PCI.L Regulatory News (PCI)

PRESS RELEASE

Dublin: 2nd November 2010

PETROCELTIC INTERNATIONAL PLC

NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTED

Petroceltic International plc ("Petroceltic" or "the Company") the independent oil & gas exploration company focussed on the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) and Mediterranean region today announces the appointment of Tom Hickey as Corporate Development Director. Mr Hickey was previously an Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Tullow Oil plc. Tom will join the Board with immediate effect, and will assume his executive position on 1st December 2010.

Tom (42) was Chief Financial Officer and a director of Tullow Oil plc ("Tullow") from 2000-08. During this time Tullow grew via a number of significant acquisitions including the US $570 million acquisition of Energy Africa in 2004 and the US $1.1 billion acquisition of Hardman Resources in 2007. Tullow also experienced considerable exploration success, leading to the establishment of important new oil provinces in Ghana and Uganda.

Prior to joining Tullow, Tom was an Associate Director of ABN AMRO Corporate Finance (Ireland) Limited, with responsibility for advising public and private companies in relation to equity fund raising, mergers and acquisitions, and related transactions. A Commerce graduate of University College Dublin and a Fellow of the Irish Institute of Chartered Accountants, he is also a non-executive Director of PetroNeft Resources Plc, an AIM listed independent oil and gas company with assets in Western Siberia, and of Ikon Science Limited, a geological software company.

Rob Arnott, Chairman of Petroceltic, commented: 

"Tom brings a wide range of skills and experience to Petroceltic and on behalf of the board and our shareholders, I am delighted to welcome him to the team as Corporate Development Director. This appointment underlines our ambition and intention to continue to grow Petroceltic's Exploration and Production business over the coming years and significantly increases our capacity for deal-making and execution".

Press Enquiries to:

Brian O'Cathain/ Alan McGettigan, Petroceltic International Tel: +353 (1) 421 8300

Philip Dennis /Klara Kaczmarek, Pelham Bell Pottinger Tel: +44 20 7337 1516

Joe Murray / Joe Heron, Murray Consultants Tel: +353 (1) 4980300

Hugh McCutcheon / John Frain, Davy Tel: +353 (1) 679 6363

Notes to Editors:

Petroceltic International plc is a leading Upstream Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Company, focused on the Middle East, North Africa and Mediterranean area, and listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM Market and the Irish Stock Exchange's ESM Market. The Company has exploration and appraisal assets in Algeria, Tunisia and Italy. Petroceltic is in a unique position in Algeria, operating a significant licence in partnership with Sonatrach the National Oil Company of Algeria, and is the only AIM listed company to enjoy this position.

The following are the directorships and partnerships held by Mr. Hickey within the past five years:

Name of Director: Thomas Hickey

Current Directorships

Petroneft Resources plc Ireland

Ikon Science Limited England

O'Rahilly Row Limited Ireland

Senscomm Photonics Ltd Ireland

Previous Directorships

Tullow Oil plc England

Tullow Oil Limited Ireland

Mr. Hickey currently holds 62,856 ordinary shares in Petroceltic. There are no further details that are required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (g) of Schedule 2 of the AIM and IEX Rules.