has been rendered to CONTRACTOR by a competent
authority), and from the importation rules with respect to the
importation
of machinery, equipment, appliances, materials, items, means of
transport
and transportation (the exemption from taxes and duties for cars
shall
only apply to cars to be used in operations), electric appliances,
air
conditioners for offices, field housing and facilities, electronic
appliances, computer hardware and software, as well as spare parts
required for any of the imported items, all subject to a duly approved
certificate issued by the responsible representative nominated
by EGPC for
such purpose, which states that the imported items are required
for
conducting the operations pursuant to this Agreement . Such certificate
shall be final and binding and shall automatically result in the
importation and the exemption without any further approval, delay
or
procedure.
|
(b)
|
Machinery,
equipment, appliances and means of transport and transportation
imported
by EGPC's, CONTRACTOR's and Operating Company's contractors and
sub-contractors temporarily engaged in any activity pursuant to
the
operations which are the subject of this Agreement, shall be cleared
under
the "Temporary Release System" without payment of customs duties,
any
taxes, levies or fees (including fees imposed by Ministerial Decision
No.
254 of 1993 issued by the Minister of Finance, as now or hereafter
amended
or substituted) of any nature (except where an actual service has
been
rendered to CONTRACTOR by a competent authority), upon presentation
of a
duly approved certificate issued by an EGPC responsible representative
nominated by EGPC for such purpose which states, that the imported
items
are required for conducting the operations pursuant to this Agreement.
Items (excluding cars not to be used in operations) set out in
Article XII
(a) imported by EGPC's, CONTRACTOR's and Operating Company's contractors
and sub-contractors for the aforesaid operations, in order to be
installed
or used permanently or consumed shall meet the conditions for exemption
set forth in Article XII (a) after being duly certified by an EGPC
responsible representative to be used for conducting operations
pursuant
to this Agreement.
|
37
(c)
|
The
expatriate employees of CONTRACTOR, Operating Company and their
contractors and sub-contractors shall not be entitled to any exemptions
from customs duties and other ancillary taxes and charges except
within
the limits of the provisions of the laws and regulations applicable
in the
A.R.E. However, personal household goods and furniture (including
one (1)
car) for each expatriate employee of CONTRACTOR and/or Operating
company
shall be cleared under the "Temporary Release System" (without
payment of
any customs duties and other ancillary taxes) upon presentation
of a
letter to the appropriate customs authorities by CONTRACTOR or
Operating
Company approved by an EGPC responsible representative that the
imported
items are imported for the sole use of the expatriate employee
and his
family, and that such imported items shall be re-exported outside
the
A.R.E. upon the repatriation of the concerned expatriate
employee.
|
(d) |
Items
imported into the A.R.E. whether exempt or not exempt from customs
duties
and other ancillary taxes and charges hereunder, may be exported
by the
importing party at any time after obtaining EGPC's approval, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, without any export
duties,
taxes or charges or any taxes or charges from which such items
have been
already exempt, being applicable. Such items may be sold within
the A.R.E.
after obtaining the approval of EGPC which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld. In this event, the purchaser of such items
shall
pay all applicable customs duties and other ancillary taxes and
charges
according to the condition and value of such items and the tariff
applicable on the date of sale, unless such items have already
been sold
to an Affiliated Company of CONTRACTOR, if any, or EGPC, having
the same
exemption, or unless title to such items (excluding cars not used
in
operations) has passed to EGPC.
|
In
the
event of any such sale under this paragraph (d), the proceeds from such sale
shall be divided in the following manner:
CONTRACTOR
shall be entitled to reimbursement of its unrecovered cost, if any, in such
items and the excess, if any, shall be paid to EGPC.
(e)
|
The
exemption provided for in Article XII (a) shall not apply to any
imported
items when items of the same or substantially the same kind and
quality
are manufactured locally meeting CONTRACTOR's and/or Operating
Company's
specifications for quality and safety and are available for timely
purchase and delivery in the A.R.E. at a price not higher than
ten percent
(10%) of the cost of the imported item, before customs duties but
after
freight and insurance costs if any have been
added.
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38
(f)
|
CONTRACTOR,
EGPC and their respective buyers shall have the right to freely
export the
Petroleum produced from the Area pursuant to this Agreement; no
license
shall be required, and such petroleum shall be exempted from any
customs
duties, any taxes, levies or any other imposts in respect of the
export of
Petroleum hereunder.
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ARTICLE
XIII
BOOKS
OF
ACCOUNT: ACCOUNTING AND PAYMENTS
(a)
|
EGPC,
CONTRACTOR and Operating Company shall each maintain at their business
offices in the A.R.E. books of account, in accordance with the
Accounting
Procedure in Annex "E" and accepted accounting practices generally
used in
the petroleum industry, and such other books and records as may
be
necessary to show the work performed under this Agreement, including
the
amount and value of all Petroleum produced and saved hereunder.
CONTRACTOR
and Operating Company shall keep their books of account and accounting
records in United States Dollars.
|
Operating
Company shall furnish to the GOVERNMENT or its representatives monthly returns
showing the amount of Petroleum produced and saved hereunder. Such returns
shall
be prepared in the form required by the GOVERNMENT, or its representative
and
shall be signed by the General Manager or by the Deputy General Manager or
a
duly designated deputy and delivered to the GOVERNMENT or its representative
within thirty (30) days after the end of the month covered in the
return.
(b)
|
The
aforesaid books of account and other books and records referred
to above
shall be available at all reasonable times for inspection by duly
authorized representatives of the
GOVERNMENT.
|
(c)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall submit to EGPC a Profit and Loss Statement of its Tax Year
not later
than four (4) months after the commencement of the following Tax
Year to
show its net profit or loss from the Petroleum operations under
this
Agreement for such Tax Year.
|
CONTRACTOR
shall at the same time submit a year-end Balance Sheet for the same Tax Year
to
EGPC. The Balance Sheet and financial statements shall be certified by an
Egyptian certified accounting firm.
39
ARTICLE
XIV
RECORDS,
REPORTS AND INSPECTION
(a)
|
CONTRACTOR
and/or Operating Company shall prepare and, at all times while
this
Agreement is in force, maintain accurate and current records of
its
operations in the Area. CONTRACTOR and/or Operating Company shall
furnish
the GOVERNMENT or its representative, in conformity with applicable
regulations or as the GOVERNMENT or its representative may reasonably
require information and data concerning its operations under this
Agreement. Operating Company will perform the functions indicated
in this
Article XIV in accordance with its role as specified in Article
VI.
|
(b)
|
CONTRACTOR
and/or Operating Company shall save and keep for a reasonable period
of
time a representative portion of each sample of cores and cuttings
taken
from drilling xxxxx, to be disposed of, or forwarded to the GOVERNMENT
or
its representative in the manner directed by the GOVERNMENT. All
samples
acquired by CONTRACTOR and/or Operating Company for their own purposes
shall be considered available for inspection at any reasonable
time by the
GOVERNMENT or its representatives.
|
(c)
|
Unless
otherwise agreed to by EGPC, in case of exporting any rock samples
outside
A.R.E., samples equivalent in size and quality shall, before such
exportation, be delivered to EGPC as representative of the
GOVERNMENT.
|
(d)
|
Originals
of records can only be exported with the permission of EGPC; provided,
however, that magnetic tapes and any other data which must be processed
or
analyzed outside the A.R.E. may be exported if a monitor or a comparable
record, if available, is maintained in the A.R.E. and provided
that such
exports shall be repatriated to A.R.E. promptly following such
processing
or analysis on the understanding that they belong to
EGPC.
|
(e)
|
During
the period CONTRACTOR is conducting the Exploration operations,
EGPC's
duly authorized representatives or employees shall have the right
to full
and complete access to the Area at all reasonable times with the
right to
observe the operations being conducted and to inspect all assets,
records
and data kept by CONTRACTOR. EGPC's representative, in exercising
its
rights under the preceding sentence of this paragraph (e), shall
not
interfere with CONTRACTOR's operations. CONTRACTOR shall provide
EGPC with
copies of any and all data (including, but not limited to, geological
and
geophysical reports, logs and well surveys) information and interpretation
of such data, and other information in CONTRACTOR's
possession.
|
40
For
the
purpose of obtaining new offers, the GOVERNMENT and/or EGPC may, after the
seventh (7th) year of the Exploration period or the date of
termination of this Agreement, whichever is the earlier, show any other party
uninterpreted basic geophysical and geological data (such data to be not
less
than one (1) year old unless CONTRACTOR agrees to a shorter period, which
agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld) with respect to the Area, provided
that the GOVERNMENT and/or EGPC may at any time show another party such data
directly obtained over or acquired from those parts of the Area which CONTRACTOR
has relinquished as long as such data is at least one (1) year old.
