Update on ICC Arbitration proceedings against ETAP

Zenith Energy Ltd. (LSE: ZEN; OSE: ZENA; OTCQB: ZENAF), the listed international energy production and development company, is pleased to provide an update regarding the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) arbitration case seated in Paris (France) against Entreprise Tunisienne d'Activités Pétrolières ("ETAP"), the national oil company of the Republic of Tunisia (the "ICC Arbitration").

Background

On July 10, 2023, the Company announced that it had successfully obtained a "conservative seizure" for an amount equivalent to approximately US$6.5 million deposited in a bank account under the name of ETAP in Switzerland (the "Conservative Seizure").

The Conservative Seizure was granted in view of ETAP's failure to comply with its contractual obligations to pay for oil produced and sold by the claimant, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zenith, named Ecumed Petroleum Zarzis Ltd ("EPZ"), registered in Barbados.

On November 29, 2023, the Company announced that the Arbitral Tribunal of the ICC Arbitration had rejected ETAP's request to include the Tunisian State as co-defendant and ordered ETAP to pay approximately EUR 120,000 in costs to EPZ.

Update

The Company is pleased to announce that it has strengthened its legal team in support of the ICC Arbitration by appointing Clay Arbitration, an independent boutique law firm specialised in arbitrations founded by Professor Thomas Clay, a renowned academic and lawyer, who is currently Professor at Sorbonne Law School, where he teaches Arbitration Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Professor Clay has participated in approximately one hundred arbitration proceedings as chairman, sole arbitrator, and co-arbitrator, as well as counsel in domestic and international arbitrations. He has also participated in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations in the fields of energy, oil and gas, mining, telecommunications, construction, distribution, commercial law, sports law, labour law (ICC, ICSID, LCIA).