Appointment of New Seychelles Country Manager

12 January 2010

Black Marlin Energy Limited ("BMEL"), the Dubai based oil and gas Exploration Company is very pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Terry Nilsen as its Country Manager in the Seychelles.

Terry Nilsen joined Black Marlin in January 2009 as Chief Explorationist. Before joining Black Marlin, he served as Technical Director for Key Petroleum Ltd from 2007 to 2008 where he was involved in the Company's early Tanzanian exploration success and new licence acquisition. He has also worked for Arc Energy Ltd (2005-2007), Hardman Resources Ltd (2000-2005, where he became Exploration Supervisor and Hardman's JV Technical Representative during successful oil and gas drilling campaigns in Mauritania) and Santos Ltd (1997 to 2000, where he contributed towards successful Australian onshore gas exploration and appraisal drilling undertaken by the Company). Earlier in his career Terry worked for Cultus Petroleum NL and Stirling Resources NL. He graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree with Honours in Geology.

BMEL has an active programme of exploration and drilling in 2010-2011 in the four countries in which it is active: Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar and Seychelles. BMEL has recently completed 1200 kms of new 3km x 3km grid 2D seismic data off the south west coast of the Seychelles highlighting a series of major leads in water depths from 15 to 1500m. This completes Black Marlin's first exploration period seismic commitment in the Seychelles and after processing and interpretation is expected to produce several drilling locations which will be the focus of a drilling campaign in the next exploration period. Terry's appointment as Seychelles country manager continues BMEL's focus on this high-impact exploration area and reinforces Black Marlin's regional technical presence.

On behalf of the Board

Rick Schmitt, President and CEO