Ceremony Commemorating Mine Opening

Friday 1 June 2012

Strategic Natural Resources Plc

("SNR" or the "Company")

Ceremony Commemorating Commencement of Mining

SNR, the natural resources developer operating in South Africa, is pleased to announce that the Premier of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, Noxolo Kiviet, and members of her cabinet, are today visiting the Elitheni mine to commemorate the mine opening.

Opencast mining operations were commenced in April 2012 with circa 40,000 tonnes of coal expected to be exposed through blasting scheduled for May / June 2012. Operations will continue on surface mining until circa 100,000 tonnes of coal is exposed, which is expected to be during the third quarter of 2012. In addition, the Company has commenced stockpiling unwashed coal in advance of the delivery of a coal washing plant shortly and is expecting to take delivery of a Sandvik low seam continuous miner, capable of producing 300 to 400 tonnes per hour, as soon as opencast operations are complete.

Noxolo Kiviet is a senior politician and has served as Eastern Cape Premier since May 2009. She is the former speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature (2004-2009) and is also a member of the African National Congress. Kiviet became a member of the legislature in 1994 and 2004 she was appointed as a speaker of the legislature.

David Nel, CEO of SNR, said:

"It is a considerable honour for SNR to have such a senior delegation visit the mine. It underlines how important the Elitheni coal mine is to economic growth in the region and how well regarded the company is in political circles."

For further information about Strategic Natural Resources plc please visit www.snrplc.co.uk