Afren

Afren PLC ("Afren"), an independent oil and gas company focused on establishing itself as the leading pan-African exploration and production company, which listed on AIM in March 2005, announces the appointment of Robert Cathery as non-executive director with immediate effect.

Robert Cathery has over 35 years of City experience. He was Managing Director and Head of Oil and Gas at Canaccord Europe between 2001 and 2005 prior to retiring earlier this year. During his career in the City he was a Director of Vickers da Costa and Schroders Securities and Head of Corporate Sales at SG Securities (London) Ltd. He is currently a non-executive director of Salamander Energy Ltd, SOCO International plc and Indigovision plc.

The Board also announces the appointment of Mr. Mac Ofurhie, retired Director of The Department of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, as a non-executive director of the Group's wholly owned Nigerian subsidiary, Afren Energy Resources Ltd.

Brian O'Cathain, Chief Executive of Afren plc, commented:
"We are delighted that Robert Cathery has agreed to join our Board. Both his many years of City experience and his knowledge of our industry will be extremely beneficial to Afren as we continue to develop into a leading pan-African oil and gas company.
Mr Mac Ofurhie's appointment as a Non-Executive Director of Afren Nigeria is important for the Group given Mr Ofurhie's extensive Nigerian oil and gas experience, and we look forward to working with him in building our business in Nigeria."

For further information, please contact:

Afren plc    
Brian O'Cathain boc@afren.com +44 (0) 20 7182 1800
Osman Shahenshah os@afren.com +44 (0) 20 7182 1800

Pelham Public Relations    
James Henderson james.henderson@pelhampr.com +44 (0) 20 7743 6673
Alisdair Haythornthwaite alisdair.haythornthwaite@pelhampr.com +44 (0) 20 7743 6676

Robert Cathery has been, in the past 5 years, a director of the following companies:

Current Directorships Previous Directorships
Salamander Energy Canaccord (Europe) Ltd.
SOCO International plc.  
Indigovision plc.  

There are no other matters to be disclosed in relation to Schedule 2 paragraph (f) of the AIM Rules.