Mineral Transport System

Mineral Transport System (MTS)

§ Following a detailed engineering review the Company has decided to replace its previously proposed pipeline for transporting polyhalite between the mine and the port with an underground conveyor based system (MTS)
§ Construction disturbance reduced by 70% with no construction in any designated sites and buildings required in the National Park reduced by 70%
§ Significant improvement to project value through operating cost reductions, increased capacity, reduced construction disturbance, reduced risks and additional product options
§ Estimated operating cost reduction of approximately US$10 per tonne (~25% reduction), total project capital cost expected to increase by approximately US$280M (~15% increase)
§ Potential increased Phase 1 capacity to 6.5 mtpa and 13 mtpa in Phase 2
§ Simplified approval process with two local planning authorities to be responsible for determining the vast majority of the Project - no change to expected mine application timing

Updated presentation

With a bit of luck we will have some news re an approval date scheduled to be July at the latest.

A nice move upward. I bought back in (65K last week at 11.1) Let's hope that the news is good !

York Potash Project approvals status update

· Informal pre-application position statement agreed between the Company and the local planning authority officers
· Company to align the mine application with the September 2014 mineral transport system application
· No impact on overall development schedule, subject to approvals, delivering first production mid-2018


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 has decided to submit the application for its mine at the end of September 2014 to align with the submission of the application for the mineral transport system ("MTS"). The Company considers that there are a number of planning and environmental advantages for taking this approach and believes that the move provides for a more robust determination process for the two main applications for the York Potash Project ("the Project"). The Company and officers of the North York Moors National Park Authority ("NYMNPA" or "the authority") have also been working together to agree an informal pre-application 'Planning Position Statement'.

York Potash approvals update

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

Following ongoing and detailed discussions with the local planning authorities, and in agreement with the preferred approach of the North York Moors National Park Authority ("NPA"), a revision to the application strategy is being made. The planning application for the mineral transport system ("MTS") will now be included as part of the planning application for the mine. The materials handling facility ("MHF") will not form part of this application and will be submitted separately.

There is no impact on the previously announced submission timeframes, which remain on course for the end of September 2014.

This revision retains the two applications approach, however it results in a 'straddling application' covering the mine and MTS being submitted to both the NPA and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council ("RCBC"). The MHF planning application will be submitted to RCBC.

Both local authorities are in agreement with this approach as it simplifies the assessment of the impact of the Project.

Tomato Crop Study Results

POLY4 in both a blend and as a straight fertilizer outperformed MOP for tomato growth, yield and quality

POLY4 outperforms SOP by 11% in yield increases through higher fruit numbers and a 24% increase in fruit dry weight

POLY4 improved tomato quality through the increase in dry matter to pulp ratio and increased sugar content

Webcast available on company website

That should help to grow the share price, eventually!

Polyhalite Take or Pay Offtake Agreement

§ Take or pay offtake agreement for polyhalite sales from the York Potash Project signed with large
Central American fertilizer distributor
§ Annual contracted tonnage ramping up to 250,000 tonnes per annum over five years, with an option for
an additional 250,000 tonnes per annum
§ Five year contract from first commercial production with an option to extend for a further five years


The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY) ("Sirius" or the "Company") are pleased to announce the signing of an additional binding take or pay offtake agreement ("the Agreement") for polyhalite from the York Potash Project.

The Agreement is with a well-established market leading Central American based fertilizer distributor that also has operations in Colombia (the "Customer").

The Agreement is structured to align with York Potash's proposed production ramp-up schedule. It is based on the supply of 150,000 tonnes per annum ("tpa") in the first year of the Agreement, rising on an annual stepped basis to 250,000 tpa in the fifth year of production. The Agreement is for five years from first commercial production and can be extended by mutual agreement for a further five years. In addition the Customer has also been given the option to increase the minimum amount of this contract by an additional 250,000 tpa.

The price to be paid pursuant to the Agreement is based on a formula linked to the market price of nutrients contained in polyhalite and is in line with previous market guidance.

This agreement will allow the Customer to distribute polyhalite through its various networks of local and regional companies to allow for servicing a greater range of farmers. The key regions for distribution include Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia.

Tanzanian Joint Venture MoU

Of course it is all down to Monday as to the future, but things are certainly looking good !

York Potash Project - approvals submissions

§ Mine & MTS and MHF applications to be submitted as planned today
§ Authorities will begin formal consultation on applications in the next two weeks
§ Decisions are expected by the end of January 2015
§ Decisions will be taken in line with local and national planning policies and taking into account a balance of factors (benefits and impacts)
§ Harbour consultation progressing well with submission targeted for December 2014

Liberum Capital Buy 12.50 12.50 29.00 29.00 Reiterates

StockMarketWire.com
Sirius Minerals has issued an update on consultation responses on the planning applications for the York potash project.

Consultation responses to the applications are being uploaded to the local authority websites on an ongoing basis and now include a number of the key statutory consultee responses.

