RNS Number:4579T
Sterling Energy PLC
18 December 2003

                              Sterling Energy plc

                            Substantial Shareholder

Sterling Energy plc ("Sterling" or the "Company") was informed on 16 December
2003 that HBOS plc has a beneficial interest in 26,179,125 ordinary shares of 1p
each, representing 4.005% of the Company's issued share capital.


The holding is registered as follows:

Registered Holder                               No. of shares        % Holding

HSDL Nominees Limited                                      22                0
Morgan Nominees Limited (HPFO)                        123,851            0.019
Morgan Nominees Limited (HPBA)                        157,997            0.024
Morgan Nominees Limited (HXPEN)                       158,161            0.024
Morgan Nominees Limited (HLBA)                      3,335,552            0.510
Morgan Nominees Limited (HLFO)                      3,780,301            0.578
Morgan Nominees Limited (HXLFE)                     4,924,556            0.753
Chase Nominees a/c CMIG                            13,698,685            2.096

18 December 2003

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

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