EXHIBIT 12.1 TRITON ENERGY LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS) (UNAUDITED) SIX MONTHS ENDING JUNE 30, YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 -------- -------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- Fixed charges, as defined Interest charges $19,365 $19,452 $ 38,231 $ 50,253 $ 50,625 $ 43,884 $ 41,305 Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries adjusted to pre-tax basis --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -------- -------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- Total fixed charges $19,365 $19,452 $ 38,231 $ 50,253 $ 50,625 $ 43,884 $ 41,305 ======== ======== ========= ========== ========= ========= ========= Earnings, as defined (2): Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and extraordinary item $80,384 $22,484 $ 76,177 $(238,609) $ 16,896 $ 20,945 $ 16,600 Fixed charges, above 19,365 19,452 38,231 50,253 50,625 43,884 41,305 Less interest capitalized (9,874) (6,851) (14,539) (23,215) (25,818) (27,102) (16,211) Plus undistributed (earnings) loss of affiliates 59 --- 28 --- --- (118) 2,249 Less preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries adjusted to pre-tax basis --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -------- -------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- $89,934 $35,085 $ 99,897 $(211,571) $ 41,703 $ 37,609 $ 43,943 ======== ======== ========= ========== ========= ========= ========= RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (1) (2) 4.6 1.8 2.6 --- 0.8 0.9 1.1 ======== ======== ========= ========== ========= ========= ========= ____________________ <FN> (1) Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 by $261,824,000, $8,922,000 and $6,275,000, respectively. (2) Earnings reflect nonrecurring writedowns and loss provisions of $(250,000) and $1,220,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, respectively, $5,159,000, $348,064,000, $46,153,000 and $1,058,000 for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Nonrecurring gains from the sale of assets and other gains aggregated $442,000 for the six months ended June 30, 1999, $442,000, $125,617,000, $6,253,000, $22,189,000 and $13,617,000 for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges if adjusted to remove nonrecurring items, would have been 4.6 and 1.8 for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, respectively, 2.7, 0.2, 0.7, 1.4 and 0.8 for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Without nonrecurring items, earnings would have been inadequate to cover fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1995 by $39,377,000, $15,175,000 and $9,921,000, respectively.