Holding(s) in Company

Cairn Energy PLC
16 September 2004




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


16 September 2004



                           Cairn Energy PLC ('Cairn')

   Notification of Shareholding - Companies Act 1985 ss.198-202 (as amended)

On 15 September 2004, Cairn was notified by Fidelity International Limited and
its direct and indirect subsidiaries, being non-beneficial holders, that they
had an interest in 17,501,765 ordinary shares of 10 pence each in Cairn,
representing 11.01% of Cairn's current issued ordinary share capital.

The registered holders to which this notification relates and the number of
shares held by those registered holders as at 15 September 2004 are as follows:-

REGISTERED HOLDER                                         NUMBER OF       %
                                                           SHARES

Chase Nominees Limited                                    7,559,008
Chase Manhattan Bank London                                 154,670
Mellon Nominees Limited                                     110,600
Chase Nominees Limited                                      448,860
Northern Trust                                              129,106
Chase Nominees Limited                                    1,093,365
HSBC Client Holdings Nominee (UK) Limited                 5,246,303
Chase Manhattan Bank London                                 365,496
Bank of New York London                                   1,475,642
Deutsche                                                     21,200
Northern Trust                                              553,118
State Street Nominees Limited                               175,800
Bank of New York Brussels                                    51,893
State Street Bank & Trust                                    48,920
Mellon Bank                                                  67,784
                                                         17,501,765    11.01%

The notifiable interests also comprise the notifiable interest of Mr Edward C.
Johnson 3rd, principal shareholder of Fidelity International Limited.




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