core sector communique

Stillwater Mining Company Reports Occurrences of Smoke in Its Stillwater Mine BILLINGS, MT--(Marketwire - October 20, 2011) - STILLWATER MINING COMPANY (NYSE: SWC) (TSX: SWC.U) (the "Company") reported today that it has experienced two recent occurrences of smoke underground at its Stillwater Mine, located near Nye, Montana. Upon discovery of the smoke, in each instance the Company's established mine evacuation procedures were followed. No injuries occurred. The source of the smoke appears to have been related to separate equipment malfunctions. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration is onsite conducting an investigation of these occurrences. As part of the Company's investigation, the affected equipment, and all similar types of equipment, have been removed from service for inspection. This equipment will be placed back into operation on a staged basis as inspections are completed and the equipment is deemed safe. About Stillwater Mining Company Stillwater Mining Company is the only U.S. producer of palladium and platinum and is the largest primary producer of platinum group metals outside of South Africa and the Russian Federation. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWC and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SWC.U.