Iona Energy Announces Addition to Board of Directors

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN
UNITED STATES


Iona Energy Inc. ("Iona" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: INA) is pleased to
announce that Richard Ames has joined the Board of Directors. 


Mr. Ames brings to the Iona board 32 years of broad range experience in the oil
and gas industry with senior executive roles in full cycle oil and gas
exploration and production, information technology and oil and gas services. He
has held several Vice President positions in TNK-BP, Sidanco, and Amoco in
Russia & Kazakhstan, where he was responsible for government liaison, the
implementation of business strategies and the management of exploration and new
venture projects. He has recently held Advisory Board of Director positions in
Accenture Russia, Kiawah Conservancy, and DataSpace. 


Mr. Ames graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Geology, and from the University of Georgia with a Master of Science in Geology.
He joined Amoco in 1981 and worked as a geologist responsible for reserve
definition in several international petroleum basins including the North Sea.


Iona also announces that it has granted Mr. Ames options to purchase an
aggregate of 600,000 common shares at an exercise price of $0.63 per share, in
accordance with the terms of Iona's stock option plan. The options will have a
term of five years and time vesting provisions with 25% vesting immediately and
a further 25% vesting on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date
of grant.


Additional information relating to the Company is available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.


About Iona Energy:

Iona is an oil and gas exploration, development and production company focused
on oil and gas development and exploration in the United Kingdom's North Sea.


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


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Iona Energy Inc.
Neill A. Carson
Chief Executive Officer
[phone]


Iona Energy Inc.
Graham A. Heath
VP Corporate Development
[phone]


Iona Energy Inc.
David Ricciardi
Investor Relations
[phone]