The links to these sites are: https://planning.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/(S(l324pg0tpry0ki44f4zs1vv5))/plaRecord.aspx?AppNo=R%2f2014%2f0627%2fFFM & http://planning.northyorkmoors.org.uk/Northgate/Online/DMS/DocumentViewer.aspx?SearchType=Planning%20Application&PK=811019

On an initial review of these responses the company does not believe that anything unexpected has been submitted.

These will be reviewed in detail and any clarifications sought from the relevant consultees.

Once this review has been completed, and the company has consulted with the local authorities, a short update statement will be provided to the market.

Additional take-or-pay offtake agreement and sales commitments

§ 300,000 tonnes per annum with an option for an additional 150,000 tonnes per annum take-or-pay agreement with a leading South American fertilizer distributor
§ Additional letters of intent for 396,000 tonnes per annum
§ Total sales commitments now at 6 million tonnes per annum with options for additional 0.9 million tonnes per annum

Approvals status update

§ Key statutory consultees have now responded to the two local authorities on the main application for the York Potash Project;
§ There are relatively few but nonetheless important issues that remain outstanding from statutory consultee responses - all of which the Company believes can be resolved positively;
§ Supplementary Environmental Information to be provided in January 2015 and which the Company expects to resolve remaining issues;
§ High level of support confirmed from wide range of public correspondence;
§ Strong support from government, cross-party MPs, economic bodies and parish councils; and
§ Development Consent Order application submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for the York Potash Harbour Facilities.

Approvals status update

The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY) ("Sirius" or the "Company") provide an update on the approvals process and a possible decision date from one of the local authorities for the determination of the key planning application for the York Potash Project.

The mine and mineral transport system planning applications were submitted to the relevant local authorities by York Potash Limited ("YPL") on 30 September 2014. The local authorities are the North York Moors National Park Authority ("NYMNPA") and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council ("RCBC"). The Company's announcement of the 23 December 2014 confirmed that dates for the determination of the applications have not been confirmed.

Planning officers at NYMNPA have now published an update for members of its planning committee, which is available on the NYMNPA website. Although the NYMNPA is not yet in a position to confirm a specific date, it indicates that officers have undertaken a 'critical path analysis'. This has concluded that a 16 week period will be required between submission of any Supplementary Environmental Information and the determination of the application at a planning committee meeting. Based on current estimates this is likely to lead to a determination in May 2015.

RCBC has not yet given an indication on determination timeframes. Once dates have been set for either application then the Company will update the market accordingly.

Maiden animal feed take-or-pay offtake agreement

Maiden animal feed take-or-pay offtake agreement

§ 50,000tpa take-or-pay agreement with a leading distributor of high quality mineral animal feed ingredients in North America, including option for an additional 25,000tpa
§ Long term supply agreement opening a new market for POLY4 in partnership with an established animal feed distributor

Approvals update - Harbour Facilities

The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY) ("Sirius" or the "Company") provide a procedural update on the approvals process for the proposed Harbour Facilities at Teesside for the York Potash Project ("the Project").

The Company has decided to withdraw its current application for a development consent order, with a view to refining certain options in the application. The purpose of the resubmission is to facilitate a more efficient examination process.

A revised application will be submitted in the near future and a brief update will be provided to the market when this is accepted by the Planning Inspectorate. This does not affect the overall timescales or the other key planning decisions for the Project.

4 February 2015



Sirius Minerals Plc

Silage Corn Crop Study Results



The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY) ("Sirius" or the "Company") provide an update on the latest results from its ongoing global crop study programme.

This update provides results from the recently completed silage corn trials completed in conjunction with the University of Warwick. Corn harvested for silage is an important feed for animals, and the European Union grows ~5 million hectares of silage corn annually.

By utilising recognised trial protocols, polyhalite was tested as a source of potassium on silage corn against standard muriate of potash ("MOP") and sulphate of potash ("SOP"). This trial further demonstrated the improved macro-nutrient uptake that is offered by polyhalite, which has also been evident across the agronomic programme. Polyhalite achieved favourable results in various capacities including:

· Being supportive of nitrogen uptake which appears to be linked to polyhalite's readily available nutrient release rates. This showed a 52% increase in nitrogen use efficiency;

· Potassium is the most demanded nutrient by corn and polyhalite supports 44% greater uptake compared to MOP;

· Polyhalite seems to be the preferred source of macro-nutrients for silage corn, consistently improving nutrient uptake;

· Polyhalite delivered a 38% increase in dry matter yield over MOP;

· Tissue nutrient uptake measurements significantly increased over MOP (between 28% and 52%); and

· Polyhalite validated to increase crude protein content over MOP and SOP.



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

"Our latest study offers further validation of the agronomic benefits of polyhalite. The improvement polyhalite can offer to nitrogen use efficiency is very significant in terms of its benefit to both crop yields and the wider environment.

"Following the success of our maiden animal feed sales agreement, it is also encouraging to see how the benefits of polyhalite's high nutrient value can be further shared across the food supply chain in such a major crop for animal feed."

An agronomy update presentation and webcast has been uploaded to the Company website www.siriusminerals.com.

http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=4971174