ARTICLE
XV
RESPONSIBILITY
FOR DAMAGES
CONTRACTOR
shall entirely and solely be responsible in law toward third parties for
any
damage caused by CONTRACTOR's Exploration operations and shall indemnify
the
GOVERNMENT and/or EGPC against all damages for which
they may be held liable on account of any such operations.
ARTICLE
XVI
PRIVILEGES
OF GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES
Duly
authorized representatives of the GOVERNMENT shall have access to the Area
covered by this Agreement and to the Operations conducted thereon. Such
representatives may examine the books, registers and records of EGPC, CONTRACTOR
and Operating Company and make a reasonable number of surveys, drawings and
tests for the purpose of enforcing this Agreement. They shall, for this purpose,
be entitled to make reasonable use of the machinery and instruments of
CONTRACTOR or Operating Company on the condition that no danger or impediment
to
the operations hereunder shall arise directly or indirectly from such use.
Such
representatives shall be given reasonable assistance by the agents and employees
of CONTRACTOR or Operating Company so that none of the activities shall endanger
or hinder the safety or efficiency of the operations. CONTRACTOR or Operating
Company shall offer such representatives all privileges and facilities accorded
to its own employees in the field and shall provide them, free of charge,
the
use of reasonable office space and of adequately furnished housing while
they
are in the field for the purpose of facilitating the objectives of this Article.
Without prejudice to Article XIV (e) any and all information obtained by
the
GOVERNMENT or its representatives under this Article XVI shall be kept
confidential with respect to the Area.
41
ARTICLE XVII
EMPLOYMENT
RIGHTS AND TRAINING OF
ARAB
REPUBLIC OF EGYPT PERSONNEL
(a)
|
It
is the desire of EGPC and CONTRACTOR that operations hereunder
be
conducted in a business-like and efficient
manner.
|
(1)
|
The
expatriate administrative, professional and technical personnel
employed
by CONTRACTOR or Operating Company and the personnel of its contractors
for the conduct of the operations hereunder, shall be granted a
residence
as provided for in Law No. 89 of 1960 as amended and Ministerial
Order No.
280 of 1981 as amended, and CONTRACTOR agrees that all immigration,
passport, visa and employment regulations of the A.R.E., shall
be
applicable to all alien employees of CONTRACTOR working in the
A.R.E.
|
(2)
|
A
minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the combined salaries and
wages of
each of the expatriate administrative, professional and technical
personnel employed by CONTRACTOR or Operating Company shall be
paid
monthly in Egyptian Currency.
|
(b)
|
CONTRACTOR
and Operating Company shall each select its employees and determine
the
number thereof, to be used for operations
hereunder.
|
42
(c)
|
CONTRACTOR,
shall after consultation with EGPC, prepare and carry out specialized
training programs for all its A.R.E. employees engaged in operations
hereunder with respect to applicable aspects of the petroleum industry.
CONTRACTOR and Operating Company undertake to replace gradually
their
non-executive expatriate staff by qualified nationals as they are
available.
|
(d)
|
During
any of the Exploration phases, CONTRACTOR shall give mutually agreed
numbers of EGPC employees an opportunity to attend and participate
in
CONTRACTOR's and CONTRACTOR's Affiliated Companies training programs
relating to Exploration and Development operations. In the event
that the
total cost of such programs is less than fifty thousand (50,000)
United
States Dollars in any Financial Year during such period, CONTRACTOR
shall
pay EGPC the amount of the shortfall within thirty (30) days following
the
end of such Financial Year. However, EGPC shall have the right
that said
amount (U.S.$50,000) allocated for training, be paid directly to
EGPC for
such purpose.
|
ARTICLE
XVIII
LAWS
AND
REGULATIONS
(a)
|
CONTRACTOR
and Operating Company shall be subject to Law No. 66 of 1953 (excluding
Article 37 thereof) as amended by Law No. 86 of 1956 and the regulations
issued for the implementation thereof, including the regulations
for the
safe and efficient performance of operations carried out for the
execution
of this Agreement and for the conservation of the petroleum resources
of
the A.R.E. provided that no regulations, or modification or interpretation
thereof, shall be contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions
of this
Agreement.
|
(b)
|
CONTRACTOR
and Operating Company shall be subject to the provisions of the
Law No. 4
of 1994 concerning the environment and its executive regulation
as may be
amended , as well as any laws or regulations may be issued , concerning
the protection of the environment
|
(c)
|
Except
as provided in Article III (g) for Income Taxes, EGPC, CONTRACTOR
and
Operating Company shall be exempted from all taxes and duties,
whether
imposed by the GOVERNMENT or municipalities including among others,
Sales
Tax, Value Added Tax and Taxes on the Exploration, Development,
extracting, producing, exporting or transporting of Petroleum and
LPG as
well as any and all withholding taxes that might otherwise be imposed
on
dividends, interest, technical service fees, patent and trademark
royalties, and similar items. CONTRACTOR shall also be exempted
from any
tax on the liquidation of CONTRACTOR, or distributions of any income
to
the shareholders of CONTRACTOR, and from any tax on capital.
|
(d)
|
The
rights and obligations of EGPC and CONTRACTOR under, and for the
effective
term of this Agreement shall be governed by and in accordance with
the
provisions of this Agreement and can only be altered or amended
by the
written mutual agreement of the said contracting
parties.
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43
(e)
|
The
contractors and sub-contractors of CONTRACTOR and Operating Company
shall
be subject to the provisions of this Agreement which affect them.
Insofar
as all regulations which are duly issued by the GOVERNMENT apply
from time
to time and are not in accord with the provisions of this Agreement,
such
regulations shall not apply to CONTRACTOR, Operating Company and
their
respective contractors and sub-contractors, as the case may
be.
|
(f)
|
EGPC,
CONTRACTOR, Operating Company and their respective contractors
and
sub-contractors shall for the purposes of this Agreement be exempted
from
all professional stamp duties, imposts and levies imposed by syndical
laws
with respect to their documents and activities
hereunder.
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(g)
|
All
the exemptions from the application of the A.R.E. laws or regulations
granted to EGPC, CONTRACTOR, the Operating Company, their contractors
and
sub-contractors under this Agreement shall include such laws and
regulations as presently in effect or hereafter amended or
substituted.
|
ARTICLE
XIX
STABILIZATION
In
case
of changes in existing legislation or regulations applicable to the conduct
of
Exploration, Development and production of Petroleum, which take place after
the
Effective Date, and which significantly affect the economic interest of this
Agreement to the detriment of CONTRACTOR or which imposes on CONTRACTOR an
obligation to remit to the A.R.E. the proceeds from sales of CONTRACTOR's
Petroleum, CONTRACTOR shall notify EGPC of the subject legislative or regulatory
measure. In such case, the Parties shall negotiate possible modifications
to
this Agreement designed to restore the economic balance thereof which existed
on
the Effective Date.
The
Parties shall use their best efforts to agree on amendments to this Agreement
within ninety (90) days from aforesaid notice.
