Anglo American has published its 15th annual sustainability report alongside its 2015 annual report, entitled Driving Change, Defining Our Future.
Both reports outline the group’s plans to focus on a core portfolio of assets as it continues to emphasise the central role of sustainability in creating value for all stakeholders during a transformative period.
Anglo American’s materially streamlined portfolio will focus on its diamond, platinum group metals (PGMs) and copper assets. According to the group, the core portfolio of competitive, long-life assets offers considerable organic growth potential and is positioned to deliver robust profitability and cash flows through the price cycle. It also offers greater exposure to the fast-growing consumer demand sectors as the global economy evolves, within which lie a number of next-generation clean energy and other environmental technologies.
Sir John Parker, Chairman of Anglo American, commented: “The need for extractive companies to make a positive, sustainable contribution to society is perhaps greater than ever. We will only be able to do this effectively, however, so long as we can maintain trusting and effective relationships with our wide-ranging and often-conflicting stakeholder base. It is only by being ‘partners in the future’ that mining companies will be able to secure and maintain their licences to operate, thus laying the foundation for prosperity that endures beyond the lives of their operations.”
Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American, added: “Anglo American is taking the appropriate steps to ensure it builds a more resilient business and that it continues to play its wider role in society by creating real and sustainable value. As a business, we can only deliver that value to shareholders and society at large if we ourselves are profitable and in a position of financial strength. I firmly believe the path we have taken will provide us with that more robust foundation, for the benefit of all our stakeholders.”
Anglo American’s sustainability report highlighted progress and ambitions in a number of areas, such as safety, health, water & energy and socio-economic development.
Safety
In 2015, three employees and three contractors lost their lives in work-related activities at operations managed by Anglo American. Whilst this is the lowest number of workplace deaths in a full production year, the company believes any loss of life is unacceptable. The second half of the year saw a fatality-free final quarter, representing an encouraging step forward and a reminder that zero harm can be achieved.
Health
The number of new cases of occupational diseases reported in 2015 was 163, down 7% from 175 reported in 2014, and down 35% since 2010.
Water & energy
For the third consecutive year, Anglo American exceeded its 2020 water savings target of 14%, achieving an estimated 16% water saving against projected water usage.
Anglo American reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 22% in relation to 2015’s ‘business as usual’ consumption, cutting 4.5 million t of CO2.
64% of the company’s total operational water requirement was met by recycling/re-using water. Anglo’s long-term goal is to increase this level to more than 80%.
Anglo American held its first Open Forum event in June 2015 as part of its FutureSmart™ innovation programme with a focus on water.
Socio-economic development
Through its Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox (SEAT), the company partners with local institutions to strengthen supply chain capacity and maximise the socio-economic benefits in the regions in which it operates.
In 2015, Anglo American’s corporate social investment expenditure totalled more than $124 million.
Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs
