Empire Energy Consolidates Funding Arrangements and Announces New Website and Investor Communication Initiative

Empire Energy Corporation International (OTCBB:EEGC) ("Empire Energy” or "the Company”) has today announced Funding Updates via its wholly owned subsidiary Great South Land Minerals Limited (GSLM).

Empire Energy is pleased to report that subsequent to reciprocal legal and financial due diligence procedures completed by both The Company and the lender announced on February 20, 2009, including specific financial statements required by the lender; the Funding Process will now proceed as planned and as previously announced in the Empire Energy Press Release dated February 20, 2009.

The lender has now officially informed Empire Energy that it is holding funds for the completion and closing of the previously described loan as per the signed term sheet, the amount being £1,150,000 GB Sterling; (Australian $2.53 million).

Empire Energy fully anticipates the closing of the financing within the next seven to fourteen days. This time is necessary for Australian legal counsel to complete legal documentation for the Senior Secured Collateral for this loan.

As importantly, approximately US $500 thousand is expected to be made available to the Company shortly as an interim measure. These funds have been structured as a bridging instrument, and will allow the Company the flexibility to expedite all elements of its Tasmanian drilling program.

Funding from the lender will be used to resume and expand the drilling program at the Bellevue #1 well in Tasmania, and the Hunt Rig #3 has been kept on the well site in accordance with its agreement with GSLM. The Bellevue site has had a great deal of preparatory work completed, including site access, site preparation work, and the top hole has been drilled to 272 metres (892 feet) and 20 inch casing has been set.

Recently purchased ancillary drilling equipment is situated on site. Drill crews will soon return to the Bellevue #1, complete their inspections, and commence deep drilling. We would once again mention that living accommodations for the crews have been secured at Bronte Park near the drilling sites. This will allow a smooth transition from one shift to another in order to expedite the program once it begins.

We expect the financing arrangements will give us the potential of AUD$10 million in funds to resume the multi-well drilling program using the Hunt Energy Rig #3.

In addition the announced rights offering, if fully subscribed, may bring us the potential of an additional AUD$12 million to continue the drilling programs.

The Company also formalized an agreement today with RAB Special Situations (Master) Fund Limited to extend the existing $1,500,000 convertible note payable to RAB until March, 2011 and to extend and issue warrants held by RAB to purchase 21,050,000 shares of Empire common stock at a price of $.07 per share until March, 2014.

Empire CEO Malcolm Bendall has stated, "We are continuing to diligently plan and execute our business model on all levels in order to complete the financings, expand the exploration protocols, and of course improve the communications network with our community of investors. It has been a singular focus of this company to move this project forward and to witness the oil and gas rig operating in Tasmania at Bellevue #1 as soon as possible. We are pleased that momentum is gathering pace for the execution of our planned drilling program and we anticipate this part of our financing will soon be finalized.”

The Company is also pleased to announce the completion of a totally remodelled website at www.empireenergy.com.

This new website will allow investors immediate access to various tools which will allow them to stay current with all of the facts and facets of this dynamic project. There will be streaming videos, stand alone videos, historical reports, stock quotes, and regular updates from both the CEO and the Director of Corporate Finance and Business Development describing in detail the progress of the drilling program. Additionally, we believe the site is very "user friendly” and linear in its approach to the volumes of information which have been generated over the years.

This web site is a work in progress so please visit us frequently and we invite your participation and comments in the "Newsletter Signup” and of course in the "Contact Us” Section. All news that is current will be placed in a box in the centre of the site which is labelled UPDATES! Photos and as importantly new videos will be posted regularly on the site.

Contemporary business interviews featuring CEO Malcolm Bendall and Mark Callaway, the newly appointed Director of Corporate Finance and Business Development, will be aired in the near future as they speak to the history and the prospects regarding to Empire Energy. The interviews were conducted by professional business Television personalities in London TV studios and will be broadcast on an International Investment Television Show. The interviews will be broadcast in thirty-four countries including North America, Europe, and Asia as well as on demand on the internet. The Broadcast enjoys distribution to 170,000,000 TV homes globally. The broadcast will also be aired in conjunction with the onset of the drilling program and planned rights offering. Upcoming announcements concerning the broadcast information are expected on or before Friday morning April 3^rd, 2009.

Empire CEO Malcolm Bendall has stated, "We are delighted to announce these initiatives as part of the intended improvement to the communications network with our community of investors and we welcome comments and suggestions for further improvements.”

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-KSB and 10 Q reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.