Holding(s) in Company

Cairn Energy PLC
22 December 2004


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           22 December 2004



                           Cairn Energy PLC ('Cairn')

   Notification of Shareholding - Companies Act 1985 ss.198-202 (as amended)

On 22 December 2004, Cairn was notified by Fidelity International Limited and
its direct and indirect subsidiaries, being non-beneficial holders, that they
had an interest in 20,731,555 ordinary shares of 10 pence each in Cairn,
representing 13.04% of Cairn's current issued ordinary share capital.

The registered holders to which this notification relates and the number of
shares held by those registered holders as at 22 December 2004 are as follows:-

REGISTERED HOLDER                                        NUMBER OF            %
                                                          SHARES

Bank of New York Europe LDN                                435,650
JP Morgan, Bournemouth                                     710,579
Brown Bros Harrimn Ltd LUX                               5,246,303
JP Morgan, Bournemouth                                  12,049,520
Bank of New York Brussels                                  663,600
Clydesdale Bank PLC                                         28,900
JP Morgan, Bournemouth                                     431,716
Mellon Bank                                                152,700
Northern Trust London                                      815,587
State Street Bank and Trust Co LNDN                        197,000
                                                        20,731,555       13.04%

The notifiable interests also comprise the notifiable interest of Mr Edward C.
Johnson 3rd, principal shareholder of Fidelity International Limited.




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