Belgium Fuels Business Sale

Burmah Castrol PLC
3 November 1999


          BURMAH CASTROL SELLS BELGIUM FUELS BUSINESS

Burmah  Castrol  plc  ('Burmah  Castrol'),  the  international
specialised lubricants and chemicals group, announces the sale
of  its  Belgian  fuels  business, Burmah  NV,  to  the  Group
Octa+/Avia,  an  independent fuels  marketing  operation,  for
approximately BEF 179 million (£2.9 million), in  cash.   This
disposal is consistent with Burmah Castrol's ongoing programme
to divest non-core businesses.

The  business had a turnover (net of duties) in 1998 of BEF760
million (£12 million) and an operating profit of BEF18 million
(£0.3  million).   After adding back acquisition  goodwill  of
BEF271 million (£5 million), there will be an exceptional loss
to Burmah Castrol of approximately BEF300 million (£5 million)
arising from the transaction, which is subject to approval  by
the   Belgian  competition  authorities.   Proceeds  from  the
disposal   will  be  used  to  reduce  Burmah  Castrol's   net
borrowings.

Tim Stevenson, chief executive of Burmah Castrol, comments:
'This  disposal  is  in  line  with  our  strategy  to  create
shareholder  value through investment in our  core  businesses
and  the  divestment of businesses where we do not believe  we
can add significant value.  Other recent disposals include our
Irish Fuels, Timber Treatment and Aluminium businesses.

In  the past 18 months, the value of disposals has amounted to
some  £36  million.  In the same period, we have continued  to
invest  by  making a number of acquisitions to strengthen  our
core   businesses,  such  as  Castrol  Industrial,   Printing,
Investment Casting and Releasants.'

For further information, please contact:

James Alexander, Corporate Affairs director,
Burmah Castrol plc                                01793 452006
Sharon Ostaszewska, External Relations,
Burmah Castrol plc                                01793 452946

Rachel Hirst/Harriet Keen,
Hogarth Partnership Limited                       0171 357 9477

A  copy  of  this release plus further company information  is
available on our website: www.burmah-castrol.com


Notes to Editors:

Note 1
Burmah  Castrol  businesses market specialised  lubricant  and
chemical  products  and services on a  worldwide  basis.   The
group has a turnover close to £3 billion and operating profits
of  £255  million  in  1998.   It has  over  150  subsidiaries
operating  in  some  55  countries and employs  around  20,000
people.    Burmah  Castrol  is  based  around  a   series   of
international  businesses,  each  focused  on   the   specific
requirements  of  its  own  market place  but  sharing  common
characteristics.  Four of the group's businesses  trade  under
the Castrol brand name and the remaining businesses operate in
speciality chemicals.

Note 2
The  Belgian fuels business consists of some 115 retail sites,
of which 47 are company owned or leased.

Note 3
In  1995,  Burmah  Castrol sold its UK fuels business  to  The
Frost  Group  for  £83 million and since then,  has  sold  its
Chilean,  Turkish, Swedish and Irish fuels  businesses  for  a
total  consideration  of approximately £100  million.   Burmah
Castrol's remaining fuels business is in Australia.