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The declared Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves for the Group’s managed operations and projects are the outcome of a detailed annual operational and life of mine (LoM) planning process and are indicative of the considerable underlying mineral assets base which supports sustainable long-life production.

CEO, Neal Froneman commented: "In line with our strategy, we have expanded and diversified our asset portfolio across five continents. The substantial Mineral Resources and Reserves the Group holds, serve as the foundation for long-term production of a varied mix of metals and minerals. This not only mitigates risk through diversification, but supports the company’s strategy of producing green metals that will underpin future energy solutions.  The 55.1% increase in attributable lithium Mineral Resources, and the addition of the Mt Lyell copper Mineral Resources, are particularly pleasing. "

This Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves declaration represents a condensed and consolidated summary of the full Sibanye-Stillwater Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves declaration which will be available in the Group Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Report, when published on 26 April 2024 at www.sibanyestillwater.com/news-investors/reports/annual/.

Salient features 

• Stable 2E PGM Mineral Resources of 8Moz (+4.4%) and Mineral Reserves of 26.3Moz (unchanged) at our US PGM operations
• 4E PGM Mineral Resources of 8Moz (+3.1%) and Mineral Reserves of 28.1Moz (-10.4%) at our SA PGM operations
• The reduction in Reserves is largely driven by depletion (-1.9Moz) and the exclusion of the North Hill Project at Mimosa (-1.5Moz)
• Gold Mineral Resources of 2Moz (-23%) and Mineral Reserves of 10.9Moz (-15.7%) at our SA gold operations and projects (including DRDGOLD)
• Impacted by the rationalisation at the Kloof and Beatrix operations, which led to the cessation of production at the Kloof 4 shaft and Beatrix West shafts.
• A 55.1% increase in attributable lithium Mineral Resources to 702kt of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE)
• Driven by successful exploration activities at the Keliber project in Finland and an updated Mineral Resource estimate at the Rhyolite Ridge project in Nevada
• Zinc Mineral Resources of 3,002Mlb (+257%) and Mineral Reserves of 1,726Mlb (+287%)
• Driven by the 100% acquisition of New Century Resources Ltd.
• Copper Mineral Resources of 8,163Mlb (-39.4%)
• The exercise of the Mt Lyell option, obtained via the acquisition of NCR, has added 1,609Mlb of contained copper
• Unchanged Mineral Resources at the Altar Project, but due to a 60% earn-in obtained by Aldebaran Resources Ltd., the manager of the Altar exploration project, 6,752Mlb of attributable copper Mineral Resources have been impacted. Mineral Resources now stands at 6,386Mlb copper (48.61% attrib.)
• Uranium (U₃O₈) Mineral Resources of 59.2Mlb, a decrease of -11.1%
• Due to reasonable prospect for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE) considerations, portions of the Cooke Millsite TSF (-7.4Mlb) have been excluded

About our disclosure and related assumptions

The Group reports in accordance with both the JSE and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and guidelines for the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves at all managed operations, development, and exploration properties. This specific disclosure is in compliance with the JSE rules, while the SEC compliant version can be located at https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/download/reserves-resources-dec2023-nyse

Forward looking prices, based on extensive market research that reflect “through the cycle” pricing, is considered in Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves estimations. Mineral Resources price assumptions, which focus on longer timeframes, are based on moderately higher prices than for Mineral Reserves to reflect the ore-body flexibility.

For the PGM mineral properties, the US$ based, forward looking commodity prices used for the 2023 life of mine process has largely been retained from 2022, with the only change relating to rhodium, where prices have been adjusted downwards to US$6,000/oz from US$8,000/oz. The longer term outlook of US$1,250/oz for platinum and palladium are maintained based on our evaluation of sustainable, through the cycle, price assumptions.

At our South African gold operations, the most recent (at the time of estimation) bank consensus forward looking prices for Mineral Reserves has been considered. This recognizes increase in spot gold prices, while still maintaining a conservative longer term outlook.

As it relates to base metals, adjustments to our longer-term outlooks for chrome ore and uranium have been made. Over the past year a 42% increase in lumpy chrome ore prices have been sustained – well above our previous assumptions of US$150-US$165/tonne, with current spot at approximately US$280/tonne.

