“StatoilHydro’s results and deliveries in 2008 were strong, and we are well positioned to steer through the current economic downturn. Good exploration results and targeted business development strengthen our resource base and underpin our long-term growth strategy,” writes chief executive Helge Lund in the foreword to the annual and sustainability reports 2008.
For the first time, the annual and sustainability reports have only been published online, without an equivalent printed version. Only the reporting required by laws and regulations will be printed and distributed to shareholders.
Chief executive Helge Lund
StatoilHydro’s operational performance in 2008 was solid and characterised by record equity production of oil and gas and the most expansive exploration programme ever.
“We increased our production and delivered on the production guidance we had given the market, we drilled more efficiently and improved our turnaround performance, and we strengthened our resource base by adding more than 3.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) through exploration and business development,” writes Mr Lund.
The net operating income was NOK 198.8 billion, compared with NOK 137.2 billion in 2007. The net income was NOK 43.3 billion in 2008, compared with NOK 44.6 billion in 2007.
The board of directors has proposed an ordinary dividend and a special dividend of NOK 7.25 per share to the Annual General Meeting, totalling NOK 23.1 billion.
The annual and sustainability reports describe the group’s results and prospects in the areas of finance, health, safety and the environment, human resources and social responsibility.
“I am particularly pleased that HSE results on our offshore installations improved in 2008, and we are dedicated to maintaining this progress,” writes Mr Lund.
The report also describes the group’s overall strategy for managing environmental and social impacts, how we handle the main risks and opportunities we are facing, as well as the results we achieved in this area in 2008.
“Hydrocarbons will continue to dominate the energy mix, and population growth and increased prosperity will continue to increase the demand for energy. The challenge is how this energy can be developed and produced at the same time as we limit carbon emissions,” writes Mr Lund, and points out the group’s focus on carbon capture and storage.
The reports will be published on StatoilHydro’s web site. At the same time they will be distributed electronically to the shareholders who have chosen to receive electronic versions of the reports.
An HTML version of Form 20-F will be available from the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s web site in the database Edgar after 4pm CET today.
The legally-required section of the annual and sustainability report will be available at the latest on 27 April in printed form, together with the paper edition of Form 20-F. From this date they will be distributed to the remaining shareholders registered in the Norwegian Registry of Securities (VPS). Other interested parties may use the order form on: http://www.statoilhydro.com/orderreports
Contact persons:
Investor relations
Lars Troen Sørensen, senior vice president for investor relations, +47 90 64 91 44 (mobile), +47 51 99 77 90 (office)
Geir Bjørnstad, vice president for investor relations USA: +1 (203) 570 57 57 (mobile) +1 (203) 978 69 50 (office)
Press
Ola Morten Aanestad, vice president for media relations, +47 48 08 02 12 (mobile) +47 22 97 22 88 (office)