Power utility Eskom should link its delayed Tubatse pumped storage scheme to the need for Hillside Aluminium to go green.

This could be done, a close observer of the intensive electricity user sector of the South African economy contends, through Eskom doing an independent power producer (IPP) or public-private partnership transaction with Hillside aluminium, a critically important commercial partner to Eskom and its closest operational customer.

As reported by Mining Weekly last week, if the ASX- LSE- and JSE-listed South32 group is unable to secure an affordable source of low-carbon electricity for Hillside, this key KwaZulu-Natal smelter risks becoming uncompetitive in the international market over time, given the emergence of carbon border tariffs and end-user demand for green aluminium.

The contention being put forward is that Eskom’s De Hoop dam Tubatse hydro-battery project, which was held back several years ago owing to capital constraints, could be able to do what chemical batteries cannot, and assist the South African economy materially at the same time.

Had the Tubatse hydro-battery project gone ahead when originally scheduled, it would likely have paid for itself by now in diesel saving during day peaks.

Now, owing to the large capacity of the Tubatse hydro-battery requiring an equally large customer, Hillside and Eskom are seen as a perfect match for a deal of this nature.

South32’s initial study results indicate that, combined with battery storage, renewables could be technically feasible, through new solar photovoltaic and wind capacity.

Owing to the electricity-intensive aluminium smelter’s significant economic and social importance, South32 has commenced just transition planning to support options for the smelter if its energy transition is not commercially viable and the smelter becomes uncompetitive.

The aluminium smelter plays an important role in underpinning the stability of the national electricity grid, as Eskom has the flexibility to interrupt supply to the smelter to support management of the grid and minimise load-shedding.

But Hillside also accounts for a high 58% of the Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions of the four operations that South32 runs owing to its carbon-intensive electricity consumption and is in need of significant greening.

Many large long-life hydro-batteries are going ahead around the world because of their ability to store electrical energy in large quantities.

It is contended that Tubatse would enable a green Hillside smelter to compete from 2030 to beyond 2050 only if Eskom and Hillside continue their very close relationship over these three necessary phases:

Eskom IPP contracts the construction of the 12 000 MWh Tubatse hydro-battery to Hillside through a contractual amendment of their power supply contract on the basis of the integrated Eskom grid being able to optimise the use of the 12 000 MWh Hillside hydro-battery to eliminate burning turbine diesel during daily peak load periods, and both Eskom, and a greener Hillside scoring the carbon-credits and avoiding expensive peak tariffs;

New 1 000 MW photovoltaic and wind electricity being wheeled over Eskom grid to power Hillside during most days, with Eskom grid backup; and

Another new 1 000 MW photovoltaic and wind to recharge the Tubatse hydro-battery, again with Eskom grid backup.

Currently Eskom grid is the backup to South32’s Mozal Aluminium smelter in Mozambique, which is hydropowered.

Without the 12 000 MWh IPP hydro-battery project available from Eskom, there is a likelihood that Hillside will close when its low-cost Eskom power contract expires in less than ten years.

Could Hillside's modern potlines then be relocated to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for 24-hour green power from the Inga 3 hydropower project?

Was it BHP Billiton, out of which South32 was unbundled, that replaced President Thabo Mbeki's important Westcor Project, by convincing the DRC that aluminium smelting in the DRC is better than 4 000 MW to...

Diversified major BHP will make a $90-million investment into private firm Kabanga Nickel to accelerate the development of the Kabanga nickel project, in Tanzania.

Kabanga Nickel on Monday announced an initial $40-million investment by the miner, which will convert into an 8.9% equity stake in Kabanga Nickel once approvals and conditions are met. Once invested and on conversion the second tranche of $50-million will increase BHP’s equity stake in Kabanga Nickel to 17.8%, thereby valuing the project at $658-million.

On satisfaction of additional conditions, BHP will secure the right to make a further investment in Kabanga Nickel subject to achieving certain agreed milestones.

“We are delighted to announce this partnership with BHP. It highlights the world-class nature of the Kabanga deposit and its importance in helping meet the crucial decarbonisation challenge facing the world today,” said Kabanga Nickel CEO Chris Showalter.