These
amendments to this Agreement shall not in any event diminish or increase
the
rights and obligations of CONTRACTOR as these were agreed on the Effective
Date.
Failing
agreement between the Parties during the period referred to above in this
Article XIX , the dispute may be submitted to arbitration, as provided in
Article XXIV of this Agreement.
44
ARTICLE
XX
RIGHT
OF
REQUISITION
(a)
|
In
case of national emergency due to war or imminent expectation of
war or
internal causes, the GOVERNMENT may requisition all or part of
the
production from the Area obtained hereunder and require Operating
Company
to increase such production to the utmost possible maximum. The
GOVERNMENT
may also requisition the Oil and/or Gas field itself and, if necessary,
related facilities.
|
(b)
|
In
any such case, such requisition shall not be effected except after
inviting EGPC and CONTRACTOR or their representative by registered
letter,
with acknowledgement of receipt, to express their views with respect
to
such requisition.
|
(c)
|
The
requisition of production shall be effected by Ministerial Order.
Any
requisition of an Oil and/or Gas field, or any related facilities
shall be
effectedby a Presidential Decree duly notified to EGPC and
CONTRACTOR.
|
(d)
|
In
the event of any requisition as provided above, the GOVERNMENT
shall
indemnify in full EGPC and CONTRACTOR for the period during which
the
requisition is maintained,
including:
|
(1)
|
All
damages which result from such requisition;
and
|
(2) |
Full
repayment each month for all Petroleum extracted by the GOVERNMENT
less
the royalty share of such
production.
|
However,
any damage resulting from enemy attack is not within the meaning of this
paragraph (d). Payment hereunder shall be made to CONTRACTOR in U.S. Dollars
remittable abroad. The price paid to CONTRACTOR for Petroleum taken shall
be
calculated in accordance with Article VII (c).
ARTICLE
XXI
ASSIGNMENT
(a)
|
Neither
EGPC nor CONTRACTOR may assign to a person, firm or corporation,
in whole
or in part, any of its rights, privileges, duties or obligations
under
this Agreement without the written consent of the
GOVERNMENT.
|
(b)
|
To
enable consideration to be given to any request for such consent,
the
following conditions must be
fulfilled:
|
45
(1)
|
The
obligations of the assignor deriving from this Agreement must have
been
duly fulfilled as of the date such request is
made.
|
(2)
|
The
instrument of assignment must include provisions stating precisely
that
the assignee is bound by all covenants contained in this Agreement
and any
modifications or additions in writing that up to such time may
have been
made. A draft of such instrument of assignment shall be submitted
to EGPC
for review and approval before being formally
executed.
|
(c)
|
Any
assignment, sale, transfer or other such conveyance made pursuant
to the
provisions of this Article XXI shall be free of any transfer, capital
gains taxes or related taxes, charges or fees including without
limitation, all Income Tax, Sales Tax, Value Added Tax, Stamp Duty,
or
other Taxes or similar payments.
|
(d)
|
As
long as the assignor shall hold any interest under this Agreement,
the
assignor together with the assignee shall be jointly and severally
liable
for all duties and obligations of CONTRACTOR under this
Agreement.
|
ARTICLE
XXII
BREACH
OF
AGREEMENT AND POWER TO CANCEL
(a)
|
The
GOVERNMENT shall have the right to cancel this Agreement by Order
or
Presidential Decree, with respect to CONTRACTOR, in the following
instances:
|
(1)
|
If
it knowingly has submitted any false statements to the GOVERNMENT
which
were of a material consideration for the execution of this
Agreement;
|
(2)
|
If
it assigns any interest hereunder contrary to the provisions of
Article
XXI;
|
(3)
|
If
it is adjudicated bankrupt by a court of competent
jurisdiction;
|
(4)
|
If
it does not comply with any final decision reached as the result
of court
proceedings conducted under Article
XXIV(a);
|
(5)
|
If
it intentionally extracts any mineral other than Petroleum not
authorized
by this Agreement or without the authority of the GOVERNMENT, except
such
extractions as may be unavoidable as the result of the operations
conducted hereunder in accordance with accepted petroleum industry
practice and which shall be notified to the GOVERNMENT or its
representative as soon as possible;
and
|
46
(6)
|
If
it commits any material breach of this Agreement or of the provisions
of
Law No. 66 of 1953, as amended by Law No. 86 of 1956, which are
not
contradicted by the provisions of this
Agreement.
|
Such
cancellation shall take place without prejudice to any rights which may have
accrued to the GOVERNMENT against CONTRACTOR in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement, and, in the event of such cancellation, CONTRACTOR, shall
have the right to remove from the Area all its personal property.
(b)
|
If
the GOVERNMENT deems that one of the aforesaid causes (other than
a force
majeure cause referred to in Article XXIII) exists to cancel this
Agreement, the GOVERNMENT shall give CONTRACTOR ninety (90) days
written
notice personally served on CONTRACTOR's General Manager in the
legally
official manner and receipt of which is acknowledged by him or
by his
legal agents, to remedy and remove such cause; but if for any reason
such
service is impossible due to unnotified change of address, publication
in
the Official Journal of the GOVERNMENT of such notice shall be
considered
as valid service upon CONTRACTOR. If at the end of the said ninety
(90)
day notice period such cause has not been remedied and removed,
this
Agreement may be canceled forthwith by Order or Presidential Decree
as
aforesaid; provided however, that if such cause, or the failure
to remedy
or remove such cause, results from any act or omission of one party,
cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective only against
that party
and not as against any other party
hereto.
|
ARTICLE
XXIII
FORCE
MAJEURE
(a)
|
The
non-performance or delay in performance by EGPC and CONTRACTOR,
or either
of them of any obligation under this Agreement shall be excused
if, and to
the extent that, such non-performance or delay is caused by force
majeure.
The period of any such non-performance or delay, together with
such period
as may be necessary for the restoration of any damage done during
such
delay, shall be added to the time given in this Agreement for the
performance of such obligation and for the performance of any obligation
dependent thereon and consequently, to the term of this Agreement,
but
only with respect to the block or blocks
affected.
|
(b)
|
"Force
Majeure" within the meaning of this Article XXIII, shall be any
order,
regulation or direction of the GOVERNMENT of the ARAB REPUBLIC
OF EGYPT,
whether promulgated in the form of a law or otherwise or any act
of God,
insurrection, riot, war, strike, and other labor disturbance, fires,
floods or any cause not due to the fault or negligence of EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR or either of them, whether or not similar to the foregoing,
provided that any such cause is beyond the reasonable control of
EGPC and
CONTRACTOR, or either of them.
|
47
(c)
|
Without
prejudice to the above and except as may be otherwise provided
herein, the
GOVERNMENT shall incur no responsibility whatsoever to EGPC and
CONTRACTOR, or either of them for any damages, restrictions or
loss
arising in consequence of such case of force majeure except a force
majeure caused by the order, regulations or direction of the GOVERNMENT
of
the ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT.
|
(d)
|
If
the force majeure event occurs during the initial Exploration period
or
any extension thereof and continues in effect for a period of six
(6)
months CONTRACTOR shall have the option upon ninety (90) days prior
written notice to EGPC to terminate its obligations hereunder without
further liability of any kind.
|
ARTICLE
XXIV
DISPUTES
AND ARBITRATION
(a)
|
Any
dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
Agreement
or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof, between the GOVERNMENT
and the parties shall be referred to the jurisdiction of the appropriate
A.R.E. Courts and shall be finally settled by such
Courts.
|
(b)
|
Any
dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, or breach, termination or invalidity thereof between
EGPC and
CONTRACTOR shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the
Arbitration Rules of the Cairo Regional Center for International
Commercial Arbitration (the Center) in effect on the date of this
Agreement. The award of the arbitrators shall be final and binding
on the
parties.
|
(c)
|
The
number of arbitrators shall be three
(3).
|
(d)
|
Each
party shall appoint one arbitrator. If, within thirty (30) days
after
receipt of the claimant's notification of the appointment of an
arbitrator
the respondent has not notified the claimant in writing of the
name of the
arbitrator he appoints, the claimant may request the Center to
appoint the
second arbitrator.
|
(e)
|
The
two arbitrators thus appointed shall choose the third arbitrator
who will
act as the presiding arbitrator of the tribunal. If within thirty
(30)
days after the appointment of the second arbitrator, the two arbitrators
have not agreed upon the choice of the presiding arbitrator, then
either
party may request the Secretary General of the Permanent Court
of
Arbitration at the Hague to designate the appointing authority.
