Directorate Change

UK Coal PLC
31 October 2003



                                  UK COAL PLC

                      Appointment of new finance director


The Board of UK COAL PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of 
Mr Christopher (Chris) Mawe as Finance Director from 1st March 2004.


Chris Mawe (41) is currently Group Finance Director of Carclo plc where he has
overseen the restructuring of the Group. Prior to that he held a number of
finance positions with subsidiaries of the IMI Group including spending six
years in Germany.


Chris qualified as an accountant in 1990 with Coopers & Lybrand. He also holds a
First Class degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering.


Gordon McPhie, Chief Executive of UK COAL PLC said:


'We are delighted to welcome Chris to the board of UK COAL. His experience in
both the finance and engineering fields will prove very useful to the Group.
This appointment together with the two non-executive directors, Peter Hazell and
Jim Murray, announced in September provides the Group with a very experienced
management team well placed to develop the Group's strategy in both mining and
property.'


There are no details to be disclosed under paragraph 6.F.2 (b) to (g) of the
Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority.



For further information please contact:

Liz Morley/Ken Cronin                       [phone]
Gavin Anderson & Company










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