“BHP is the ideal partner for Kabanga Nickel, bringing significant advantages and expertise that will enable us to move ahead with the project. BHP’s investment reflects the project’s strong environmental and social governance credentials and its role in improving environmental performance throughout the nickel value chain.”

Meanwhile, BHP will also invest $10-million into green technology firm Lifezone to advance the roll-out of its patented hydrometallurgical (hydromet) technologies, which are more cost-efficient than smelting, have a significantly lower environmental impact, and will ensure that finished Class 1 battery grade nickel, copper and cobalt are produced in Tanzania

Showalter said that BHP’s funding support of Lifezone’s hydromet technology would drive progress towards a greener world.

“Through development of Kabanga and Lifezone hydromet, Tanzania will have a growing role in the supply of the battery metals needed to move to a global low carbon economy.”

The investment into Lifezone allows for new patent applications, as well as research and development work that will further commercialise the Lifezone hydrometallurgical technology. Lifezone currently has patents granted in over 150 countries.

The investment into the Kabanga nickel project will support an acceleration in the mine’s development, including an enhanced metallurgical drilling programme to enable update of the definitive feasibility study and support the construction plans for the hydromet refinery. These studies are expected to be completed by the end of 2022. Site and infrastructure development is already underway. The investment will also support hiring and training of local Tanzanian talent.

The current project development timeline anticipates first production in 2025. Output will ramp up to target a minimum yearly production of 40 000 t of nickel, 6 000 t of copper and 3 000 t of cobalt.

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses decarbonisation as an opportunity to create quality employment; South Africa's need to transition to clean energy without creating job losses and ghost towns in areas where fossil fuels provide the overwhelming economic support; and South Africa's appreciation of platinum fuel cells being recognised increasingly as the world’s only zero-emission answer to climate change.

Diversified mining company South32 is working on options to secure green electricity at Hillside Aluminium smelter in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.

If South32 is unable to secure an affordable source of low-carbon electricity for Hillside, this key KwaZulu-Natal operation risks becoming uncompetitive in the international market over time, given the emergence of carbon border tariffs and end-user demand for green aluminium.

Owing to the aluminium smelter’s significant economic and social importance, South32 has commenced just transition planning to support options for the smelter if its energy transition is not commercially viable and the smelter becomes uncompetitive.

Around 30% of the sales of Hillside – which has played a key role in KwaZulu-Natal’s economic development as one of the largest industrial employers in the region – are to South African customers, thereby supporting local downstream industries and employment.

The aluminium smelter also plays an important role in underpinning the stability of the national electricity grid, as Eskom has the flexibility to interrupt supply to the smelter to support management of the grid and minimise load-shedding.

But it accounts for a high 58% of the Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions of the four operations that South32 runs owing to its carbon-intensive electricity consumption and is in need of significant greening.

Mining Weekly can report that initial study results indicate that renewables could be technically feasible, through new solar photovoltaic and wind capacity, combined with battery storage. Prefeasibility study outcomes on this work are expected towards the middle of this year.

Already underway at the Richards Bay aluminium smelter is a trial of energy efficiency technology, with a feasibility study and final investment decision expected this financial year. The AP3XLE technology involved is already being deployed at South32’s Mozal Aluminium in Mozambique.

Alternative processing technologies, such as inert anodes, required to achieve carbon-free aluminium smelting, are also being worked on. Scope 1 emissions are primarily from the consumption of carbon anodes in the smelting process. Achieving net zero operational carbon emissions in the aluminium sector will require the commercialisation of alternative processing technologies, such as inert anodes or other technology developments.

ASX-, LSE- and JSE-listed South32, headed by CEO Graham Kerr, highlighted during its sustainability briefing it is supportive of Eskom’s plans to decarbonise, through investment in more efficient plant and new renewable energy capacity.

It emphasised its intention to work with the South African government, Eskom and other potential partners to identify options to secure green electricity.

Hillside has bottom-quartile carbon intensity compared with hydropowered Mozal’s top-quartile position, and South32’s restarting second-quartile Alumar aluminium smelter in Brazil, which will be fully powered by long-term cost-efficient renewable electricity.

Aluminium, a lightweight metal for electric vehicles and construction, represents 36% of the value chain of South32, which provides its aluminium smelters with its own alumina, which is reduced electrolytically to liquid aluminium.