Such
appointing authority shall appoint the presiding arbitrator in
the same
way as a sole arbitrator would be appointed under Article 6.3 of
the
UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. Such presiding arbitrator shall be
a person of
a nationality other than the A.R.E. or CANADA and of a country
which has
diplomatic relations with A.R.E., and CANADA and who shall have
no
economic interest in the Petroleum business of the signatories
hereto.
|
48
(f)
|
Unless
otherwise agreed by the parties to the arbitration, the arbitration,
including the making of the award, shall take place in Cairo,
A.R.E.
|
(g)
|
The
decision of a majority of the arbitrators shall be final and binding
upon
the Parties and the arbitral award rendered shall be final and
conclusive.
Judgment on the arbitral award rendered, may be entered in any
court
having Jurisdiction or application may be made in such court for
a
judicial acceptance of the award and for enforcement, as the case
may
be.
|
(h)
|
Egyptian
Law shall apply to the dispute except that in the event of any
conflict
between Egyptian Laws and this Agreement the provisions of this
Agreement
(including the arbitration provision) shall prevail. The arbitration
shall
be conducted in both English and Arabic
language.
|
(i)
|
EGPC
and CONTRACTOR agree that if, for whatever reason, arbitration
in
accordance with the above procedure cannot take place, or is likely
to
take place under circumstances for CONTRACTOR which could prejudice
CONTRACTOR's right to fair arbitration, all disputes, controversies
or
claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach,
termination or invalidity thereof shall be settled by ad hoc arbitration
in accordance with the UNCITRAL Rules in effect on the Effective
Date.
|
ARTICLE
XXV
STATUS
OF
PARTIES
(a)
|
The
rights, duties, obligations and liabilities in respect of EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR hereunder shall be several and not joint or collective,
it
being understood that this Agreement shall not be construed as
constituting an association or corporation or
partnership.
|
49
(b)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall be subject to the laws of the place where it is incorporated
regarding its legal status or creation, organization, charter and
by-laws,
shareholding, and ownership.
|
CONTRACTOR's
shares of capital which are entirely held abroad shall not be negotiable
in the
A.R.E. and shall not be offered for public subscription nor shall be subject
to
the stamp tax on capital shares nor any tax or duty in the A.R.E.
CONTRACTOR
shall be exempted from the application of Law No. 159 of 1981 as
amended.
(c)
|
All
CONTRACTOR Members shall be jointly and severally liable for the
performance of the obligations of CONTRACTOR under this
Agreement.
|
ARTICLE
XXVI
LOCAL
CONTRACTORS AND
LOCALLY
MANUFACTURED MATERIAL
CONTRACTOR
or Operating Company, as the case may be, and their contractors
shall:
(a)
|
Give
priority to local contractors and sub-contractors, including EGPC's
Affiliated Companies as long as their performance is comparable
with
international performance and the prices of their services are
not higher
than the prices of other contractors and sub-contractors by more
than ten
percent (10%).
|
(b)
|
Give
preference to locally manufactured material, equipment, machinery
and
consumables so long as their quality and time of delivery are comparable
to internationally available material, equipment, machinery and
consumables. However, such material, equipment, machinery and consumables
may be imported for operations conducted hereunder if the local
price of
such items at CONTRACTOR's or Operating Company's operating base
in A.R.E.
is more than ten percent (10%) higher than the price of such imported
items before customs duties, but after transportation and insurance
costs
have been added.
|
50
ARTICLE
XXVII
ARABIC
TEXT
The
Arabic version of this Agreement shall, before the courts of A.R.E. be referred
to in construing or interpreting this Agreement; provided however, that in
any
arbitration pursuant to Article XXIV herein above between EGPC and CONTRACTOR
the English and Arabic versions shall both be referred to as having equal
force
in construing or interpreting the Agreement.
ARTICLE
XXVIII
GENERAL
The
headings or titles to each of the Articles to this Agreement are solely for
the
convenience of the parties hereto and shall not be used with respect to the
interpretation of said Articles.
ARTICLE
XXIX
APPROVAL
OF THE GOVERNMENT
This
Agreement shall not be binding upon any of the parties hereto unless and
until a
law is issued by the competent authorities of the A.R.E. authorizing the
Minister of Petroleum to sign this Agreement and giving this Agreement full
force and effect of law notwithstanding any countervailing Governmental
enactment, and the Agreement is signed by the GOVERNMENT, EGPC, and
CONTRACTOR.
DOVER
INVESTMENTS LIMITED
|
||
BY:
|
|
|
EGYPTIAN
GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
|
||
BY:
|
|
|
ARAB
REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
|
||
BY:
|
|
|
DATE
:
|
|
51
ANNEX
"A"
CONCESSION
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE
ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
AND
EGYPTIAN
GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION.
AND
DOVER
INVESTMENTS LIMITED
IN
EAST
WADI ARABA AREA
GULF
OF SUEZ
A.R.E.
52
BOUNDARY
DESCRIPTION OF THE CONCESSION AREA
Annex
"B"
is a provisional illustrative map at an approximate scale of
(1:
500,000) showing the Area covered and affected by this Agreement.
-
|
The
Area measure approximately three hundred ninety three square kilometers
(393 km2) of surface Area. It is composed of all or part of Exploration
Blocks, the whole Blocks are defined on a three (3) minutes latitude
by
three (3) minutes longitude grid.
|
-
|
It
is to be noted that the delineation lines of the Area in Annex
"B" are
intended to be only illustrative and provisional and may not show
accurately their true position in relation to existing monuments
and
geographical features.
|
Coordinates
of the corner points of the Area are given in the following table which forms
an
integral part of Annex "A":-
00
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXX
XX
XXXX
XXXX XXXXX
GULF
OF SUEZ
AREA
POINT
|
LONGITIUDE
|
LATITUDE
|
REMARKS
|
No.
|
|||
1
|
32°
40’ 30.00”
|
29°
17’ 00.00”
|
|
2
|
32
° 40’ 30.00”
|
29°
15’ 00.00”
|
|
3
|
32°
41’ 30.00”
|
29°
15’ 00.00”
|
|
4
|
32°
41’ 30.00”
|
29°
14’ 00.00”
|
|
5
|
32°
41’ 00.00”
|
29°
14’ 00.00”
|
|
6
|
32°
41’ 00.00”
|
29°
13’ 00.00”
|
|
7
|
32°
40’ 00.00”
|
29°
13’ 00.00”
|
|
8
|
32°
40’ 00.00”
|
29°
09’ 00.00”
|
|
9
|
32°
44’ 30.00”
|
29°
09’ 00.00”
|
|
10
|
32°
44’ 30.00”
|
29°
08’ 00.00”
|
|
11
|
32°
48’ 00.00”
|
29°
08’ 00.00”
|
|
12
|
32°
48’ 00.00”
|
29°
03’ 00.00”
|
|
13
|
32°
44’ 00.00”
|
29°
03’ 00.00”
|
|
14
|
32°
44’ 00.00”
|
Intersection
of long.
32°
44’ 00.00”
with
shore line
|
|
15
|
Intersection
of Lat.