Over the past year, there has been an acceleration of a structural shift in the long-term fundamentals for uranium, underpinned by the recognition of uranium as a potential source of green energy, and a crucial contributor to the global decarbonization requirements going forward. This has resulted in the U₃O₈ spot price recently breaching US$100/lb and long term consensus prices breaching US$ 60/lb U₃O₈. As a result, the adjustments in the long term contract price to US$60/lb is deemed reasonable and reflects a price that is sustainable in the foreseeable future.

The commodity prices used in the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves at non-managed entities are provided in the notes to the relevant tables. At the Keliber lithium project, the estimates still reflect the Keliber Competent Persons (CP’s) review, prior to the company taking majority ownership and were conducted at a Li price of ~US$25,000/t LiOH.H₂O.

The exchange rates used for the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Declaration as at 31 December 2023 is R17.00:US$ (up from R16.00:US$ at end 2022, reflecting the continuing deteriorating long-term Rand:US$ outlook),  US$1.12:EUR, R19:EUR and US$0.75:AUD.

About Sibanye-Stillwater

Sibanye-Stillwater is a multinational mining and metals processing group with a diverse portfolio of operations, projects and investments across five continents. The Group is also one of the foremost global recyclers of PGM autocatalysts and has interests in leading mine tailings retreatment operations.

Sibanye-Stillwater has established itself as one of the world’s largest primary producers of platinum, palladium, and rhodium and is a top tier gold producer. It also produces and refines iridium and ruthenium, nickel, chrome, copper and cobalt. The Group has recently begun to diversify its asset portfolio into battery metals mining and processing and increase its presence in the circular economy by growing its recycling and tailings reprocessing exposure globally. For more information refer to www.sibanyestillwater.com.

Forward looking statements

The information in this document may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbour” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to Sibanye Stillwater Limited’s (Sibanye-Stillwater or the Group) financial condition, results of operations, business strategies, operating efficiencies, competitive position, growth opportunities for existing services, plans and objectives of management for future operations, markets for stock and other matters. These forward-looking statements, including, among others, those relating to Sibanye-Stillwater’s future business prospects, revenues and income, climate change-related targets and metrics, the potential benefits of past and future acquisitions (including statements regarding growth, cost savings, benefits from and access to international financing and financial re-ratings), gold, PGM, nickel and lithium pricing expectations, levels of output, supply and demand, information relating to Sibanye-Stillwater’s  new or ongoing development projects, any proposed, anticipated or planned expansions into the battery metals or adjacent sectors and estimations or expectations of enterprise value, adjusted EBITDA and net asset, are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of the senior management and directors of Sibanye-Stillwater and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. As a consequence, these forward-looking statements should be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in this document.

All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also often use words such as “will”, “would”, “expect”, “forecast”, “goal”, “vision”, “potential”, “may”, “could”, “believe”, “aim”, “anticipate”, “target”, “estimate” and words of similar meaning. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and should be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in this disclaimer. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements.