CARBON TAXES AND ALUMINIUM

Emphasised by Wood Mackenzie during last month’s energy transition webinar were carbon taxes on the horizon that could send the price of unabated aluminium sky-high owing to the large quantity of electricity that is required for aluminium to be produced.

Delivering metals for the accelerated energy transition target of 1.5 °C is set to be challenging.

“If you look at a carbon tax regime that we believe would be alive with a 1.5 °C pathway, we are looking at an increase in the marginal cost of pricing aluminium of something like $1 800/t, almost a doubling of the long-term aluminium price, which will be transformative,” Wood Mackenzie Metals & Mining vice-chairperson Julian Kettle said duri...

Minerals Council South Africa on Thursday endorsed the recommendations of the first report of the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.

These recommendations, which are aimed at preventing endemic and corrosive corruption in organs of the State and within the private sector, should also be speedily implemented, the council urged.

This plea by the council was made against the background of its members – and the rest of South Africa’s citizens and businesses – having endured the consequences of years of unfettered fraud and corruption within most notably power utility Eskom and rail and port operator Transnet.

“The evidence regarding events at Transnet, Eskom and SAA present a scarcely believable picture of rampant corruption,” Minerals Council South Africa stated.

Bulk commodity exporters had, for example, experienced an opportunity cost of at least R30-billion owing to Transnet’s inability to provide a contracted service to deliver iron-ore, coal, chrome and manganese to the ports.

The reasons given by Transnet include crime on its rail network, which speaks to ineffectual policing on a strategic national asset, and the difficulties to procure spares for locomotives bought in a multibillion-rand programme cancerous with corruption.

The first report from the commission touched on the locomotive procurement project and clearly found irregularities, the consequences of which the mining industry and other exporters and importers are now struggling with daily.

The deliberate inaction of the organs of State intended to uphold the rule of law was of particular frustration, along with the lack of accountability and consequence management over years of wilful neglect, corruption and mismanagement for personal gain of the participants involved.

“We trust the recommendations made in this report, and the others which will soon follow, will result in speedy and appropriate legal and prosecutorial actions taken against those political leaders, government ministers, CEOs and the leadership of state-owned entities, and officials in government departments who caused such egregious damage to the country, its people and its economy through their corrupt activities,” Minerals Council CEO Roger Baxter stated in a media release to Mining Weekly.

“What they did is tantamount to economic sabotage, and they must face the consequences on a much more urgent basis if South Africa is to restore trust and faith in the government and its structures at this very difficult time for the economy. The recommendations in this report will go a long way towards doing that, but we cannot afford to wait much longer. Urgent implementation is key,” said Baxter.

Billions of rands worth of production in the mining industry has been lost since 2008 when the inability of Eskom to provide consistent, competitively priced electricity was in clear evidence. The Commission’s report details the level of malfeasance at the entity.

These opportunity costs have deprived the fiscus of billions of rands that could have been spent on education, health, security, and infrastructure, enabling the creation of strong, capable public and private sector entities that put the interests of people first by fostering inclusive economic growth.

The first report handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday evening by commission chairperson Raymond Zondo made ten clear recommendations that have the support of the Minerals Council.

The Minerals Council urged President Ramaphosa to implement those recommendations with all possible haste to prevent further corruption and maladministration that have become the hallmarks of South Africa. Corruption is one of the key factors preventing vital local and foreign investment that is needed to grow the economy and to stimulate job creation.

The State spends R800-billion a year on procurement of goods and services, making it a ripe source for fraud and corruption. Tighter, smarter controls and mechanisms must be established to ensure this does not ha...

Hive Hydrogen and Built Africa – together as Hive Hydrogen – as well as Linde plc, through its wholly owned South African subsidiary Afrox, have teamed up to establish the world’s largest green ammonia export plant in Nelson Mandela Bay, in the Eastern Cape.

The first phase is planned to go live in 2025, with full operation by the end of 2026.

The proposed 780 000 t/y, $4.6-billion green ammonia plant – with its own dedicated green power supply at the Coega special economic zone (SEZ) alongside the Port of Ngqura – is a massive South African response to the world’s need for green solutions to limit the devastating impact of climate change and to deliver on its COP26 commitments.

