Drilling Programme Update

Asia Energy PLC
03 May 2005


                                ASIA ENERGY PLC

               Resource definition drilling completed at Phulbari

Asia Energy PLC ('Asia Energy' 'the Company') announced today that it has
completed its resource definition programme at the Phulbari Coal Project in
north-west Bangladesh after drilling 77 holes over the Phulbari basin. Coal
seams intersected by the drilling ranged in total thickness per hole from 7.9
metres to 72.7 metres, the Company said.

'We expanded the drilling programme beyond our original schedule of 60 holes,
which were completed on schedule, to a total of 77 holes because coal was
discovered over an additional 3.5 square kilometres north and south of the
original basin limits,' said Asia Energy's Joint Managing Director David
Lenigas.

Mr Lenigas also pointed to considerable upside with the coal basin remaining
open in the south. 'Gravity surveys and drilling indicate the basin extends
further southward and we have decided to continue with the exploration drilling
programme in this area until the end of May. These additional tonnes will be
included in the resource inventory at a later stage,' Mr Lenigas said.

'We have now completed enough drilling to define the resource for the Definitive
Feasibility Study, and a JORC compliant resource statement will be released
after detailed coal analysis is completed,' he said. 'The Company has also
successfully completed a large diameter core programme which will provide the
definitive coal specifications and products, which will enable us to finalise
the mine design.'

ENQUIRIES:

Michael Frayne, Joint Managing Director     Justine Howarth, Cathy Malins
[e-mail]              Parkgreen Communications
David Lenigas, Joint Managing Director      Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]               [e-mail]
Asia Energy PLC                             [e-mail]
Tel: [phone], Fax: +44 (0) 20
7491 2758
[e-mail]; www.asia-energy.com




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