2009-08-15-2009-03-01-2009-03-01

Farmed in to Maranta Block in Colombia with 20% net WI.

La Cortez Energy Inc., Bogata, Colombia, (OTCBB: LCTZ) has entered a private farm-in agreement for a 20% net working interest in the Maranta E&P block in Colombia with Emerald Energy Plc, London (London Aim: EEN). The Maranta Block covers 36,608 hectares in the foreland of the Putumayo Basin in southwestern Colombia. Emerald completed the first phase exploratory program for the Maranta Block by reprocessing 40 kilometers of 2-D seismic and shooting 71 kilometers of new 2-D seismic, identifying several promising prospects and leads. To complete the next exploratory phase, Emerald plans to initiate the drilling of an exploratory well into the Mirto prospect in the block during the first quarter, targeting the Villeta and the Caballos formations. La Cortez will partially carry Emerald on first phase sunk costs and the first exploratory well this year. After complying with the initial carry, La Cortez will earn a 20% net working interest in the block. After La Cortez has complied with its farm-in obligations, Emerald will submit a request to the Colombian hydrocarbon regulatory agency, ANH, to assign the participation interest in the block to La Cortez. La Cortez president and chief executive Andres Gutierrez says, "We continue to build a substantial acreage base in the Putumayo Basin where we see tremendous value to be unlocked. We believe our partner Emerald to be a world-class operator and an excellent long-term strategic business partner for La Cortez. We remain attentive to other opportunities in the different basins in Colombia and in Peru, to build our production base and benefit from upside exploration."