Platino Energy Corp. Announces Operational Update, Filing of 2012 Year End Financial Statements and Reserves Evaluation

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - April 17, 2013) - Platino Energy Corp. ("Platino" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: PZE) is pleased to provide an update on its operations, announce the results of its independent year-end reserves evaluation, and confirm the filing of its audited annual financial statements and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended December 31, 2012.

As a result of the Company's formation in connection with the acquisition of C&C Energia Ltd. ("C&C") by Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. ("Pacific Rubiales"), which closed on December 31, 2012, the Company did not conduct independent operations during the period of January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. The audited annual 2012 financial statements, MD&A, and information and reports regarding the Company's reserves data and other oil and gas information, as required under National Instrument 51- 101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101") relate to the business acquired by Platino from C&C prior to the spin-off related to the acquisition of C&C by Pacific Rubiales, and will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

(All amounts are in United States ( " U.S." ) dollars, unless otherwise stated and all tabular amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share amounts or as otherwise noted).

OPERATIONAL UPDATE

Coati Block - 100% Working Interest ⁽¹⁾

Platino is pleased to announce significant progress and provide a timing update on the Coati-1 exploration well on the Coati block. In late 2012, the Company received required environmental permits necessary to commence civil works and drilling on the block, including upgrading of roads and bridges, and construction of the drilling location.

Civil works on the block are progressing on schedule. To date all 5 bridges have been upgraded completing all necessary bridge work. The Company expects to complete the remainder of required road maintenance and drilling location construction in the next two months. Civil works on the approximate 16 km of road is 30% complete and 10% complete on the well site pad.

The current anticipated spud date is late June 2013. Platino plans to drill to basement at approximately 10,500 feet, with the Caballos Formation as the main target and the Villeta T, U and N sands as secondary targets. Platino expects that the well will take 45 days to reach total depth, and once total depth is reached, the company will commence an extensive testing program with results anticipated in Q3 2013. "We are pleased with the continuing progress of the Coati-1 civil works and drilling preparations", said Tomas Villamil, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "Our management team has viewed Coati-1 as a high quality prospect since it was part of C&C's portfolio, however permitting issues prevented it from being drilled. With these issues resolved, we are excited to finally test the significant exploration potential of the Coati block."

Putumayo-8 Block - 50% Working Interest

The Company and its partner Vetra Exploration and Production Colombia S.A. ("Vetra") continue to work with the results of the seismic acquired in late 2012 to select the first exploratory drill location on the block. The Company and Vetra have identified several prospects on the northeastern portion of the block and will likely target a 3-way closure against a fault identified through 3D seismic as its first location. The T, U, and N Villeta sandstones will be the primary targets, similar to the discoveries on the Platanillo field 3 km to the east. Platino and Vetra are working through the environmental permitting process prior to commencing civil works on the first drilling location. Platino anticipates these permits will be obtained before the end of 2013 allowing for a late 2013 or early 2014 spud date for the first exploratory well.

Platino and Vetra are jointly planning an additional seismic survey targeting several geological features identified on the south west of the block adjacent to the Cohembi field located within the Suroriente block. The additional seismic program, in addition to the previously mentioned exploration well, will satisfy the remaining work commitments on the Putumayo-8 block. Platino and Vetra plan to complete the seismic program ahead of the current work phase expiration in May 2014.

Morpho Block - 50% Working Interest

The Company and its partner Parex Resources Inc. are currently evaluating development plans for the Morpho block.

Andaquies Block - 64% Working Interest

The focus for the Andaquies block for 2013 is re-processing existing seismic data and performing further analysis of the test data gathered from the two wells drilled on the block in 2012. The ANH commitments on the block were satisfied with the drilling of the two wells in 2012.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

In connection with the reorganization transactions involving C&C, Platino and their respective subsidiaries, Platino was initially capitalized with approximately $88.5 million in cash, subject to reimbursement of certain reorganization related costs and working capital adjustments. As of the date of this press release, the Company had reimbursed expenses for approximately $10.2 million, including financial advisory, legal, engineering, audit and other related costs and expenses attributable to Platino.