29°
17’ 00.00”
with
shore line
|
29°
17’ 00.00”
|
54
ANNEX
“B”
Map
of
Concession Agreement
55
ANNEX
"C"
LETTER
OF
GUARANTY
EGYPTIAN
GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
Gentlemen,
Reference
is made to the Concession Agreement for Petroleum Exploration and Exploitation
in East Wadi Araba issued by law No of 2001 ( the “Concession Agreement “ ) by
and between the Arab Republic of Egypt (A.R.E.) , The Egyptian General Petroleum
Corporation (EGPC) and Dover Investments Limited hereinafter referred to
as
CONTRACTOR .
Dover
Investments Limited as guarantor hereby undertakes that, if CONTRACTOR spends
less than the minimum amount of three million and five hundred thousand
(3.500.000) U.S. Dollars, during the initial Exploration period of three
(3)
years specified in the Concession Agreement (the difference being hereinafter
described as Shortfall ) EGPC shall notify the CONTRACTOR in writing of the
amount of the Shortfall . Within fifteen (15) days of receipt of such notice,
Dover Investments Limited shall pay and/ or transfer to EGPC a quantity of
crude
oil sufficient in value to cover the Shortfall .
In
Such
case said crude oil shall be transferred out of the share of crude oil
production of Dover Investments Limited from Ras El Ush development lease
pursuant to the terms of the Concession Agreement for Petroleum Exploration
and
Exploitation by and between the Arab Republic of Egypt, EGPC and Marathon
Petroleum Egypt , LTD. (Now Dover Investments Limited) issued by law No.
18 of
1992
,as amended and said crude oil shall be valued at the time of the transfer
to
EGPC in accordance with the provisions of Article VII ( C ) of the Concession
Agreement in Xxxxx El Zeit onshore and offshore Area.
Dover
Investments Limited may
at
any time between the date hereof and the date on which this letter of Guarantee
shall expire submit to EGPC a bank guarantee for the Shortfall in a form
satisfactory to EGPC , in which event the provisions of this letter shall
automatically lapse and be of no effect .
This
Letter of Guarantee shall expire and become null and void on the date six
(6)
months after the end of the initial Exploration period of the Concession
Agreement of East Wadi Araba Area or on the date upon CONTRACTOR’s fulfill of
its obligations hereunder subject to EGPC approval, whichever first occur.
DOVER
INVESTMENTS LIMITED
|
||
|
||
DATE
|
|
56
ANNEX
"D"
CHARTER
OF OPERATING COMPANY
ARTICLE
I
A
joint
stock company having the nationality of the ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT shall
be
formed with the authorization of the GOVERNMENT in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement referred to below and of this Charter.
The
Company shall be subject to all laws and regulations in force in the A.R.E.
to
the extent that such laws and regulations are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Charter and the Agreement referred to below.
ARTICLE
II
The
name
of the Operating Company shall be mutually agreed upon between EGPC and
CONTRACTOR on the date of the Commercial Discovery and shall be subject to
the
approval of the Minister of Petroleum.
ARTICLE
III
The
Head
Office of Operating Company shall be in the A.R.E. in Cairo.
ARTICLE
IV
The
object of Operating Company is to act as the agency through which EGPC and
CONTRACTOR, carry out and conduct the Development operations required in
accordance with the provisions of the Agreement signed on the ------ day
of
--------------- by and between the ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT, THE EGYPTIAN GENERAL
PETROLEUM CORPORATION and CONTRACTOR covering Petroleum operations in East
Wadi
Araba Area described therein.
57
Operating
Company shall be the agency to carry out and conduct Exploration operations
after the date of Commercial Discovery pursuant to Work Programs and Budgets
approved in accordance with the Agreement.
Operating
Company shall keep account of all costs, expenses and expenditures for such
operations under the terms of the Agreement and Annex "E" thereto.
Operating
Company shall not engage in any business or undertake any activity beyond
the
performance of said operations unless otherwise agreed upon by EGPC and
CONTRACTOR.
ARTICLE
V
The
authorized capital of Operating Company is twenty thousand Egyptian Pounds
divided into five thousand shares of common stock with a value of four Egyptian
Pounds per share having equal voting rights, fully paid and
non-assessable.
EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR shall each pay for, hold and own, throughout the life of Operating
Company, one half (1/2) of the capital stock of Operating Company provided
that
only in the event that either party should transfer or assign the whole or
any
percentage of its ownership interest in the entirety of the Agreement, may
such
transferring or assigning party transfer or assign any of the capital stock
of
Operating Company and, in that event, such transferring or assigning party
(and
its successors and assignees) must transfer and assign a stock interest in
Operating Company equal to the transferred or assigned whole or percentage
of
its ownership interest in the entirety of the said Agreement.
58
ARTICLE
VI
Operating
Company shall not own any right, title, interest or estate in or under the
Agreement or any Development Lease created thereunder or in any of the Petroleum
produced from any Exploration Block or Development Lease thereunder or in
any of
the assets, equipment or other property obtained or used in connection
therewith, and shall not be obligated as a principal for the financing or
performance of any of the duties or obligations of either EGPC or CONTRACTOR
under the Agreement. Operating Company shall not make any profit from any
source
whatsoever.
ARTICLE
VII
Operating
Company shall be no more than an agent for EGPC and CONTRACTOR. Whenever
it is
indicated herein that Operating Company shall decide, take action or make
a
proposal and the like, it is understood that such decision or judgment is
the
result of the decision or judgment of EGPC, CONTRACTOR or EGPC and CONTRACTOR,
as may be required by the Agreement.
ARTICLE
VIII
Operating
Company shall have a Board of Directors consisting of eight (8) members,
four
(4) of whom shall be designated by EGPC and the other four (4) by CONTRACTOR.
The Chairman shall be designated by EGPC and shall also be a Managing Director.
CONTRACTOR shall designate the General Manager who shall also be a Managing
Director.
ARTICLE
IX
Meetings
of the Board of Directors shall be valid if a majority of the Directors are
present and any decision taken at such meetings must have the affirmative
vote
of five (5) or more of the Directors; provided, however, that any Director
may
be represented and vote by proxy held by another Director.
59
ARTICLE
X
General
meetings of the Shareholders shall be valid if a majority of the capital
stock
of Operating Company is represented thereat. Any decision taken at such meetings
must have the affirmative vote of Shareholders owning or representing a majority
of the capital stock.
ARTICLE
XI
The
Board
of Directors shall approve the regulations covering the terms and conditions
of
employment of the personnel of Operating Company employed directly by Operating
Company and not assigned thereto by CONTRACTOR and EGPC.
The
Board
shall, in due course, draw up the By-Laws of Operating Company, and such
By-Laws
shall be effective upon being approved by a General Meeting of the Shareholders,
in accordance with the provisions of Article X hereof.
ARTICLE
XII
Operating
Company shall come into existence within thirty (30) days after the date
of
Commercial Oil Discovery or within thirty (30) days after signature of a
Gas
Sales Agreement or commencement of a scheme to dispose of Gas, as provided
for
in the Agreement (unless otherwise agreed by EGPC and CONTRACTOR).
60
The
duration of Operating Company shall be for a period equal to the duration
of the
said Agreement, including any renewal thereof.
The
Operating Company shall be wound up if the Agreement referred to above is
terminated for any reason as provided for therein.
DOVER
INVESTMENTS LIMITED
|
||
By
:
|
|
|
EGYPTIAN
GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
|
||
By
:
|
|
61
ANNEX
"E"
ACCOUNTING
PROCEDURE
ARTICLE
I
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
(a)
|
Definitions:
|
The
definitions contained in Article I of the Agreement shall apply to this
Accounting Procedure and have the same meanings.
