Anatolia Energy Announces Appointment of Vice President Exploration

CALGARY, Jan. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - Anatolia Energy Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV: AEE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Layzell as Vice President, Exploration. Mr. Layzell brings 30 years of leadership and technical experience in international exploration management, geology and geophysics. Mr. Layzell played a significant role in the growth of First Calgary Petroleums Ltd. ("FCP") until its sale in 2008 to ENI S.p.A. including the positions of Vice President New Ventures, Vice President Exploration and Operations, and Algeria Country Manager. During his tenure, FCP signed two concession agreements in Algeria, shot more than 2,000 km² of 3D seismic data and drilled numerous successful gas and condensate wells. Mr. Layzell also helped to build a working relationship with the Algerian authorities and establish FCP's in-country team. Prior to FCP, Mr. Layzell performed technical evaluation of international opportunities for Yorkton Securities (now Macquarie) and held various positions in Exploration Management with Westcoast Petroleum Ltd, Numac Energy, Amoco Canada and Dome Petroleum Ltd.

The Company also announces the appointment of Rick Pawluk as the Company's Corporate Secretary. Since 2003, Mr. Pawluk has been a partner of the law firm of McCarthy Tétrault LLP where he has developed a corporate finance practice with a strong focus on junior oil and gas issuers. In the past, Mr. Pawluk has been the corporate secretary and/or director of Brigg and Energy Corp., Castle Rock Petroleum Ltd., BNK Petroleum Ltd., Catapult Financial Management Inc. and Rally Energy Corp., all publicly traded companies, and is currently the corporate secretary of Bankers Petroleum Ltd., Porto Energy Corp., Sunshine Oilsands Ltd., Bashaw Oil Corp. and Drakkar Energy Ltd. Mr. Pawluk replaces Jay Park who is continuing with the Company as a strategic advisor on its oil and gas operations.

Bob Spring, CEO of Anatolia Energy stated "We are very pleased to appoint Martin as Vice-President Exploration. With his extensive background in the exploration for and discovery of hydrocarbons, he provides exceptional expertise to lead our exploration efforts. I would also like to thank Jay Park for his important role in co-founding Anatolia and his continued support by agreeing to act as our special advisor."

About Anatolia Energy Corp.
Anatolia is an international oil and gas company engaged in the exploration and development of oil and gas assets in Turkey and Colombia.  Anatolia has the right, pursuant to its joint venture agreements with Calık Enerji, the wholly-owned oil and gas subsidiary of the large Turkish conglomerate Çalık Holding A.Ş., to earn working interests between 25% and 50% in two development licences and 50% in six exploration licences covering an aggregate of 336,509 net acres of land in Turkey's proven Southeastern oil basin. Anatolia is focused on four play types in Turkey namely the Paleozoic Bedinan sand trend, Cretaceous Mardin strike slip trend, Garzan reef trend and Silurian Dadas shale oil trend.  The Silurian Dadas shale oil play in Turkey is the major source rock throughout the Middle East. In Colombia, Anatolia holds a 17.5% interest, subject to approval by the Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos, and has the right to earn an additional 17.5% interest in the LLA-24 Block in the prolific Llanos Basin. The block covers an area of approximately 147,000 gross acres (51,450 net acres) and is surrounded by high rate light oil production.

Cautionary Statements

Certain information included in this press release constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation.  Such forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking information in this press release may include, but is not limited to, information with respect to: operational decisions and the timing thereof, and timing for drilling and exploration plans on the properties of Anatolia.  Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect.  Although Anatolia believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information is reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because Anatolia can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which have been used.  Anatolia undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. For further information on the Company and the risks associated with its business, please see the Company's Joint Information Circular dated November 7, 2011, which is available on SEDAR.  The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Peter Argiris, VP Business Development
Anatolia Energy Corp.
403.802.0770 ext. 225