Appointment

UK Coal PLC
4 July 2001

  4 July 2001



                                 UK COAL PLC
                        APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE



UK COAL PLC today announces the appointment of Gordon McPhie as Chief
Executive with immediate effect.

Gordon, 49, has been acting CEO of UK COAL (previously RJB Mining) since the
departure of Richard Budge in February this year.

Gordon, who was previously Group Finance Director, joined the Company in 1992
and has been on the Board since its flotation in 1994.  An engineering
graduate of Durham University, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant with
Deloitte Haskins & Sells.  From 1980 to 1992 he worked for Davy Corporation
plc where for the last five years he was Group Finance Director of the
construction, property and mining division.

 'Gordon has done an excellent job in developing UK COAL and its businesses
and the Board is delighted to confirm his appointment as Chief Executive' said
John Robinson, Chairman.



Added Gordon McPhie:



'I am pleased to be taking on the role of Chief Executive.  UK COAL plays a
strategic and significant role in the generation of electricity in Britain.
The management team remains focused upon meeting the strong demand for coal as
a fuel in the competitive power generation marketplace.  We continue to
concentrate on securing greater efficiencies and effectiveness throughout the
Group's production operations.'



                                   - ends -



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Gavin Anderson & Company       020 7457 2345

Stuart Oliver                  01525 381 759




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