LONMIN PLC - SMELTER UPDATE

LONMIN PLC - SMELTER UPDATE                                                     
Lonmin Plc                                                                      
(Incorporated in England)                                                       
(Registered in the Republic of South Africa under registration number           
1969/000015/10)                                                                 
Share code: LON                                                                 
ISIN code: GB0031192486                                                         
Issuer code: LOLMI                                                              
24 January 2005                                                                 
Lonmin Plc                                                                      
Smelter Resumes Normal Operations, Insurance Claims Settled                     
Lonmin Plc announces today that the repairs to its No. 1 smelter at its Platinum
Group Metals operations in South Africa have now been completed.  The first     
matte was tapped successfully on 20 January 2005.  Operations are expected to   
perform at normal levels from February onwards.                                 
The repair costs and additional running costs for the pyromet furnaces and      
tolling material have been contained within the $17m estimate indicated in the  
last press release on 17 December 2004.  Working capital and borrowing estimates
also remain within the levels previously advised to the market.                 
Lonmin also announces that settlements have been effected with underwriters in  
respect of the insurance claims for the smelter explosion in 2002 and the theft 
claim from 1999.  The total proceeds of R129m have been received in full in cash
and will be accounted for as a credit to costs in the accounts for the six      
months to 31 March 2005.                                                        
Press enquiries:    Anthony Cardew, Cardew Group +44 (0) 7770 720389/+44 (0)20  
7930 0777                                                                       
               For further information please refer to our website:             
http://www.lonmin.com                                                           
Date: 24/01/2005 09:00:12 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department