Northwire Canada EditionThursday, July 23, 2026
Northwire
VZZ 0.180 +2.9% BMR 0.145 +3.6% NVO 0.055 −8.3% PMET 4.47 +2.0% CTG 0.125 +13.6% AVU 0.040 +0.0% SGML 14.32 −3.1% WRLG 0.720 +1.4% CAN 0.065 +8.3% ABRA 15.63 +1.6% LSTR 0.060 +0.0% OLA 13.10 +2.5% EQX 13.15 +2.7% SRA 0.780 +0.0% UTWO 0.390 −13.3% IVN 10.64 −1.2% VZZ 0.180 +2.9% BMR 0.145 +3.6% NVO 0.055 −8.3% PMET 4.47 +2.0% CTG 0.125 +13.6% AVU 0.040 +0.0% SGML 14.32 −3.1% WRLG 0.720 +1.4% CAN 0.065 +8.3% ABRA 15.63 +1.6% LSTR 0.060 +0.0% OLA 13.10 +2.5% EQX 13.15 +2.7% SRA 0.780 +0.0% UTWO 0.390 −13.3% IVN 10.64 −1.2%

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Original News Release

Petrotal suspends quarterly dividend

Mr. Manuel Zuniga-Pflucker reports PETROTAL ANNOUNCES SUSPENSION OF QUARTERLY DIVIDEND Petrotal Corp.'s board of directors has decided to suspend the company's regular quarterly dividend, until further notice. All amounts herein are in U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise. Manuel Pablo Zuniga-Pflucker, president and chief executive officer, commented:"While Petrotal's financial and operational results remain strong, as evidenced by the Q3 2025 results which we also published today, the company is facing a number of challenges as we finalize our 2026 budget. Most notably, we continue to experience delays in the resumption of our development drilling program and, as a result, our production volumes are expected to decline throughout H1 2026. The updated production forecast, combined with weaker oil prices, is limiting our ability to fund both an adequate development program and return capital to shareholders. "After considering the preliminary 2026 outlook over the past few weeks, Petrotal's board of directors has made the difficult decision to suspend our regular quarterly dividend for the time being. As a significant shareholder myself, I would like to assure investors that this decision was not taken lightly; we are evaluating all options to preserve liquidity as we work to resume our development drilling program as quickly as possible. Petrotal intends to provide more detailed guidance in January, 2026, once the development program and associated production forecast are finalized. We thank our shareholders for their ongoing support." Preliminary 2026 outlook As disclosed with Q2 2025 results on Aug. 7, Petrotal is actively optimizing the long-term Bretana field development plan to account for a variety of factors, including sustained lower oil prices, regulatory considerations and delays in resuming the company's development drilling program. At this point, Petrotal believes the best-case timing to resume drilling at Bretana is midyear 2026. Given that Petrotal does not currently expect to generate any material organic production additions in the first half of 2026, initial 2026 budget runs suggest corporate production is likely to average approximately 12,000 to 15,000 barrels of oil per day next year, depending on the timing of the resumption of development drilling at Bretana. Petrotal continues to refine the 2026 development plan, which remains subject to board approval. While the long-term outlook for the Bretana field remains strong, supported by eight and 16 booked 1P and 2P drilling locations, respectively, along with significant unbooked upside in the VS1 horizon, continued development is contingent on investment in facility expansion, specifically water handling capacity. At prevailing oil prices and under the updated production forecast, Petrotal believes it will be challenged to finance both development drilling and expansion of water handling capacity internally through cash flow while returning capital to shareholders. As a result, Petrotal's board of directors is prioritizing cash preservation, with the expectation that available cash reserves may be drawn upon to help finance the 2026/2027 development program. Petrotal intends to provide formal 2026 guidance by the end of January, 2026, and publish its annual reserve report by the end of February, 2026. Dividend suspension After giving careful consideration to the 2026 outlook described above, Petrotal's board of directors has elected to suspend the regular quarterly dividend until further notice. Petrotal's board of directors has a long-standing directive that the company must maintain a minimum available cash balance of $60-million as insulation against production interruptions, decreases in commodity prices or other emergency situations. If Petrotal's board of directors has a reasonable expectation that forecast development expenditures may cause available cash to fall below $60-million within the next four quarters, it is obliged to reduce or halt distributions to shareholders. Petrotal's board of directors would like to assure investors that the company remains committed to returning capital to shareholders whenever appropriate, whether through dividends or share buybacks. Since 2023, Petrotal has returned almost $155-million to shareholders, of which $144-million has been paid out in dividends. The Bretana field has generated more than $400-million of free funds flow since the beginning of 2020. Petrotal's board of directors is confident this asset can continue to support a stable return of capital program in the future, albeit at higher production volumes and commodity prices. However, the company must invest capital in development over the next 12 to 18 months to support these endeavours. About Petrotal Corp. Petrotal is a publicly traded, triquoted oil and gas development and production company domiciled in Calgary, Alta., focused on the development of oil assets in Peru. Petrotal's flagship asset is its 100-per-cent working interest in the Bretana Norte oil field in Peru's Block 95, where oil production was initiated in June, 2018. In early 2022, Petrotal became the largest crude oil producer in Peru. The company's management team has significant experience in developing and exploring for oil in Peru and is led by a board of directors that is focused on safely and cost-effectively developing the Bretana oil field. It is actively building new initiatives to champion community-sensitive energy production, benefiting all stakeholders. We seek Safe Harbor.
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