Quetzal Energy Ltd. : 01/25/2012Quetzal Energy Divests Guatemala Operations

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 25, 2012) -

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Quetzal Energy Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:QEI) ("Quetzal" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement with SGS Acquisition Company Ltd. ("SGS") to sell 100% of the shares outstanding of Quetzal Energy Inc., ("QEG") a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company that holds its Guatemalan operations.

Guatemala Operations

The principal assets of QEG are comprised of 80%-100% interest in two petroleum sharing contracts (6-93 and I-2005), a 500 horsepower Harold Lee trailer-mounted drilling rig, a Wilson 38 work-over rig and some inventory of oilfield equipment.

Based on unaudited and audited management prepared financial statements, net Income (loss) for QEG has been ($977,606) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, ($643,082) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and ($1,236,581) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Management estimates that the cash outlay to QEG from Quetzal has been approximately ($3,415,000) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, ($3,774,000) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and ($3,731,000) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Management estimates that total oil production for QEG was approximately 6,000 barrels for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, 3,850 barrels for the fiscal year ended 2010 and 5,905 barrels for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Including head office and field employees, QEG has approximately 49 employees in Guatemala that will remain with QEG.

Transaction Rationale

With recent drilling success in Colombia, Quetzal has decided to focus 100% of its management time and financial resources on its 4 private participating interests in Colombia.

Management's estimate is that QEG has outstanding unfunded capital obligations to the Guatemala government of approximately US$25 million for drilling 4 exploration wells, 2 development wells, conducting 2 well work-overs and shooting 437 km of 2D seismic. Although Quetzal management believes the Guatemala operations represent potential exploration upside, it was determined that Guatemala is non-core to the Company given those cost obligations and the Company's focused strategy on Colombia.

Transaction Consideration

In consideration of the sale of QEG, Quetzal will receive US$1,500,000 in cash (plus working capital adjustments) and will also receive a carried interest of 10% on the first two wells drilled by SGS on the QEG properties. Quetzal will also retain an option to participate, by paying its share, in 10% of all other wells drilled by SGS on the QEG properties.

Closing of the transaction is subject to certain customary conditions and will take place on January 31, 2012 or such other date as agreed to by the parties.

About SGS Acquisition Company Ltd.

SGS Acquisition Company Ltd. ("SGS") is a special purpose vehicle formed and organized under the laws of Barbados to focus on the resource sector. SGS was conceived approximately three years ago and has invested in Texas, Idaho, Trinidad, Colombia and Nigeria. Investments have been made by SGS in the oil, gas and mining ventures across the Americas and the Caribbean. SGS's concept has, and will continue to be, to invest in near term cash flowing operations in the resource sector that can be developed with additional capital investment.

About Quetzal Energy Ltd.

Quetzal is a junior oil and gas company with private participating interests in 4 blocks in the Llanos Basin of Colombia.

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (together, "forward-looking information"). The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "believe", "plans", "intends", "confident", "may", "objective", "ongoing", "will", "should", "project", "should" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking information concerning the Company's plans with respect to its operations and the closing of the transaction with SGS.

The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Quetzal, including expectations and assumptions concerning the operational results in Colombia. Although Quetzal believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Quetzal can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.

Since forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions, by its very nature it involves inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of oil and gas properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, uncertainties relating to fluctuating oil and gas prices, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses and other factors including unforeseen delays. Anticipated exploration and development plans relating to Quetzal's properties are subject to change.

The foregoing list of assumptions, risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and Quetzal undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.