Holding(s) in Company

Sterling Energy PLC
14 January 2003


                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     STERLING ENERGY PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     EDINBURGH SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC

3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

     AS IN 2

4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

     BNY (OCS) NOMINEES LTD

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.



6)   (N/A%) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed



8)   (N/A%) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

     ORD 1P EACH

10)  Date of transaction

     24 DECEMBER 2002

11)  Date company informed

     13 JANUARY 2003

12)  Total holding following this notification

     11,187,273
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     3.16%

14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     GRACME THOMSON - 01582 463 141

16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification

     Date of Notification .....14 JANUARY, 2003...................


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