York Potash Project approval decision deferral

18 July 2013

Sirius Minerals Plc

York Potash Project approval decision deferral

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

The Company has requested that the North York Moors National Park Authority ("NYMNPA" or "the Authority") defer the determination of its York Potash onshore mining application, which was due to be considered by the Planning Committee of the Authority on 29 July 2013.

Since the outset of the York Potash Project, the Company has sought to take the greatest environmental and ecological care in working up its detailed plans. The Company wants to ensure that outstanding environmental queries are addressed as far as possible. The decision to seek the deferral is specifically to allow the Company time to address issues relating to European habitat legislation and robustly deal with the questions over the work completed by consultants on the environmental assessments.

The Company intends to agree a detailed schedule of meetings with the Authority and other key stakeholders to ensure any remaining issues are worked through thoroughly and to the satisfaction of the Authority and the key statutory bodies. No review of the overall timetable of the project has been completed, although this deferral is likely to extend the project timeframe. Further updates will be provided to the market when greater certainty can be provided on the revised timeframes.

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

"Whilst a deferral will be frustrating to the thousands of supporters of the project, we must ensure the National Park is in a position to make a robust decision on the application and that all the key statutory agencies are comfortable with the extensive environmental information and commitments that we have provided. Addressing these issues will further strengthen the application and make for a better project."

For further information, please contact:

About Sirius Minerals Plc

Sirius Minerals is a globally diversified potash development company. Its primary focus is to bring on stream major potash mining facilities through the acquisition and development of projects overlying recognised potash deposits. Today it holds properties in the United Kingdom (North Yorkshire) and the United States (North Dakota). 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.