Empire Advises Drill Rig Status, License Applications and Rights Offering Registration

LEAWOOD, Kan. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Empire Energy Corporation International (Empire) (OTCBB:EEGC) this week announced the mast and certain other components of the Hunt Energy rig #3 at the Bellevue #1 well site were moved to a holding yard in Launceston where work will be undertaken to "winterize" the rig to work in all conditions. Snow, frost and temperatures well below zero over the past few weeks (and forecast to continue over the next few months), could cause safety problems; with ice and snow falling from the mast and the constant wet starting to cause corrosion. This extreme weather is mainly due to the Bellevue #1 site being situated at a high elevation (1,070 meters above sea level) and the Tasmanian alpine winter (June-Aug.). Hunt Energy has advised that it is their intention to resume work at Bellevue #1 when further funding becomes available.

SEL 4/2009 and SEL 5/2009 Applications

Empire Energy advised that Tasmanian Minister for Energy and Resources declined to approve the applications for special exploration licenses SEL 4/2009 and SEL 5/2009 applied for on 20 April 2009 by Empire. The reason given in the Minister's letter was that "the applications do not include sufficient information to satisfy me that EECI is likely to have sufficient financial resources to carry out the proposed work program, following the company's statement in the SEC Filings for EEGC.OB Form 10-Q on 20 May 2009." Empire refutes this statement and has sought a review of this decision from the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy, Infrastructure and Resources on the grounds that information drawn from the 10-Q was misinterpreted and future commercial dealings were not taken into account in the consideration. In response to the Minister's letter, Empire has also submitted two new applications on 18 June 2009, for the special exploration license areas covered by SEL 4/2009 and SEL 5/2009, highlighting the financial and technical capacity of Empire Energy to carry out the proposed exploration programs and removing Geominex Resources as a joint venture partner.

Registration Statements

The Registration Statement filed with the SEC in April to allow resale of certain shares has progressed through preliminary review and may become effective upon completion of final legal opinion and consents. The Registration Statement filed with the SEC in May to allow the announced Rights Issue continues to progress through preliminary review with expectation of comments in the coming week. The Rights Issue will become available when SEC review, legal opinion and consents are complete and the registration is allowed to become effective by the SEC.

The registration filing is the preliminary stage of the USD$ 9 million (AUD$12 million) Rights Issue offering. Shareholders of record on the December 18, 2008, record date are eligible to subscribe for one share for every two shares held at that date at a price of US$ 7 cents (about AUD$ 9 cents) per share. With the proceeds, it is intended to expand funding of the drilling campaign and pay outstanding due debts of Empire and its subsidiaries, including Great South Land Minerals Ltd. Empire CEO, Malcolm Bendall has announced that he intends to acquire his full allotment of shares in the Rights Offering and to participate fully to acquire additional shares in the over allotment option to the extent that other Rights Holders fail to exercise.

Empire Energy Corporation is an international oil and gas exploration company, focusing on developing assets in one of the world's last virgin basins and to become a leading low-cost finder of hydrocarbons. The Company is currently operating in Tasmania's central and northern basins.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on our current expectations about our company and our industry. You can identify these forward-looking statements when you see us using the words such as "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believes," "plans" and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of our ability to complete required financings and other preconditions to the completion of the transactions described herein and Empire's ability to successfully acquire reserves and produce its resources among other issues. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future. We caution you not to place undue reliance on those statements. For a more detailed discussion of risks and other factors related to Empire Energy Corporation Int'l, please refer to its 10-K and 10-Q reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Empire Energy Corporation International
Malcolm Bendall, 816-663-2310