Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. (fka PTQMF)

[Geico]

Petaquilla Gold, S.A.-Largest Exporter in Panama for Second
Consecutive Year

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/13/12 -- Petaquilla
Minerals Ltd. (TSX:PTQ)(OTCBB:PTQMF)(FRANKFURT:P7Z) (the "Company")
is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Petaquilla Gold, S.A.
("Petaquilla"), has received public recognition from the Panamanian
Association of Exporters ("APEX"), for being the largest exporter of
Panama in 2011.

At an event held in Panama City, the President of APEX provided
Petaquilla with an engraved plaque of honour and congratulated
Petaquilla for its contribution to the development and progress of
the country.

Rodrigo Esquivel, the Company's President, noted that, "We have
developed the first modern gold mining project in Panama with the
most advanced technology, while maintaining high safety standards,
respect for the environment, and generating development, wealth and
prosperity in an area of Panama that historically has been
characterized as a poor region."

Mr. Esquivel also thanked APEX for this second consecutive year
recognition, stressing that, "Petaquilla is a company that has
developed a responsible and clean mining project that produces and
exports Panamanian gold."

Photographs of the APEX award presentation can be viewed on the
Company's website at http://www.petaquilla.com/gallery.aspx.

About Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. Petaquilla is a growing, diversified
gold producer committed to maximizing shareholder value through a
strategy of efficient production, targeted exploration and select
acquisitions. The Company operates a surface gold processing plant at
its Molejon Gold Project, located in the south central area of its
100% owned 842 square kilometre concession lands in Panama - a region
known historically for gold content. In addition, the Company has
acquired 100% of the Lomero-Poyatos project located in the northeast
part of the Spanish/Portuguese (Iberian) Pyrite Belt and several
other exploration licenses in Iberia.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of PETAQUILLA MINERALS LTD.

Rodrigo Esquivel, President

NO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN.

Contacts:
Petaquilla Minerals Ltd.
Rodrigo Esquivel
President
[phone] or Toll Free: 1-877-694-0021
[phone] (FAX)
www.petaquilla.com



-0- Feb/13/2012 14:00 GMT