Approvals update - planning officer report

14 May 2015

Sirius Minerals Plc

Approvals update - planning officer report

The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY) ("Sirius" or the "Company") provide an update on the approvals process for the York Potash Project.

Further to the announcement of 8 May 2015, the Company has been informed by planning officers at the North York Moors National Park Authority ("the Authority") about the report that will be presented to members of the Authority at its proposed special planning committee meeting on 30 June 2015.

Planning officers have informed the Company that the report is likely to include an 'open recommendation' for the Authority's members to consider, which means that it will be for the members to make a determination based on the relevant planning considerations. The report will be publicly available via the Authority's website at least five working days prior to the meeting and will also be published on the Company's website.

Chris Fraser, Managing Director and CEO of Sirius, commented:

"We are very pleased to be heading towards a decision by the members and have confidence in the strength of our planning case, the huge levels of support for the application and the many wide ranging economic benefits that the Project will deliver to the local area and to the country at large."

Temporary trading suspension

In line with the Company's previous approach for the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council planning meeting, the Directors have requested that the Company's ordinary shares be suspended from trading at 7:30am on 30 June 2015, the date of the Authority's special planning committee meeting, pending the outcome of that meeting. The suspension has been requested because the decision will be taken at a public meeting during trading hours and the Company is under obligation to ensure that the market is updated in an orderly fashion. Trading in the Company's shares will resume as soon as practicable following the decision being announced.

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About Sirius Minerals Plc

Sirius Minerals is a potash development company with properties in the United Kingdom (North Yorkshire) and the United States (North Dakota). Its primary focus is the development of the York Potash Project which has the world's largest and highest grade deposit of polyhalite, a multi-nutrient form of potash containing potassium, sulphur, magnesium and calcium. Incorporated in 2003, Sirius Minerals' shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. Its shares are also traded in the United States on the OTCQX through a sponsored ADR facility. Further information on the Company can be found at www.siriusminerals.com.