Directorate Change

Asia Energy PLC
20 December 2004


                                Asia Energy PLC


     Appointment of International Mining Development Engineer to the Board



20th December 2004



Asia Energy PLC ('Asia Energy' or 'the Company') announces today that it has
appointed Mr Bill McIntosh, a mining engineer with 33 years of international
experience, to the board as an Executive Director responsible for project
development. Mr McIntosh has in recent months been advising Asia Energy's board
on all aspects of taking its Phulbari Coal Project in north-west Bangladesh into
production.



Mr McIntosh, aged 55, is a widely respected mining engineer who has played a key
role in mining projects in Colombia, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, Argentina, India and
Australia.  The majority of his career has been involved with open cut coal
mining developments and he has lived and worked in Asia for more than 10 years.



He was general manager of mining at PT Kaltim Prima Coal in Indonesia (Rio Tinto
/BP) from 1990 to 1994, involved in this project's development for a total of
nine years from exploration, through feasibility studies and construction to
production. The mine is currently producing in excess of 20 million tonnes of
export quality coal per annum.



Subsequently he was a mine development consultant undertaking projects in
Australia, Asia, Africa and South America, for both majors such as Rio Tinto,
BHP Billiton and Exxon-Mobil as well as other mineral industry companies based
in Australia, Indonesia, the UK and USA.



Previously he worked as a mining engineer for Shell Coal in Australia, where he
was involved in the Drayton and Callide coal mine developments.  Earlier in his
career he was an engineer for INCO in Indonesia (Canada's International Nickel
Company) and at the BHP Billiton Peak Downs Coal Mine in Queensland.



An Australian, Mr McIntosh has a mining engineering degree from the University
of Melbourne and a Master of Science (Mining) degree from Queens University in
Canada.  He is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
and the Mineral Industry Consultants Association, as well as being a Chartered
Professional (Management).



'Bill McIntosh will bring invaluable project development skills and experience
in successful open cut coal mining to the board just as Asia Energy is reaching
an exciting stage in its Definitive Feasibility Study at Phulbari,' commented
joint Managing Director David Lenigas, 'Bill has seen similar projects through
to full production.'



ABOUT ASIA ENERGY PLC



Asia Energy PLC is a London-based AIM quoted company whose primary activity is
the development of an open cast coal mine at Phulbari in north-west Bangladesh
which has been projected to produce 15 million tonnes of high quality coal per
year. The Company is currently carrying out an intensive drilling programme on
the basin as part of a Definitive Feasibility Study ('DFS') that is due for
completion in 2005 with the objective to start mining at Phulbari in 2007. The
DFS will further define the deposit, which has potential reserves in excess of
400 million tonnes of High Volatile, Low Sulphur bituminous coal.



Asia Energy has agreements in place with the government of Bangladesh for the
development and exploitation of the mine which is located 30 metres above sea
level, a distance from the country's flood-prone deltas. The Company is
committed to developing the mine in an environmentally and socially responsible
manner in accordance with the highest international standards, and to this aim
is conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment and Social Impact Assessment.



It is planned that the Phulbari mine will export coal to neighbouring India and
to Asia's major seaborne markets, and in addition to tax and royalty revenues
will also provide a vital new long-term source of sustainable energy to
Bangladesh. As part of the development project, Asia Energy will also conduct a
separate feasibility study for a mine-mouth power station.



ENQUIRIES:


Michael Frayne, Joint Managing Director                    Justine Howarth

[e-mail]                             Parkgreen Communications
David Lenigas, Joint Managing Director                     Tel: [phone]

[e-mail]                              [e-mail]
Asia Energy PLC
Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]; www.asia-energy.com


Laith Reynolds, Executive Director (CEO- Bangladesh)
Bangladesh: [phone]



FOOTNOTE:



Mr William Melville McIntosh is a currently a director of Fingals Cave Pty Ltd.
There are no other disclosures required in respect of Mr McIntosh pursuant to
Schedule 2 paragraph (f) of the AIM Rules.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange