Lonmin - Lonmin converts its Marikana Mining Licences

Lonmin - Lonmin converts its Marikana Mining Licences                           
Lonmin Plc                                                                      
(Incorporated in England and Wales)                                             
(Registered in the Republic of South Africa under registration number           
1969/000015/10)                                                                 
JSE code:LON                                                                    
Issuer Code:LOLMI & ISIN:GB0031192486                                           
("Lonmin")                                                                      
9 October 2006                                                                  
Lonmin converts its Marikana Mining Licences                                    
Lonmin is pleased to announce that its South African operating companies,       
Western Platinum Limited ("Western Platinum") and Eastern Platinum Limited      
("Eastern Platinum"), have received notification from the Director General of   
the Department of Minerals and Energy ("DME") of the successful conversion of   
their old order mining rights into new order mining rights in respect of the    
Group"s Marikana operations. These rights entitle Western Platinum and Eastern  
Platinum to the exclusive right to mine for Platinum Group Metals and associated
metals within the designated property boundaries for the next 30 years with a   
right to apply for renewal thereafter for up to a further 30 years.   The       
Group"s Marikana operations currently represent around 95% of Lonmin"s annual   
production.                                                                     
Western Platinum and Eastern Platinum have each committed to certain            
undertakings within their Social and Labour Plan portions of their conversion   
applications which will bring these companies into full compliance with the     
South African Mining Charter within agreed time frames.  The DME has confirmed  
that each of Western Platinum and Eastern Platinum are empowered to a level of  
18% BEE equity ownership by virtue of Incwala Resources (Pty) Limited"s         
ownership in of these companies.                                                
Commenting on the conversion, Lonmin Chief Executive, Brad Mills said:  "I am   
extremely pleased that we have received our new order mining rights for our     
Marikana operations.  As a large direct foreign investor, the conversion of our 
mining rights removes a fundamental uncertainty around the future of our        
operations and gives us great confidence in our current and future capital      
commitments to South Africa.                                                    
We are pleased to accept the challenges of transforming our business to meet the
requirements of the South African Mining Charter and this vote of confidence by 
the South African Government in our progress to date is very welcome.           
I would like to thank our colleagues at Incwala Resources who have worked in    
close partnership with us to ensure a successful conclusion to this process.    
Their advice, input and help in facilitating our application has been           
invaluable.  I would also like to thank the DME and its entire staff in both the
Klerksdorp and Pretoria offices for their help and assistance in managing this  
complex dialogue in a constructive and professional way.                        
We are committed to working with the DME to satisfy the undertakings made in our
Social and Labour Plan achieving Lonmin"s objectives of transformation and      
empowerment which will provide a vital contribution to the ongoing              
transformational efforts of the South African Government for South Africa and   
its people."                                                                    
Enquiries:                                                                      
Alex Shorland-Ball                           +44 (0)207 201 6060                
Vice President,                                                                 
Investor Relations & Communications                                             
Lonmin will be hosting a newswire call at 7.30 am UK time (8.30 am SA time).    
Access number +44 (0)20 8609 0205, UK Freephone Number 0800 358 2705, South     
African Freephone Number 0800 999 539.  Pin code: 185310#                       
Lonmin will be hosting a press conference with the Department of Minerals &     
Energy and Incwala Resources at 15.30 pm South African time (14.30 pm UK time)  
at the Sandton Hilton, 138 Rivonia Road, Sandton, Johannesburg.  International  
press can dial into this conference on the following numbers: UK: 0800 917 7042,
US: 1 866 752 6302 (press * 0 for the operator) and other countries +27 11 535  
3600 (alternative number).                                                      
Date: 09/10/2006 08:00:12 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department