Investment Update

2 December 2008 AIM: XTR XTRACT ENERGY PLC ("Xtract" or the "Company") PROJECT UPDATE - MEO Australia Ltd Xtract refers shareholders to the following announcement released today in Australia by MEO Australia Ltd ("MEO"). "ASX AND MEDIA RELEASE RDI farm-in options over two North West Shelf Permits lapse Key Points: * Global financial market downturn has caused a deferral of the planned IPO of Resource Development International (RDI) into 2009. As a result, RDI was unable to exercise its options to farm-in to WA-359-P and WA-360-P by December 1 and they have lapsed. * RDI continues to fund 80% of the Zeus-1 well in WA-361-P, due to spud in December. * MEO technical work continues to enhance the prospectivity of all three WA permits. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (December 2nd, 2008) - MEO Australia Limited (ASX: MEO) has been advised by Resource Development International (RDI) that in view of the delay to its IPO it has elected not to exercise its options to farm-in for 35% interests in WA-359-P and WA-360-P. Given the depth and breadth of the global financial crisis, this outcome, while disappointing was not unexpected. RDI remains a valued co-venturer in relation to WA-361-P where it is funding 80% of the forthcoming Zeus-1 well to a cap of US$31.25m. MEO is funding the balance of the well costs. In the event of a discovery being declared at Zeus, RDI will pay MEO's shares of two additional wells in the permit, the timing of which will be subject to Joint Venture approval. Participants in Zeus-1 and WA-361-P: North West Shelf Exploration Pty Ltd* 35% Operator Resource Development International 35% Limited Cue Exploration Pty Ltd (ASX: CUE) 15% Gascorp Australia Limited (Unlisted) 15% * Wholly owned subsidiary of MEO Australia Limited The MEO technical team continues to advance the prospectivity of all three permits and has identified several strong leads (refer attached map) which the Company is confident of maturing to drillable prospect status. MEO expects to secure replacement farm-in partners for WA-359-P and WA-360-P in the near future. Jurgen Hendrich Managing Director & CEO MEO Australia Limited" A copy of the map referred to in the text above can be found in the announcement published by MEO, which is available on the Australian Stock Exchange website: http://www.asx.com.au Enquiries please contact: Xtract Energy Andy Morrison, CEO +44 (0)20 7079 1798 Smith & Williamson David Jones +44 (0)20 7131 4000 Corporate Finance Azhic Basirov Scott Harris Ian Middleton +44 (0)20 7653 0030 James O'Shaughnessy About Xtract Energy Xtract identifies and invests in a diversified portfolio of early stage energy sector technologies and businesses with significant growth potential. The Company aims to work closely with the associated management teams to achieve critical project milestones, to finance later development stages, and to build and crystallise value for all shareholders and partners. For further information on Xtract please visit www.xtractenergy.co.uk A short description of the principal assets of Xtract is set out below. These assets are either held directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. MEO Australia Ltd ("MEO") MEO (ASX: MEO) aims to become an integrated Australian Gas-to-Liquids ("GTL") company. In 2008, MEO made significant gas discoveries in the Australian Timor Sea, in an area of shallow water known as Tassie Shoal. Early commercialisation of these discoveries is planned through construction of Liquified Natural Gas ("LNG") and Methanol plants and export terminals on the off-shore Tassie Shoal. MEO has already secured Australian Government environmental approvals for two large scale (1.8 Mtpa) methanol plants and a 3 Mtpa LNG plant on Tassie Shoal. Xtract owns approximately 13.9% of MEO's issued share capital. Elko Energy Inc. ("Elko") Elko is a Canadian registered oil & gas exploration company which has interests in exploration and production licences in the Danish and Dutch North Sea. Its major asset is in the Danish North Sea; an 80% interest on 26 offshore blocks in a 5,400 sq km exploration and production licence close to the prolific Central Graben oil field. Technical work indicates the potential for significant reserves. Elko also holds a 33% operating interest in gas-bearing license blocks P1 and P2 in the Dutch North Sea. Xtract owns approximately 35.4% of Elko's issued share capital. Extrem Energy AS ("Extrem Energy") Extrem Energy is an exploration and production joint venture with Merty Energy of Turkey. The JV's aim is to create a new medium-sized oil and gas exploration and production business, initially focused on Turkey where Merty Energy has particular experience and expertise. Extrem Energy has a portfolio of licence interests including the high potential prospect at Candarli Bay in south-west Turkey. Xtract owns 20% of the issued share capital of Extrem Energy and has the option of increasing its shareholding to 34% before 30 June 2009. Xtract Oil Ltd ("XOL") Xtract's wholly owned subsidiary, XOL, is focused on the development of the Company's oil shale resources in Australia and the technology for oil extraction from oil shale resources. Xtract has oil shale exploration rights over mining tenements in the Julia Creek area of Queensland. XOL is also developing proprietary technology for the commercial extraction of liquid hydrocarbon products from oil shale which could partially address the global decline of conventional oil reserves with significant environmental benefits and higher yields over previously employed extraction methods. Xtract Energy (Oil Shale) Morocco SA ("XOSM") XOSM is a joint venture with Alraed Limited Investment Holding Company WLL, a company controlled by His Highness, Prince Bandar Bin Mohd. Bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia. XOSM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines for the purposes of evaluation and possible development of an oil shale deposit near Tarfaya, in the south west part of Morocco. Xtract currently holds 70% of the joint venture. Wasabi Energy Ltd ("Wasabi") Wasabi (ASX: WAS) is a diversified investor in traditional and renewable energy technologies. Amongst its listed assets it holds approximately 38% of Rum Jungle Uranium Ltd (ASX: RUM) which has interests in uranium exploration licenses covering some 4,150 sq km of Australia's Northern Territory and approximately 12.5% of Greenearth Energy Ltd (ASX:GER) which aims to explore and develop geothermal resources in Australia and the wider Pacific Rim. Xtract owns approximately 19.4% of the issued share capital of Wasabi. Zhibek Resources Ltd ("Zhibek Resources") Zhibek Resources is an oil and gas exploration and production company which has a 72% interest in the Tash Kumyr and Pishkoran exploration licences in the Kyrgyz Republic. Xtract has entered a farm-out agreement to fund a seismic and drilling programme for 2008-09. Xtract owns 25.0% of the issued share capital of Zhibek Resources. ---END OF MESSAGE--- This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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