(b)
|
Statements
of activity:
|
(1)
|
CONTRACTOR
shall, pursuant to Article IV of this Agreement, and until the
coming into
existence of the Operating Company - in accordance with Article
VI of the
Agreement - render to EGPC within thirty (30) days of the end of
each
calendar quarter a Statement of Exploration Activity reflecting
all
charges and credits related to the Exploration operations for that
quarter
summarized by appropriate classifications indicative of the nature
thereof.
|
(2)
|
Following
its coming into existence, Operating Company shall render to EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR within fifteen (15) days of the end of each calendar
quarter a
Statement of Development and Exploration Activity reflecting all
charges
and credits related to the Development and Exploration operations
for that
quarter summarized by appropriate classifications indicative of
the nature
thereof, except that items of controllable material and unusual
charges
and credits shall be detailed.
|
62
(c)
|
Adjustments
and Audits:
|
(1)
|
Each
quarterly Statement of Exploration Activity pursuant to Article
I (b) (1)
of this Annex shall conclusively be presumed to be true and correct
after
three (3) months following the receipt of each Statement by EGPC
unless
within the said three (3) months EGPC takes written exception thereto
pursuant to Article IV (f) of the Agreement. During the said three
(3)
month period supporting documents will be available for inspection
by EGPC
during all working hours.
|
CONTRACTOR
will have the same audit rights on Operating Company Statements
as EGPC
under this sub-paragraph.
|
(2)
|
All
Statements of Development and Exploration Activity for any calendar
quarter pursuant to Article I (b) (2) of this Annex, shall conclusively
be
presumed to be true and correct three (3) months following the
receipt of
such Statement, unless within the said three (3) months period
EGPC or
CONTRACTOR takes written exception thereto. Pending expiration
of said
three (3) months EGPC or CONTRACTOR or both of them shall have
the right
to audit Operating Company accounts, records and supporting documents
for
such quarter in the same manner as provided in Article IV (f) of
the
Agreement.
|
(d)
|
Currency
Exchange:
|
CONTRACTOR's
books for Exploration and Operating Company's books for Development and
Exploration, if any, shall be kept in the A.R.E. in U.S. Dollars. All U.S.
Dollar expenditures shall be charged in the amount expended. All Egyptian
Pounds
expenditures shall be converted to U.S. Dollars at the applicable rate of
exchange issued by the Central Bank of Egypt on the first day of the month
in
which expenditures are recorded, and all other non-U.S. Dollar expenditures
shall be translated to U.S. Dollars at the buying rate of exchange for such
currency as quoted by National Westminster Bank Limited, London at 10.30
a.m.
G.M.T., on the first day of the month in which expenditures are recorded.
A
record shall be kept of the exchange rates used in translating Egyptian Pounds
or other non-U.S Dollar expenditures to U.S. Dollars.
(e)
|
Precedence
of Documents:
|
In
the
event of any inconsistency or conflict between the provisions of this Accounting
Procedure and the provisions of the Agreement treating the same subject
differently, then the provisions of the Agreement shall prevail.
(f)
|
Revision
of Accounting Procedure:
|
By
mutual
agreement between EGPC and CONTRACTOR, this Accounting Procedure may be revised
in writing from time to time in the light of future
arrangements.
63
(g)
|
No
Charge for Interest on Investment:
|
Interest
on investment or any bank fees, charges or commissions related to any bank
guarantees shall not at any time be charged as recoverable costs under the
Agreement.
ARTICLE
II
COSTS,
EXPENSES AND EXPENDITURES
Subject
to the provisions of the Agreement, CONTRACTOR shall alone bear and, directly
or
through Operating Company, pay the following costs and expenses, which costs
and
expenses shall be classified and allocated to the activities according to
sound
and generally accepted accounting principles and treated and recovered in
accordance with Article VII of this Agreement:
(a)
|
Surface
Rights:
|
All
direct cost attributable to the acquisition, renewal or relinquishment of
surface rights acquired and maintained in force for the Area.
(b)
|
Labor
and Related Costs:
|
(1)
|
Salaries
and Wages of CONTRACTOR's or Operating Company's employees, as
the case
may be, directly engaged in the various activities under the Agreement
including salaries and wages paid to geologists and other employees
who
are temporarily assigned to and employed in such activities. Such
salaries
and wages to be certified by a certified public accounting
firm.
|
Reasonable
revisions of such salaries and wages shall be effected to take into account
changes in CONTRACTOR's policies and amendments of laws applicable to salaries.
For the purpose of this Article II (b) and Article II (c), salaries and wages
shall mean the assessable amounts for A.R.E. Income Taxes, including the
salaries during vacations and sick leaves, but excluding all the amounts
of the
other items covered by the percentage fixed under (2) below.
(2)
|
For
expatriate employees permanently assigned to
Egypt:
|
64
1.
|
All
allowances applicable to salaries and
wages;
|
2.
|
Cost
of established plans; and
|
3.
|
All
travel and relocation costs of such expatriate employees and their
families to and from the employee's country or point of origin
at the time
of employment, at the time of separation, or as a result of transfer
from
one location to another and for vacation (transportation costs
for
employees and their families transferring from the A.R.E. to another
location other than their country of origin shall not be charged
to A.R.E.
Operations).
|
Costs
under this Article II (b) (2) shall be deemed to be equal to seventy percent
(70%) for expatriate personnel married and accompanied by their spouses and
fifty two percent (52%) for expatriate personnel either single or not
accompanied by their spouses to Egypt. These percentages refer to basic salaries
and wages paid for such expatriate personnel including those paid during
vacations and sick leaves as established in CONTRACTOR's international policies,
chargeable under Article II (b) (1), Article II (i), Article II (k) (1) and
Article II (k)(3) of this Annex.
However,
salaries and wages during vacations, sick leaves and disability are covered
by
the foregoing percentage. The percentage outlined above shall be deemed to
reflect CONTRACTOR's actual costs as of the Effective Date with regard to
the
following benefits, allowances and costs:-
1.
|
Housing
and Utilities Allowance.
|
2.
|
Commodities
and Services Allowance.
|
3.
|
Special
Rental Allowance .
|
4.
|
Vacation
Transportation Allowance.
|
5.
|
Vacation
Travel Expense Allowance.
|
6.
|
Vacation
Excess Baggage Allowance.
|
7.
|
Education
Allowances (Children of Expatriate Employees).
|
8.
|
Hypothetical
X.X.Xxx Offset (which results in a reduction of the chargeable
percentage).
|
9.
|
Storage
of Personal Effects.
|
10.
|
Housing
Refurbishment Expense.
|
11.
|
Property
Management Service Fees.
|
12.
|
Recreation
Allowance.
|
13.
|
Retirement
Plan.
|
14.
|
Group
Life Insurance.
|
15.
|
Group
Medical Insurance.
|
16.
|
Sickness
and Disability.
|
65
17.
|
Vacation
Plans Paid (excluding Allowable Vacation Travel
Expenses).
|
18.
|
Savings
Plan.
|
19.
|
Educational
Assistance.
|
20.
|
Military
Service Allowance.
|
21.
|
F.I.C.A.
|
22.
|
Xxxxxxx'x
Compensation.
|
23.
|
Federal
and State Unemployment Insurance.
|
24.
|
Personnel
Transfer Expense.
|
25.
|
National
Insurance.
|
26.
|
Any
other Costs, Allowances and Benefits of a like nature as established
in
CONTRACTOR's International
Policies.
|
The
percentages outlined above shall be reviewed at intervals of three (3) years
from the Effective Date and at such time CONTRACTOR and EGPC will agree on
new
percentages to be used under this paragraph.
Revisions
of the percentages will take into consideration variances in costs and changes
in CONTRACTOR's international policies, which change or exclude any of the
above
allowances and benefits.
The
revised percentages will reflect as nearly as possible CONTRACTOR's actual
costs
of all its established allowances and benefits and of personnel
transfers.
(3)
|
For
expatriate employees temporarily assigned to Egypt all allowances,
costs
of established plans and all travel relocation costs for such expatriates
as paid in accordance with CONTRACTOR's international policies.
