York Potash Receives First Key Approval

10 January 2013

Sirius Minerals Plc

York Potash receives first key approval

·; York Potash Project receives confirmation that offshore mining licence from the Marine Management Organisation has been positively determined

·; Planning application for onshore mining and surface infrastructure nearing completion and due to be submitted by end of January 2013

The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY) ("Sirius" or the "Company"), the globally diversified potash development group, are pleased to provide an update on the York Potash Project approvals.

Offshore mining licence

The Marine Management Organisation ("MMO") has notified the Company that it has positively determined the application for an offshore license to extract potash minerals from its 525 km2 offshore area of interest on the North Yorkshire coast, subject to appropriate conditions. Written confirmation is expected by the end of next week. The extraction of these minerals pursuant to this licence represents the first of the four key approvals required for the York Potash Project, but is conditional on approval being obtained for the onshore mining and surface infrastructure.

Onshore mining and surface infrastructure and pipeline approval update

In December 2012 the Company received a response from the Planning Inspectorate on the Environmental Impact Assessment screening and scoping request for the pipeline transport system. Some additional information for the onshore mining and surface infrastructure application was required as a result, because the onshore mining application also assesses the environmental impacts of the pipeline transport system.

The Company is currently finalising the planning application for the onshore mining and surface infrastructure and expects to submit it to the North York Moors National Park Authority before the end of January 2013. 

The formal public consultation period for the pipeline transport system comes to an end on 11 January 2013 and feedback received will be collated and considered as part of the application for a development consent order from the Planning Inspectorate. The application for the pipeline transport system is expected to be submitted during February 2013.

Chris Fraser, Managing Director and CEO of Sirius said:

"The issue of the licence by the MMO is a significant achievement as the offshore area represents the largest component of the mineral rights within the York Potash Project. This is one of the key approvals for the project and we look forward to securing the remaining approvals as quickly as possible. "

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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.