York Potash Project approvals update

5 June 2013

Sirius Minerals Plc

York Potash Project approvals update

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

The Company and the North York Moors National Park Authority ("NYMNPA" or "the Authority") have agreed a small extension to the onshore planning application determination date. The Special Planning Committee meeting scheduled for 2 July 2013 will now be held on 29 July 2013.

The short extension will allow further feedback from statutory stakeholders to be provided to the Authority. Positive discussions have been held with the key statutory bodies with a view to resolving a number of the outstanding objections. In the course of those discussions some additional information has been provided by the Company and its consultants to clarify existing information. As a result of this additional submission the Authority must undertake a re-consultation exercise on that information to ensure robustness of the determination process.

The additional time will allow the Authority to prepare a detailed recommendation report having fully considered all of the information and a detailed set of planning conditions with a more complete understanding of feedback from the statutory bodies.

Both the Company and the Authority believe this extension is in the best interests of a robust determination and is made under the spirit of the best practice 'Planning Performance Agreement' which the Company entered into with the Authority.

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

"We welcome a small extension that allows the remaining issues to be properly considered by the Authority before it makes its decision on 29 July. We remain focused on achieving the positive determination that will enable the project to progress rapidly towards production and will unlock all of the benefits to the local, regional and national economies."

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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), the United States (North Dakota), and Australia (Queensland). 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.