ERHC Energy Inc. Appoints Exploration Manager

HOUSTON, Aug. 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ERHC Energy Inc. (OTCBB:ERHE), a publicly traded American company with oil and gas assets in Sub-Saharan Africa, today announced the appointment of Gertjan van Mechelen as Exploration Manager. Van Mechelen will oversee exploration activities at the Company's growing portfolio of onshore and offshore assets in Africa.

Van Mechelen brings more than 35 years experience in oil and gas exploration. He worked previously in Africa, Southeast Asia, China, Europe and North America with ConocoPhillips and TransAtlantic Petroleum. He joins an impressive ERHC technical team, which already consists of Senior Petroleum Engineer Dr. Ken Seymour, Senior Geoscientist Michael Shafie, Geologist and Geochemist Dr. Peter Thuo and Geoscientist Martin Wensrich.

Van Mechelen's appointment brings extensive experience in coordinating oil and gas exploration work programs to ERHC's technical team. His expertise includes interpretation, prospect generation and farm-in evaluation.

Van Mechelen earned a Masters Degree in Structural Geology and Exploration Geophysics from Rijks University Utrecht.

ERHC holds oil and gas exploration interests in the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Chad, the Sao Tome and Principe Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Nigeria-Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Zone (JDZ). In the Republic of Kenya, ERHC has 100 percent of the interest in Block 11A, which is in the vicinity of Block 10BB where significant oil discoveries have recently been announced. In the Republic of Chad, ERHC has 100 percent of the interest in BDS 2008 and Manga, and 100 percent interest in half of Chari-Ouest Block 3. In the EEZ, ERHC holds 100 percent working interests in Blocks 4 and 11 with an option to acquire up to 15 percent working interests in two more Blocks. In the JDZ, ERHC holds working interests in Blocks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9.

About ERHC Energy

ERHC Energy Inc. is a Houston-based independent oil and gas company focused on growth through high impact exploration in Africa and the development of undeveloped and marginal oil and gas fields. ERHC is committed to creating and delivering significant value for its shareholders, investors and employees, and to sustainable and profitable growth through risk balanced smart exploration, cost efficient development and high margin production. For more information, visit www.erhc.com .

The ERHC Energy Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=11579

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains statements concerning ERHC Energy Inc.'s future operating milestones, future drilling operations, the planned exploration and appraisal program, future prospects, future investment opportunities and financing plans, future shareholders' meetings as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information. Such statements are inherently subject to a variety of risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, projected, expressed or implied. A discussion of the risk factors that could impact these areas and the Company's overall business and financial performance can be found in the Company's reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors include, among others, those relating to the Company's ability to exploit its commercial interests in Kenya, Chad, the JDZ and the Exclusive Economic Zone of São Tomé and Príncipe, general economic and business conditions, changes in foreign and domestic oil and gas exploration and production activity, competition, changes in foreign, political, social and economic conditions, regulatory initiatives and compliance with governmental regulations and various other matters, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Given these concerns, investors and analysts should not place undue reliance on these statements. Each of the above statements speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any of the above statements is based.

CONTACT: Dan Keeney, APR
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