Centrica H1 Profit Drop 31 Pct

Centrica reported a profit drop of 31% to GBP 530 million for the first half of 2014 mostly due to loss of GBP 70 million in its gas-fired division.

Centrica H1 Profit Drop 31 Pct

Mild weather in the UK and the Polar Vortex in North America also contributed to this result.

Revenues rose 15% to GBP 15.7 billion while operating profit fell 35%.

Profits in UK Power division also fell due to wind energy project write-off.

Namely, Centrica took a charge of GBP 40 million as a result of writing of a Round 3 Irish Sea Zone project, Celtic Array, that was no longer economically viable.

“With challenging trading conditions on both sides of the Atlantic in the first half, earnings will be lower in 2014 than in 2013. However, the Group is well positioned to return to growth in 2015, and the investments we have made mean that the business is balanced and more resilient, both upstream and downstream,“ said Sam Laidlaw Chief Executive.

 

Offshore WIND staff, July 31, 2014; Image: centrica