Norwegian independent oil company Aker BP reported its fifth consecutive record quarterly profit on Thursday as petroleum prices soared, and is preparing to ramp up gas deliveries to Europe, the company said on Thursday.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for January-March rose to a fresh record of $1.78 billion from $591 million a year ago, Aker BP said.
Energy companies worldwide have benefited from surging oil and gas prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The company said its previously announced increase in gas output was progressing according to plan.
"We have ...initiated the gas blowdown at Skarv, which will further strengthen our ability to deliver gas to the European market," Chief Executive Karl Johnny Hersvik said in a statement.
Aker BP maintained plans to pay dividends of $1.9 per share for the full year, starting with $0.475 for the first quarter.
(Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis, editing by Terje Solsvik)