The renewable energy and energy storage component alone will be the biggest project of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa and one of the largest globally.

There is a massive surge in demand for ammonia globally to meet current agricultural, chemical, and mining requirements and this, together with the future switch to green ammonia as the main fuel in the maritime industry and for coal substitution, makes this the perfect time to invest in this commodity, Afrox and Hive Hydrogen stated in a media release.

Former Eskom CEO Thulani Gcabashe, as chairperson of Hive Hydrogen South Africa and executive chairperson of Built Africa, expressed Hive Hydrogen’s delight at bringing what he described as “this landmark green ammonia project” to Nelson Mandela Bay.

“This certainly heralds a new era for the country in its commitments to greener solutions for industry. The pure scale of the project and the clean technology being used is truly remarkable,” Gcabashe enthused.

Hive Energy UK, which has been working on renewable energy powered green hydrogen and green ammonia projects since 2019, is very pleased to have reached the critical milestone of completing the prefeasibility study for the project, together with Built Africa and Afrox.

“We can now confidently announce our collective aspiration to move forward to final investment decision and commencing the development of this world leading project at the Coega special economic zone,” said Hive Energy CEO Giles Redpath.

Afrox CEO Schalk Venter drew attention to Southern Africa being one of the few regions around the world with “very favourable conditions for green hydrogen and ammonia production and export”.

“We’re excited to be working on this transformative project in Nelson Mandela Bay with Hive Hydrogen South Africa. Through our parent company’s engineering division, proven global expertise and technology, we’ll support this project’s feasibility, engineering design and development phases,” said Venter.

Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Eugene Johnson hailed the project as being a breakthrough for South Africa and Nelson Mandela Bay in the global drive for sustainable green industry and expressed the city’s pride to be leading the way and working closely with Hive Hydrogen and Afrox to establish the ammonia plant and its green power requirements.

“The investment in job creation, training, new and clean industry, and the significant community benefits that this brings will be a great boost to the transformation programme we are planning for the region,” Johnson added.

Hive Hydrogen is being supported by InvestSA, a branch of the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, with specific investment facilitation through the InvestSA one stop shop mechanism.

InvestSA head Yunus Hoosen emphasised the recognition of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and Competition of the importance of the green hydrogen sector in contributing to increased investment and industrial development opportunities.

The department’s work in this regard, Hoosen said, was coordinated through the High-Level Panel on Hydrogen, established by Minister Ebrahim Patel.

Hive Hydrogen described the 9003 ha Coega SEZ as being a foreign direct investment destination of choice and a leading SEZ on the continent.

In line with its stra...

Gold mining company Pan African on Wednesday announced that it had entered into a conditional agreement to acquire Blyvoor Gold Operations for R110-million from Peter Skeat's Blyvoor Gold.

The transaction takes in six tailings dumps containing more than 1.4-million ounces of gold, the company stated in a media release to Mining Weekly.

A technical study to prefeasibility level indicates potential to produce 25 000 oz to 30 000 oz of gold by processing six-million tonnes of tailings a year over a mine life of 15 years.

This will be extendable to 25 years with inclusion of inferred mineral resources.

The London- and Johannesburg-listed Pan African already an accomplished tailings processor at its Barberton Tailings Retreatment Plant, Evander Tailings Retreatment Plant and Elikhulu operations.

The hydro-mining method Pan African uses at these operations is also proposed for the Blyvoor Gold Operations.

Pan African currently retreats 1.3-million tonnes of tailings a month through its technologically advanced metallurgical plants to recover gold from surface material in Barberton and Evander.

Modern tailings retreatment operations are highly automated and Pan African, headed by CEO Cobus Loots, produces a 70 000 oz/y of recovered gold from the Elikhulu and the Barberton operations at an all-in sustaining cost of less than $900/oz.

Contemplated with Blyvoor Gold is a staged acquisition process involving a three-month initial fatal-flaw due diligence period, following which Pan African can elect to proceed with a definitive feasibility study over the following nine months to December 2022.

Thereafter, Pan African may elect to acquire Blyvoor Operations for R110-million cash. Pan African will fund this from internal cash resources.

Last year’s technical study by independent consultant Minxcon calculated the 142.9-million tonne mineral resources to have an in-situ gold grade of 0.31 g/t.

