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MATERIAL FACT
RELINQUISHMENT DECISION ON THE SECOND EXPLORATION PERIOD OF BLOCKS T-219 AND T-220 IN THE SOLIMÕES
SEDIMENTARY BASIN
Rio de Janeiro, August 2nd, 2013 - HRT Participações em Petróleo S.A. (the "Company" or "HRT") (BM&FBOVESPA: HRTP3, TSX-V: HRP), announces that it notified the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels - ANP ("ANP") of its intention of not renewing the concession agreement for the second period of the exploration phase of Blocks SOL-T-219 and SOL-T-220, whose first period expired on March 3rd, 2013, and was subsequently postponed by ANP until August 3rd, 2013, thus relinquishing the areas of the relevant Blocks to that Regulatory Agency.
The non-continuity decision on the exploratory process of the Blocks SOL-T-219 and SOL-T-220 is based on the difficulty in obtaining the due environmental and operational licenses, arising from the presence of two National Forests, positioned on both Blocks, the respective Buffer Zones and the adjacent flood plains, that would prevent the development of geological, geophysical, and drilling activities on the land.
HRT has carried out the activities comprised in the Minimum Work Obligations (MWO), which are required by ANP, and whose execution was not contingent upon the environmental licensing process (airborne geophysics, geochemistry on riverbeds and post mortem on pre-existing well data in SOL-T-220). In addition, it has carried out seismic surveys in the NW of Block SOL-T-219, where it was possible to obtain the partial environmental license, what has not occurred in the area of Block SOL-T-220.
HRT, with this relinquishment, is now the operator of 19 blocks in the Solimões Basin, which is exploring in partnership with TNK-Brasil.
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For additional information, please contact HRT's Investor Relations Department.
About HRT
HRT Participações holds one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in Brazil. The HRT Group comprises eight main subsidiaries: IPEX (Integrated Petroleum Expertise Company Serviços em Petróleo Ltda.), HRT O&G Exploração e Produção de Petróleo Ltda., HRT Netherlands B.V., HRT África Petróleo S.A., HRT América Inc., Air Amazonia Serviços Aéreos Ltda. and HRT Canada Inc.. The Company retains a 55% interest in 21 exploratory blocks in the Solimões Basin. HRT also operates ten exploratory blocks off the Namibian coast: eight blocks in the Orange Sub-basin and two blocks in the Walvis Sub-basin. HRT's team includes PHDs and masters in geochemistry, geophysics, biology and engineering, most of them former employees of Petrobras and ANP (Brazil petroleum agency). HRT is committed to minimizing any possible environmental impacts in the sites where it acts. Our commitment to the local communities is towards health conditions, safety and quality of life. For more information, please visit the Company's website: www.hrt.com.br/ir
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