Director Shareholding

UK Coal PLC
08 July 2004

8 JULY 2004

                 NOTIFICATION OF DIRECTORS' INTERESTS IN SHARES

Long Term Incentive Plan

UK COAL wishes to notify the following changes in Directors' interests arising
out of the operation of its Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP).

On 5 July 2004 conditional awards were made under the LTIP to Executive
Directors, as set out below. The numbers of shares stated are the maximum
available to each director on satisfaction of the performance target in full,
subject to the addition of further shares representing the notional
re-investment of dividends.

      Director              Ordinary Shares under conditional award

      G A McPhie                     196,223
      P S O'Brien                    103,000
      M Garness                       92,700
      C Mawe                          85,000

The earliest date on which the Executive Directors are likely to be able to
become beneficially entitled to the shares comprised in the award is 5 July
2007, which is the third anniversary of the date on which the awards were
granted.


Enquiries:

Gavin Anderson & Company                         Tel: [phone]
Liz Morley



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