The important factors that could cause Sibanye-Stillwater’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Sibanye-Stillwater’s future financial position, plans, strategies, objectives, capital expenditures, projected costs and anticipated cost savings, financing plans, position and ability to reduce debt leverage; economic, business, political and social conditions in South Africa, Zimbabwe, the United States, Europe and elsewhere; plans and objectives of management for future operations; Sibanye-Stillwater’s ability to obtain the benefits of any streaming arrangements or pipeline financing; the ability of Sibanye-Stillwater to comply with loan and other covenants and restrictions and difficulties in obtaining additional financing or refinancing; Sibanye-Stillwater’s ability to service its bond instruments; changes in assumptions underlying Sibanye-Stillwater’s estimation of its Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves; any failure of a tailings storage facility; the ability to achieve anticipated efficiencies and other cost savings in connection with, and the ability to successfully integrate, past, ongoing and future acquisitions, as well as at existing operations; the ability of Sibanye-Stillwater to complete any ongoing or future acquisitions; the success of Sibanye-Stillwater’s business strategy and exploration and development activities, including any proposed, anticipated or planned expansions into the battery metals or adjacent sectors and estimations or expectations of enterprise value (including the Rhyolite Ridge project); the ability of Sibanye-Stillwater to comply with requirements that it operate in ways that provide progressive benefits to affected communities; changes in the market price of gold, PGMs, battery metals (e.g., nickel, lithium, copper and zinc) and the cost of power, petroleum fuels, and oil, among other commodities and supply requirements; the occurrence of hazards associated with underground and surface mining; any further downgrade of South Africa’s credit rating; the impact of South Africa’s greylisting; a challenge regarding the title to any of Sibanye-Stillwater’s properties by claimants to land under restitution and other legislation; Sibanye-Stillwater’s ability to implement its strategy and any changes thereto; the outcome of legal challenges to the Group’s mining or other land use rights; the occurrence of labour disputes, disruptions and industrial actions; the availability, terms and deployment of capital or credit; changes in the imposition of industry standards, regulatory costs and relevant government regulations, particularly environmental, sustainability, tax, health and safety regulations and new legislation affecting water, mining, mineral rights and business ownership, including any interpretation thereof which may be subject to dispute; increasing regulation of environmental and sustainability matters such as greenhouse gas emissions and climate change; being subject to, and the outcome and consequence of, any potential or pending litigation or regulatory proceedings, including in relation to any environmental, health or safety issues; the ability of Sibanye-Stillwater to meet its decarbonisation targets, including by diversifying its energy mix with renewable energy projects; failure to meet ethical standards, including actual or alleged instances of fraud, bribery or corruption; the effect of climate change or other extreme weather events on Sibanye-Stillwater’s business; the concentration of all final refining activity and a large portion of Sibanye-Stillwater’s PGM sales from mine production in the United States with one entity; the identification of a material weakness in disclosure and internal controls over financial reporting; the effect of US tax reform legislation on Sibanye-Stillwater and its subsidiaries; the effect of South African Exchange Control Regulations on Sibanye-Stillwater’s financial flexibility; operating in new geographies and regulatory environments where Sibanye-Stillwater has no previous experience; power disruptions, constraints and cost increases; supply chain disruptions and shortages and increases in the price of production inputs; the regional concentration of Sibanye-Stillwater’s operations; fluctuations in exchange rates, currency devaluations, inflation and other macro-economic monetary policies; the occurrence of temporary stoppages or precautionary suspension of operations at its mines for safety or environmental incidents (including natural disasters) and unplanned maintenance; Sibanye-Stillwater’s ability to hire and retain senior management and employees with sufficient technical and/or production skills across its global operations necessary to meet its labour recruitment and retention goals, as well as its ability to achieve sufficient representation of historically disadvantaged South Africans in its management positions; failure of Sibanye-Stillwater’s information technology, communications and systems; the adequacy of Sibanye-Stillwater’s insurance coverage; social unrest, sickness or natural or man-made disaster at informal settlements in the vicinity of some of Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African-based operations; and the impact of HIV, tuberculosis and the spread of other contagious diseases, including global pandemics.

Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting Sibanye-Stillwater are described in Sibanye-Stillwater’s filings with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 2022 Integrated Report and the Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2022 on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on 24 April 2023 (SEC File no. 333-234096).

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the content. Sibanye-Stillwater expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement (except to the extent legally required). These forward-looking statements have not been reviewed or reported on by the Group’s external auditors.

Non-IFRS Measures

The information contained in this document may contain certain non-IFRS measures, including, among others, adjusted EBITDA, AISC, AIC, sustaining capital, Nickel equivalent sustaining cost and average equivalent zinc concentrate price. These measures may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures used by other companies and are not measures of Sibanye-Stillwater’s financial performance under IFRS. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Sibanye-Stillwater is not providing a reconciliation of the forecast non-IFRS financial information presented in this document because it is unable to provide this reconciliation without unreasonable effort. These forecast non-IFRS financial information presented have not been reviewed or reported on by the Group’s external auditors.

Websites

References in this document to information on websites (and/or social media sites) are included as an aid to their location and such information is not incorporated in, and does not form part of, this document.

For further information please see the attachment.