Internal controls

The Directors acknowledge their responsibility for the Group's and the Company's systems of internal control, which are designed to safeguard the assets of the Group and to ensure the reliability of financial information for both internal use and external publication and to comply with the Turnbull Committee guidance. The Group's internal control procedures require technical, financial and Board approval for all projects. All major expenditures require Senior Management approval at the appropriate stages of each transaction. Overall control is ensured by a regular detailed reporting system covering both technical progress of projects and the state of the Group's financial affairs. The Board has put in place procedures for identifying, evaluating and managing any significant risks that face the Group. Risk assessment and evaluation is an integral part of the annual planning cycle. Each business unit documents its strategic objectives and the significant risks in achieving them and regularly reports on progress against these objectives. Key risks are also reported monthly to the Board. There is a comprehensive budgeting and planning system for all items of expenditure with an annual budget approved by the Board. Actual results are reported against budget on a monthly basis. Revised financial forecasts for the year and financial projections for future years are regularly prepared.

The Board has ultimate responsibility for the effectiveness of the Group's risk management activities and internal control processes. Any system of internal control can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that material financial irregularities will be detected or that the risk of failure to achieve business objectives is eliminated. The Board's objective is to ensure Tullow has appropriate systems in place for the identification and management of risks.

The Board receives reports from business unit and corporate teams throughout the year to enable it to assess on an ongoing basis the effectiveness of the system of internal controls and risk management.

During the year, the Group Internal Audit Manager reviewed a number of areas of risk and his findings were reported to the Audit Committee. No significant weaknesses were identified. The Board has confirmed that through its Audit Committee it has reviewed the effectiveness of the system of internal financial, operational and compliance controls and risk management, and considers that the system of internal controls operated effectively throughout the financial year and up to the date on which the financial statements were signed.