Vidullanka nets Rs. 614 million PAT in the first half of the year
Daily FT: Vidullanka PLC has recorded a profit after tax of Rs. 614 million from a revenue of Rs. 2.9 billion midways through the Financial Year 2023/24, as per the latest interim financials for the six months ended 30 September published on the Colombo Stock Exchange.
The net profit and revenue for the period is up by a healthy 31% and 63% respectively, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The increase in revenues and costs can be attributed to the Hydro EPC contract the company undertook in Guyana, South America during the year. These impressive figures allude to the perseverance and resilience of Vidullanka PLC and its delivery of value to its stakeholders.
The Overseas Hydro segment of the group continues to be the standout business unit in terms of performance, contributing Rs. 740 million in profit after tax from a revenue of
Rs 1.2 billion, an increase compared to the profit of Rs. 531 million and revenue of Rs. 1.1 billion recorded during the same period in the previous year. The newfound business venture of Vidullanka, the EPC segment has hit the ground running with its USD 12.85 million EPC contract to construct two hydro power plants for the Guyana Energy Agency in South America. This segment has now generated over Rs. 1.1 billion in revenue, of which a Rs. 100 million profit contribution has arisen. The remaining contract works of the two-year contract are well underway.
The Local Hydro segment was subject to a decrease in Revenue from Rs. 325 million last year to Rs. 215 million this year during the identical period, which resulted in the profits also decreasing to Rs. 123 million from Rs. 191 million. The Biomass segment which recorded losses in the corresponding period of the previous year, has continued to enjoy its recent profitable run, recording a profit of Rs. 56 million from the Rs. 186 million in revenue recorded. The Engineering and Solar segment recorded losses of Rs. 3 million and Rs. 26 million for the period respectively.
During the period, the company successfully commissioned a 2MW ground mounted solar project in Horana on 6 June. This is the third ground-mounted solar project under the group’s portfolio, which adds 4.4 GWh of clean energy annually to the national grid. The group’s plant portfolio now stands at 21 projects, with a cumulative capacity of 51 MW. The company is also actively pursuing a number of projects in Sri Lanka, Africa and South Asia, building a healthy pipeline for growth.
The company also declared a 2nd interim dividend payout of 25 cents for the Financial Year 2023/24. which cumulatively represents a year-to-date payout ratio of 55% to its shareholders.
Vidullanka PLC, a pioneer in the renewable energy space is well geared to achieve a bright future in terms of profitability, capacity improvements and sustainable development. The global outcry to promote sustainability to better protect our finite resources and environment has brought about the need for clean and sustainable energy throughout the globe and Vidullanka said it is very well poised to capitalize on the opportunities this will bring about.
OSL take:
The expanding economic activities in Sri Lanka have resulted in a steady growth in the demand for power in the country. Sri Lanka’s power industry therefore has become a hotspot for business/investment opportunities. The growth and profits recorded by local businesses engaged in the industry is indicative of the growth and business potential in the industry. In the power industry, the expanding business/investment opportunities are mainly focused on the renewable energy generation sector. The government of Sri Lanka is committed to increasing the country’s power generation mix to 70% renewable energy. Local authorities have also amended laws and regulations to further enable the development of renewable energy generation projects. The business potential in the sector is further evident by the entrance of many large-scale foreign players in the international renewable energy industry to Sri Lanka. Given the expanding opportunities in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy generation sector, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore the expanding opportunities in the sector.
Article Code : | VBS/AT/20231116/Z_7 |