Interim Management Statement

Ophir Energy plc

Interim Management Statement

London, 15 November 2012 - Ophir Energy plc ("Ophir" or "the Company") today issues an Interim Management Statement and Operational Update for the period 1 July 2012 to 30 September 2012.

Corporate Highlights since 1 July 2012

·; Ophir Energy has achieved significant operational milestones, including:

- Successfully completed two 3D seismic programmes and commenced the third 3D seismic acquisition programme in Kenya and Tanzania;

- Defined significant new oil plays and prospects in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea;

- Identified significant new prospectivity in Tanzania and Kenya including two 20+TCF targets;

- Successfully completed a three-well drilling programme in Block-R, Equatorial Guinea, resulting in the discovery of an additional 1.0 TCF (169 MMBOE) of recoverable resources in the Fortuna West-1 (R6) exploration well and increasing Block R 2C contingent recoverable resource estimates to 3.0 TCF (500 MMBOE);

- Resumed the drilling campaign in Tanzania, with JV partner BG Group, aimed at further refining the resource potential of the Jodari and Mzia discoveries and conducting flow tests

Tanzania

·; Completed drilling at Jodari South-1 and on the Jodari South-1 side-track ahead of schedule;

·; The Deep Sea Metro 1 drillship has now moved to Jodari North-1 where drilling has commenced, as part of the on-going Tanzanian drilling campaign;

·; Mzia-2 appraisal well will immediately follow the Jodari appraisal programme to refine estimated in-place and recoverable volumes

·; Prospectivity of Blocks 1 and 7 continues to evolve as recent mapping continues to identify new prospects

·; Commenced the third 3D seismic acquisition programme including the Upanga Survey in Block 7, comprising 1,803 km2 of which 30 per cent has been completed

Kenya

·; Ophir Energy has commenced the third 3D seismic acquisition programme including two blocks in Kenya:

- The Nala Survey is focused on Block L9, covering 1560 km2

- The Ndoto Survey will look at Block L15, covering 832 km2

Nick Cooper, CEO of Ophir Energy plc commented:

"Ophir has made significant progress in the past quarter. In Tanzania, recent well results and new seismic coverage have identified new, game-changing prospectivity. Mapping of Blocks 1 and 7 is on-going, with significant new prospects mapped within recent weeks. In Equatorial Guinea we have increased our gas resource and are now targeting a single train of LNG supplied by Block R gas.

We are excited about our upcoming 2013 exploration programme. The continued processing and interpretation of the large volume of 3D seismic data Ophir acquired in 2012, combined with the 12-15 well drilling programme targeting net risked prospective resource of 1.0 billion barrels of oil equivalent has the potential to make 2013 another transformational year."

Ends

For Further Enquiries please contact:

Ophir Energy plc +44 (0)20 7290 5800

Nick Cooper, CEO

Stephanie Prior, Commercial Manager

Brunswick Group +44 (0)20 7404 5959

Patrick Handley

Elizabeth Adams

Notes to Editors

Ophir Energy (OPHR.LN) is an African focussed, upstream oil and gas resource company which is a member of the FTSE 250. The Group's headquarters are located in London (England), with operational offices in Perth (Australia), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Dar es Salaam and Mtwara (Tanzania), Port Gentil, (Gabon) and Nairobi (Kenya).

Ophir is the 5th largest deepwater acreage holder in Africa, present in four key emerging sub-Saharan exploration themes, and the largest net acreage holder in offshore East Africa.

For further information on Ophir, please refer to www.ophir-energy.com