RESERVES UPDATE

Platino has received a report from its independent reserves evaluators, Lonquist & Co. LLC ("Lonquist"), effective December 31, 2012, evaluating the oil reserves of the Company's Morpho block in Colombia. The report indicates that the Company has a total of 12,500 barrels of Proved Oil Reserves⁽²⁾ and nil Probable Oil Reserves ⁽³⁾ from one non-producing well on the Morpho block. The total before tax net present value of future net revenues associated with the reserves, discounted at 10%, is $178,000. Lonquist's report did not include an evaluation of the Company's drilling prospects on exploration acreage. All reserve estimates stated herein are derived from Lonquist's evaluation. For further information and reports regarding the Company's reserves data and other oil and gas information, as required under National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51- 101"), please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF COMMON SHARES

Platino's board of directors has authorized a non-brokered offering (the "Offering") of up to 550,000 common shares of the Company at an issue price of Cdn$1.20 per share, for aggregate proceeds of up to Cdn$660,000. The Company expects that employees, officers and directors of the Company will subscribe for a portion of the common shares to be issued in the Offering. The Offering is subject to regulatory approval including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, and is expected to close before the end of April 2013. The Company plans to use the proceeds of the Offering to assist in financing its exploration program and for general working capital purposes.

OPTION GRANT

Platino also announces that pursuant to the provisions of its stock option plan, it has granted an aggregate of 615,000 options to certain officers and new employees of the Company. The options have an exercise price of $1.40 per share. The options granted vest as to one third on the first anniversary of the date of grant, one third on the second anniversary of the date of grant and the balance on the third anniversary of the date of grant. The options will expire on April 16, 2018. All stock option grants of Platino are subject to the receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals.

ABOUT PLATINO ENERGY

Platino is a Calgary, Alberta headquartered resource company engaged in the exploration for, and the acquisition, development and production of hydrocarbons in Colombia.

1) Working interest will be reduced to 60% upon Canacol Energy Ltd. earning-in in accordance with Farm-in Agreement.

2) Proved Oil Reserves are those reserves that can be estimated with a high degree of certainty to be recoverable. It is likely that the actual remaining volumes recovered will exceed the estimated Proved Oil Reserves.

3) Probable Oil Reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than Proved Oil Reserves. It is equally likely that the actual remaining volumes recovered will be greater or less than the sum of the estimated Proved plus Probable Oil Reserves.

ADVISORIES REGARDING OIL RESERVES ESTIMATES

Estimated values of future net revenues do not represent fair market value. The estimates of reserves and future net revenue for individual properties may not reflect the same confidence level as estimates of reserves and future net revenue for all properties due to the effects of aggregation.

ADVISORY REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "will", "intends" and similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking information concerning the Company's operational and drilling plans at its Coati-1 exploration well, including with respect to the completion of civil works thereon; exploration plans for the Company's other exploration blocks; and the Company's plan to complete a private placement of common shares.

The forward-looking information in this news release is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Platino, including assumptions as to: the submission, in a timely manner, of regulatory and third party applications; the receipt in a timely manner, of regulatory and third party approvals; the timing and progress of work relating to Platino's assets; Platino's geological and engineering estimates; future production levels; the regulatory framework with respect to royalties, taxes, environmental matters, resource recovery and securities matters in the jurisdiction in which Platino will conduct its business; the geography of the areas in which Platino will conduct exploration and development activities; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the accuracy of testing results and seismic data; and the accuracy of resource estimates and the general continuance of current or, where applicable, assumed operational, regulatory and industry condition. Although Platino believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Platino can give no assurance that it will prove to be correct.

The forward-looking information in this news release is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, among others: the inability to secure necessary regulatory or other third party approvals; the early stage of development of Platino and its assets and the nature of the exploration and development activities on such assets; difficulties encountered during the exploration for, delineation, development and production of oil. As a result of the foregoing, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the operations or financial results of Platino are included in the Listing Application (Form 2B) of Platino filed with the TSX-V, which has been filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website www.sedar.com.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and Platino undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.