Such costs
shall not include any administrative overhead other than what is
mentioned
in Article II (k) (2) of this
Annex.
|
(4)
|
Costs
of expenditure or contributions made pursuant to law or assessment
imposed
by Governmental authority which are applicable to labor cost of
salaries
and wages as provided under Article II (b) (1), Article II (b)
(2),
Article II (i), Article II (k) (l) and Article II (k) (3) of this
Annex.
|
(c)
|
Benefits,
allowances and related costs of national employees bonuses, overtime,
customary allowances and benefits on a basis similar to that prevailing
for oil companies operating in the A.R.E., all as chargeable under
Article
II (b) (1), Article II (i), Article II (k) (1) and Article II (k)
(3) of
this Annex. Severance pay will be charged at a fixed rate applied
to
payrolls which will equal an amount equivalent to the maximum liability
for severance payment as required under the A.R.E. Labor
Law.
|
66
(d)
|
Material
|
Material,
equipment and supplies purchased or furnished as such by CONTRACTOR or Operating
Company.
(1)
|
Purchases:
|
Material,
equipment and supplies purchased shall be at the price paid by CONTRACTOR
or
Operating Company plus any related cost and after deduction of all discounts
actually received.
(2)
|
Material
Furnished by CONTRACTOR:
|
Material
required for operations shall be purchased directly whenever practicable,
except
that CONTRACTOR may furnish such material from CONTRACTOR's or CONTRACTOR's
Affiliated Companies stocks outside the A.R.E. under the following
conditions:
1. |
New
Material (Condition "A")
|
New
Material transferred from CONTRACTOR's or CONTRACTOR's Affiliated Companies
warehouse or other properties shall be priced at cost, provided that the
cost of
material supplied is not higher than international prices for material of
similar quality supplied on similar terms, prevailing at the time such material
was supplied.
2. |
Used
Material (Conditions "B" and "C")
|
a)
|
Material
which is in sound and serviceable condition and is suitable for
reuse
without reconditioning shall be classed as Condition "B" and
priced at
seventy - five percent (75%) of the price of new
material.
|
b)
|
Material
which cannot be classified as Condition "B" but which is serviceable
for
original function but substantially not suitable for reconditioning,
shall
be classed as Condition "C" and priced at fifty percent (50%)
of the price
of new material.
|
c)
|
Material
which cannot be classified as Condition "B" or Condition "C"
shall be
priced at a value commensurate with its
use.
|
67
d)
|
Tanks,
buildings and other equipment involving erection costs shall
be charged at
applicable percentage of knocked - down new
price.
|
(3)
|
Warranty
of Materials Furnished by
CONTRACTOR
|
CONTRACTOR
does not warrant the material furnished beyond or back of the dealer's
or
manufacturer's guaranty; and in case of defective material, credit shall
not be
recorded until adjustment has been received by CONTRACTOR from manufacturers
or
their agents.
(e)
|
Transportation
and Employee Relocation Costs:
|
(1)
|
Transportation
of equipment, materials and supplies necessary for the conduct
of
CONTRACTOR's or Operating Company's
activities.
|
(2)
|
Business
travel and transportation expenses to the extent covered by established
policies of CONTRACTOR or with regard to expatriate and national
employees, as incurred and paid by, or for, employees in the
conduct of
CONTRACTOR's or Operating Company's
business.
|
(3
)
|
Employees
transportation and relocation costs for national employees to
the extent
covered by established policies.
|
(f)
|
Services:
|
(1)
|
Outside
services. The costs of contracts for consultants, services and
utilities
procured from third parties.
|
(2)
|
Cost
of services performed by EGPC or by CONTRACTOR, or their Affiliated
Companies in facilities inside or outside the A.R.E. Regular,
recurring,
routine services, such as interpreting magnetic tapes and/or
other
analyses, shall be performed and charged by EGPC and/or CONTRACTOR
or
their Affiliated Companies at an agreed contracted price. Major
projects
involving engineering and design services shall be performed
by EGPC
and/or CONTRACTOR or their Affiliated Companies at a negotiated
contract
amount.
|
(3)
|
Use
of EGPC's, CONTRACTOR's or their Affiliated Companies' wholly
owned
equipment shall be charged at a rental rate commensurate with
the cost of
ownership and operation, but not in excess of competitive rates
currently
prevailing in the A.R.E.
|
(4)
|
CONTRACTOR's
and CONTRACTOR's Affiliated Companies' rates shall not include
any
administrative or overhead costs other than what is mentioned
in Article
II (k) (2).
|
68
(g)
|
Damages
and Losses:
|
All
costs
or expenses, necessary to replace or repair damages or losses incurred
by fire,
flood, storm, theft, accident or any other cause not controllable by CONTRACTOR
or Operating Company through the exercise of reasonable diligence. CONTRACTOR
or
Operating Company shall furnish EGPC and CONTRACTOR written notice of damages
or
losses incurred in excess of ten thousand ($10,000) U.S. Dollars per occurrence,
as soon as practicable after report of the same has been received by CONTRACTOR
or Operating Company.
(h)
|
Insurance
and Claims:
|
The
cost
of any public liability, property damage and other insurance against liabilities
of CONTRACTOR, Operating Company and/or the parties or any of them to their
employees and/or outsiders as may be required by the laws, rules and regulations
of the GOVERNMENT or as the parties may agree upon. The proceeds of any
such
insurance or claim collected, less the actual cost of making a claim, shall
be
credited against operations.
If
no
insurance is carried for a particular risk, in accordance with good
international oil field practices, all related actual expenditures incurred
and
paid by CONTRACTOR or Operating Company in settlement of any and all losses,
claims, damages, judgments and any other expenses, including legal
services.
(i)
|
Indirect
Expenses:
|
Camp
overhead and facilities such as shore base, warehouses, water systems,
road
systems, salaries and expenses of field supervisory personnel, field clerks,
assistants, and other general employees indirectly serving the
Area.
(j)
|
Legal
Expenses:
|
All
costs
and expenses of litigation, or legal services otherwise necessary or expedient
for the protection of the Area, including attorney's fees and expenses
as
hereinafter provided, together with all judgments obtained against the
parties
or any of them on account of the operations under the Agreement, and actual
expenses incurred by any party or parties hereto in securing evidence for
the
purpose of defending against any action or claim prosecuted or urged against
the
operations or the subject matter of the Agreement. In the event actions
or
claims affecting the interests hereunder shall be handled by the legal
staff of
one or more of the parties hereto, a charge commensurate with cost of providing
and furnishing such services may be made to operations.
69
(
1)
|
While
CONTRACTOR is conducting Exploration operations, the cost of
staffing and
maintaining CONTRACTOR's head office in the A.R.E. and/or other
offices
established in the A.R.E. as appropriate other than field offices
which
will be charged as provided in Article II (i), and excepting
salaries of
employees of CONTRACTOR who are temporarily assigned to and directly
serving on the Area, which will be charged as provided in Article
II (b)
of this Annex.
|
(2)
|
CONTRACTOR's
administrative overhead outside the A.R.E. applicable to Exploration
operations in the A.R.E. shall be charged each month at the rate
of five
percent (5%) of total Exploration expenditures, provided that
no
administrative overhead of CONTRACTOR outside the A.R.E. applicable
to
A.R.E. Exploration operations will be charged for Exploration
operations
conducted by Operating Company. No other direct charges as such
for
CONTRACTOR's administrative overhead outside the A.R.E. will
be applied
against the Exploration obligations. Examples of the type of
costs
CONTRACTOR is incurring and charging hereunder due to activities
under
this Agreement and covered by said percentage are:
|
1. |
Executive
- Time of executive officers.
|
2. |
Treasury
- Financial and exchange problems.
|
3. |
Purchasing
- Procuring materials, equipment and
supplies.
|
4. |
Exploration
and Production-Directing, advising and controlling the entire
project.
|
5.
|
Other
departments such as legal, comptroller and engineering which
contribute
time, knowledge and experience to the
operations.
|
The
foregoing does not preclude charging for direct service under Article II
(f) (2)
of this Annex.
