Directorate Change

Sterling Energy PLC
16 December 2004

               Sterling Energy plc ('Sterling' or the 'Company')

                            Board Appointments

Following its recent successful £97 million fund raising, Sterling Energy plc is
pleased to announce the appointment of two new executive directors to strengthen
the board further in line with its continuing growth.

Paul Michael Griggs, aged 45, is joining Sterling as Commercial Director from
the Austrian oil company OMV AG, where he is currently Vice President Business
Development, E&P. Andrew Joseph Grosse, aged 46, who is presently the
Exploration Manager of Sterling will become Exploration and Technical Director.
Both appointments take effect from January 1, 2005

Since 2001, Paul Griggs has been responsible for the business development,
acquisition and divestment activity of OMV's Exploration & Production division,
playing a major role in the company's significant growth during that period. He
led the €300 million acquisition of the international assets of Preussag AG, and
was involved in OMV's recent €1.5 billion deal to acquire a 51% stake in the
Romanian state oil group, Petrom. Prior to joining OMV Paul held senior
commercial positions in BHP Petroleum, Fina Exploration and Amerada Hess, and
spent six years in investment banking with NatWest Markets.

Andrew Grosse joined Sterling in 2002, and is currently the company's
Exploration Manager. He has 24 years experience of international exploration,
including asset evaluation, portfolio management and new venture licencing.
Prior to joining Sterling he was British-Borneo's International Exploration
Manager working in the Gulf of Mexico and in Mauritania where he was
instrumental in securing an interest in the offshore acreage which has
subsequently delivered the 139 million barrel Chinguetti oil discovery and the
250+ million barrel Tiof oil discovery. He began his career with Gulf Oil in
Canada, and has also worked with BP Exploration and Ultramar Exploration.

Sterling Chief Executive Harry Wilson said: 'The appointments of Paul and Andrew
will strengthen our management team as we consolidate the massive growth of the
last year and develop new opportunities. Both are experienced oil men who will
make a significant contribution to the development of Sterling.'

Matters for disclosure under paragraph (f) of Schedule 2 of the AIM Rules with
respect to the appointment of Paul Griggs:

Current directorships or partnerships: Gama Services Limited

There are no other matters that are required to be disclosed with regard to
either appointment.

Enquiries:

Harry Wilson, Chief Executive, Sterling Energy plc                 01582 461 121
Graeme Thomson. Finance Director, Sterling Energy plc              01582 461 121
Henry Turcan, Evolution Securities Limited                         020 7071 4300
Allan Piper, First City Financial Public Relations                 020 7436 7486




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