Anglo American has remained an ever- evolving mining giant that has defied the test of times. Its portfolio of world-class competitive operations, development projects and undeveloped resources provides many of the metals and minerals that enable a cleaner, greener and more sustainable world that meets the fast growing consumer-driven demands of developed and maturing economies.
The company has over time developed innovative practices and the latest technologies to mine, process, move and market its products to its customers. Anglo has continued to defy the odds through smart forms of reducing emissions in the production of diamonds (through De Beers), copper, platinum group metals, steelmaking ingredients of iron ore and metallurgical coal and nickel.
In its Biannual Sustainability Performance Update, the CEO of Anglo American, Mark Cutifani, highlighted the smart innovations and commitment that the company has made and how it has encompassed sustainability in its approach.
“Anglo American’s purpose of re-imagining mining to improve people’s lives guides our delivery of sustainable value to our shareholders, our employees and our broader business and societal stakeholders,” Cutifani said.
“Improving people’s lives is what we believe sustainable businesses must deliver, both through the direct value we create in terms of employment and economic and social contribution and also to the world at large through the metals and minerals we provide.
“With our portfolio deliberately tilted towards those future-enabling products, we know it is our duty to supply metals and minerals as responsibly as current technologies allow while continuing to stretch ourselves and our business partners to further improve our performance.”
He noted that in 2018, the company set out a series of stretching goals spanning the full breadth of E, S and G (Environmental, Social and {Corporate} Governance programme) in the shape of the company’s Sustainable Mining Plan, underpinned by six critical foundations. Progress has been made towards delivering on those goals, Cutifani added. He said the company had taken in social performance through the implementation of a rigorous management system to drive better outcomes for host communities.
“Much of what we are driving for, particularly in terms of our energy and water ambitions, will be achieved through the technologies we are deploying as part of our Future Smart Mining programme. These technologies are transforming the very nature of mining – how we source, mine, process, move and market our products – and how our stakeholders experience our business,” said Cutifani.
According to the CEO of Anglo American, tackling climate change could not be more urgent. The company has therefore delivered on its 2020 target reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 22 percent a year early. It has also managed to secure 100 percent renewable electricity supply across its operations in Brazil, Chile and Peru, which has resulted in a 70 percent reduction in CO2 emissions.
“At the same time, we continue working on reducing our Scope 3 emissions,” he noted. “Our planned E of our thermal coal assets in South Africa is part of the journey. However, we have a long way to go, including how we more effectively impact the value chains that we are a part of and how best to work along value chains to mitigate the risks and maximise the benefits associated with the transition to a low carbon future.”
This article was prepared by Data Collection & Analysis, a business research firm. Feedback or inquiries can be relayed to 767 406 58.