(3)
|
While
Operating Company is conducting operations, Operating Company's
personnel
engaged in general clerical and office work, supervisors and
officers
whose time is generally spent in the main office and not the
field, and
all employees generally considered as general and administrative
and not
charged to other types of expense will be charged to operations.
Such
expenses shall be allocated each month between Exploration and
Development
operations according to sound and practicable accounting
methods.
|
(l) |
Taxes:
|
All
taxes, duties or levies paid in the A.R.E. by CONTRACTOR or Operating Company
with respect to this Agreement other than those covered by Article III
(g) (1)
of the Agreement.
(m) |
Continuing
CONTRACTOR Costs:
|
Costs
of
CONTRACTOR activities required under the Agreement and incurred exclusively
in
the A.R.E. after Operating Company is formed. No sales expenses incurred
outside
or inside the A.R.E. may be recovered as a cost.
70
(n)
|
Other
Expenditures:
|
Any
costs, expenses or expenditures, other than those which are covered and
dealt
with by the foregoing provisions of this Article II, incurred by CONTRACTOR
or
Operating Company under approved Work Programs and Budgets.
ARTICLE
III
INVENTORIES
(a)
|
Periodic
Inventories, Notice and
Representation:
|
At
reasonable intervals as agreed upon by EGPC and CONTRACTOR inventories
shall be
taken by Operating Company of the operations materials, which shall include
all
such materials, physical assets and construction projects. Written notice
of
intention to take inventory shall be given by Operating Company to EGPC
and
CONTRACTOR at least thirty (30) days before any inventory is to begin so
that
EGPC and CONTRACTOR may be represented when any inventory is taken. Failure
of
EGPC and/or CONTRACTOR to be represented at an inventory shall bind them
to
accept the inventory taken by Operating Company, who shall in that event
furnish
the party not represented with a copy thereof.
(b)
|
Reconciliation
and Adjustment of Inventories:
|
Reconciliation
of inventory shall be made by CONTRACTOR and EGPC, and a list of overages
and
shortages shall be jointly determined by Operating Company and CONTRACTOR
and
EGPC, and the inventory adjusted by Operating Company.
71
ARTICLE
IV
COST
RECOVERY
(a) |
Statements
of Recovery of Costs and of Cost Recovery Petroleum:
|
CONTRACTOR
shall, pursuant to Article VII of the Agreement, render to EGPC as promptly
as
practicable but not later than fifteen (15) days after receipt from Operating
Company of the Statements for Development and Exploration Activity for
the
calendar quarter a Statement for that quarter showing:
1.
|
Recoverable
costs carried forward from the previous quarter, if
any.
|
2.
|
Recoverable
costs incurred and paid during the
quarter.
|
3.
|
Total
recoverable costs for the quarter (1) +
(2).
|
4.
|
Value
of Cost Recovery Petroleum taken and separately disposed of by
CONTRACTOR
for the quarter.
|
5.
|
Amount
of costs recovered for the quarter.
|
6.
|
Amount
of recoverable costs carried into the succeeding quarter, if
any.
|
7.
|
Excess,
if any, of the value of Cost Recovery Petroleum taken and separately
disposed of by CONTRACTOR over costs recovered for the
quarter.
|
(b)
|
Payments:
|
If
such
Statement shows an amount due EGPC, payment of that amount shall be made
in U.S.
Dollars by CONTRACTOR with the rendition of such Statement. If CONTRACTOR
fails
to make any such payment to EGPC on the date when such payment is due,
then
CONTRACTOR shall pay interest of two and one half percent (2.5%) per annum
higher than the London Interbank Borrowing Offered Rate (LIBOR) for three
(3)
months U.S. Dollars deposits prevailing on the date such interest is calculated.
Such interest payment shall not be recoverable.
(c)
|
Settlement
of Excess Cost Recovery Petroleum:
|
EGPC
has
the right to take its entitlement of Excess Cost Recovery Petroleum under
Article VII (a) (2) of the Agreement in kind during the said quarter .
A
settlement shall be required with the rendition of such Statements in case
CONTRACTOR has taken more than its own entitlement of such Excess Cost
Recovery
Petroleum.
72
(d) |
Audit
Right:
|
EGPC
shall have a period of twelve (12) months from receipt of any Statement
under
this Article IV in which to audit and raise objection to any such Statement.
EGPC and CONTRACTOR shall agree on any required adjustments. Supporting
documents and accounts will be available to EGPC during said twelve (12)
month
period.
ARTICLE
V
CONTROL
AND MAJOR ACCOUNTS
(a)
|
Exploration
Obligation Control Accounts:
|
CONTRACTOR
will establish an Exploration Obligation Control Account and an offsetting
contra account to control therein the total amount of Exploration expenditures
reported on Statements of activity prepared per Article I (b) (1) of this
Annex,
less any reductions agreed to by EGPC and CONTRACTOR following written
exceptions taken by a non-operator pursuant to Article I (c) (1) of this
Annex,
in order to determine when minimum Exploration obligations have been
met.
(b)
|
Cost
Recovery Control Account:
|
CONTRACTOR
will establish a Cost Recovery Control Account and an off-setting contra
account
to control therein the amount of cost remaining to be recovered, if any,
the
amount of cost recovered and the value of Excess Cost Recovery Petroleum,
if
any.
(c)
|
Major
Accounts:
|
73
For
the
purpose of classifying costs, expenses and expenditures for Cost Recovery
as
well as for the purpose of establishing when the minimum Exploration obligations
have been met, costs, expenses and expenditures shall be recorded in major
accounts including the following:
-
|
Exploration
Expenditures;
|
-
|
Development
Expenditures other than Operating Expenses;
|
-
|
Operating
Expenses;
|
Necessary
sub-accounts shall be used.
Revenue
accounts shall be maintained by CONTRACTOR to the extent necessary for
the
control of recovery of costs and the treatment of Cost Recovery
Petroleum.
ARTICLE
VI
TAX
IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS
It
is
understood that CONTRACTOR shall be subject to Egyptian Income Tax Laws
except
as otherwise provided in the Agreement, that any A.R.E. Income Taxes paid
by
EGPC on CONTRACTOR's behalf constitute additional income to CONTRACTOR,
and this
additional income is also subject to A.R.E. income tax, that is "grossed
up".
CONTRACTOR's
annual income, as determined in Article III (g) (2) of this Agreement,
less the
amount equal to CONTRACTOR's grossed-up Egyptian income tax liability,
shall be
CONTRACTOR's "Provisional Income".
The
"gross-up value" is an amount added to Provisional Income to give "Taxable
Income", such that the grossed-up value is equivalent to the A.R.E. Income
Taxes.
74
THEREFORE:
Taxable
Income = Provisional Income plus Grossed-up Value
and
Grossed-up
Value = A.R.E. Income Tax on Taxable Income.
If
the
"A.R.E. Income Tax rate", which means the effective or composite tax rate
due to
the various A.R.E. taxes levied on income or profits, is constant and not
dependent on the level of income, then:
Grossed-up
Value = A.R.E. income tax rate TIMES Taxable Income.
Combining
the first and last equations above
Grossed-up
Value= Provisional
income X Tax Rate
1 - Tax Rate
where
the
tax rate is expressed as a decimal.
The
above
computations are illustrated by the following numerical example. Assuming
that
the Provisional Income is $10 and the A.R.E. Income Tax rate is forty percent
(40%), then the Grossed-up Value is equal to:
$
10 X
0.4
= $ 6.67
1
-
0.4
Therefore:
Provisional
income
|
$
|
10.00
|
||
Plus
Grossed-up Value
|
6.67
|
|||
Taxable
Income
|
$
|
16.67
|
||
Less:
A.R.E. Income Taxes at 40%
|
6.67
|
|||
CONTRACTOR's
Income after taxes
|
$
|
10.00
|
75