CALGARY, Canada, January 9, 2008 - Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (OTC BB: GTRE), a company focused on oil exploration and production in South America, today announced that its net after royalty production at the end of 2007 had risen to approximately 3,300 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) as a result of growing production capacity from exploration drilling success during the year.

Average oil production in Colombia has grown to approximately 2,700 BOPD, net after royalty, compared to 2,000 BOPD reported in November 2007. This continued growth in production is the result of expanded well production capacity and infrastructure handling capacity. Average oil production in Argentina has remained stable at approximately 600 BOPD, net after royalty.

Gran Tierra Energy has an active development drilling and exploration drilling campaign budgeted for 2008. This includes six development wells in oil discoveries made in Colombia in 2007, and three oil exploration wells, two in Colombia and one in Argentina.

"Gran Tierra Energy has had exceptional exploration success in 2007 which is currently being developed and is resulting in substantial growth in production. We will be continuing our development drilling through 2008 to increase our production capacity, in addition to undertaking additional oil exploration efforts to further define the potential of our acreage in Colombia, Argentina and Peru," stated Dana Coffield, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

About Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

 

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and production company, headquartered in Calgary, Canada, incorporated and traded in the United States and operating in South America. Gran Tierra Energy holds interests in producing and prospective properties in Argentina, Colombia and Peru. The company's strategy is focused on establishing a portfolio of drilling opportunities to exploit undeveloped reserves to grow production, as well as undertaking exploration to grow future reserves. Additional information concerning Gran Tierra Energy is available at www.grantierra.com. Investor inquiries may be directed to [email protected] or 1-800-916-GTRE (4873).

Forward Looking Statements

The statements in this press release regarding Gran Tierra Energy's expectations with respect to the timing of development drilling and the resulting increase in production capacity, and the timing and results of exploration activities in 2008, are 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although these forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, in the case of these forward-looking statements: unexpected delays in drilling or pipeline or other transportation infrastructure completion due to equipment failure or other unforeseen reasons; unforeseen events, such as unexpected difficulties in drilling or unexpected discoveries, may cause Gran Tierra Energy to reallocate resources, which may delay drilling, surveys, design plans, transportation infrastructure development and production or alter the mix of development drilling and exploration drilling in Gran Tierra Energy's portfolio; and unexpected costs may decrease funds available to carry out Gran Tierra Energy's plans described in this press release, which could delay or prevent execution of these plans. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Gran Tierra Energy assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release, other than as may be required by applicable law or regulation. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures, including the risk factors, made by Gran Tierra Energy in its reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in particular under the caption "Item 1A - Risk Factors" of its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on November 8, 2007, which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect Gran Tierra Energy's business. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, Gran Tierra Energy's actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected.