HOUSTON -- Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE: HNR) (Harvest or the Company) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, HNR Energia B.V., has signed a definitive Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with PT Pertamina (Persero), the national oil company of Indonesia (the Buyer), to sell all of the Company's interests in Venezuela for $725.0 million in an all-cash transaction. Net proceeds from the sale are estimated to be approximately $525.0 million after deductions for transaction related costs and taxes.

The Buyer will purchase Harvest's 32% interest in Petrodelta, S.A. by purchasing HNR Energia B.V.'s 80 percent interest in Harvest-Vinccler Dutch Holding B.V. The effective date of the transaction is January 1, 2012.

The closing of the transaction is subject to, among other things, approval by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Government of Indonesia in its capacity as the Buyer's sole shareholder and a majority of the Company's stockholders. If all of the conditions to closing are not satisfied or not waived on or before March 21, 2013, either the Buyer or Harvest may terminate the SPA. The Boards of Directors of Harvest and Pertamina have each approved the transaction.

James A. Edmiston, President and CEO of Harvest, said, "The signing of the SPA represents a significant step forward in the strategic alternatives initiative we began in 2010 and clearly validates the potential of Petrodelta's business and Harvest's twenty year partnership with PDVSA in Venezuela."

Edmiston continued, "This transaction will not only provide Harvest and its shareholders with numerous options for the future, but will also provide Petrodelta and PDVSA with a strong, well-financed international partner capable of contributing to Petrodelta's future growth."

Conference call

Harvest will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, during which management will discuss this transaction. To access the conference call, dial 888-219-1217 or 913-312-0981, five to ten minutes prior to the start time. At that time you will be asked to provide the conference number, which is 4239456. A recording of the conference call will also be available for replay at 719-457-0820 passcode 4239456, until July 2, 2012.

The conference call will also be transmitted over the internet through the Company's website at www.harvestnr.com. To listen to the live webcast, enter the website fifteen minutes before the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the webcast will be available beginning shortly after the call, and will remain on the web site for approximately 90 days.

About Harvest Natural Resources:

Harvest Natural Resources, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is an independent energy company with principal operations in Venezuela, exploration assets in Indonesia, West Africa, China and Oman and business development offices in Singapore and the United Kingdom. For more information visit the Company's website at www.harvestnr.com.