MINTAILS OPTIMISM REMAINS

Pan African remains optimistic on the Mintails transaction’s potential against the background of Mintails remaining in provisional liquidation and Pan African engaging with the provisional liquidator on progressing the transaction, as well as continuing with the finalisation of its definitive feasibility study at Mintails.

Pan African announced its conditional acquisition of Mintails SA Mogale Gold and Soweto Cluster tailings facilities just over a year ago.

Although a prefeasibility study was completed on Mogale Gold’s tailings resources during July, MSC was excluded from the study’s scope as its mineral resources require additional technical and due diligence analysis.

Average production of between 40 000 oz to 50 000 oz a year over an 11-year life of mine was foreseen.

Pan African is currently finalising a DRA-led definitive feasibility study which is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of next year. A concept study on the Soweto Cluster is also progressing under DRA.

Pan African expects to produce 105 000 oz of gold during the first six months of its 2022 financial year, to the end of December.

This represents a 6.7% production increase relative to the corresponding period of its previous financial year.

Its Barberton Mines are expected to produce 50 000 oz, Elikhulu 27 000 oz, and Evander Mines’ 8 Shaft pillar operation and Evander’s surface sources 28 000 oz.

The company describes itself as being well-positioned to exceed its full year production guidance of more than 195 000 oz.

Global platinum production is expected to recover by 21.9% this year after a steep decline in 2020, says data analytics consultancy GlobalData, which adds that the recovery in the automotive and jewellery sectors has led to a rise in demand for platinum production, which will reach 6-million ounces (moz).

GlobalData mining analyst Vinneth Bajaj notes that the largest increase in platinum demand was seen within the automotive sector, at 27.1% growth, adding that “this was largely used for manufacturing autocatalysts, a system built into car exhausts that reduces dangerous exhaust pollutants”.

However, Bajaj comments that this growth in demand is expected to slow between 2021 and 2025, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of just 2.2% owing to the gradual replacement of internal combustible engine (ICE) cars with electric vehicles (EVs).

Jewellery fabrication was another key contributor to this year’s platinum recovery, with demand growing by 5.3%.

Research by GlobalData has identified South Africa as a key contributor to platinum production recovery, with the country having accounted for 72% of this year’s production. This was followed by Russia (10.4%), Zimbabwe (8.2%) and Canada (3.9%).

“Platinum’s recovery in 2021 will largely be thanks to South Africa, the world’s biggest platinum producer, which is expected to achieve a 34.7% rise in output by the end of the year,” Bajaj states, noting that the country’s platinum production was significantly impacted owing to Covid-19 restrictions, particularly during the second quarter of 2020 when strict lockdown measures were enforced.

However, Bajaj says the global vaccination programme, alongside recovering automotive demand, is expected to leverage the South African production base.

Other success stories include that of the world’s largest producer of platinum, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), which increased production of platinum and other platinum group metals by 17% in 2021 to 3.2-million ounces, compared with 2.7-million ounces in the same period last year.

“Amplats’ gains were largely owing to more stable output from its Anglo Converter Plant (ACP) Phase A plant, following an explosion in February 2020,” Bajaj says.

Meanwhile, there are about 43 platinum projects currently under development across the world – six of which are under construction.

Key upcoming projects include the Platreef (production expected to start in 2022) and Bakubung (2022) projects in South Africa; the Darwendale (2022), Mupani (2025) and Karo (2022) operations in Zimbabwe; and the Bamboo Creek (2023) operation in Australia.

“These projects are expected to add around 600 000 oz of platinum production capacity to the global total, and are expected to be operational within the next four years” Bajaj notes.

In a mining investment world increasingly dominated by environmental social and governance (ESG) demands, the resolve of Sedibelo Platinum Mines to be a green platinum group metals producer has been firmed up by the timely first-of-a-kind appointment of a chief ESG officer.

As chief ESG officer, Lael Bethlehem has been assigned to to lift ESG to the next level at Sedibelo’s Pilanesberg Platinum Mines in South Africa’s North West.

Bethlehem’s appointment comes atop the revolutionary Kell technology already setting a high green mining bar and gives her direct responsibility for Sedibelo’s green energy drive and the decarbonisation of operations.

Already, Kell will see to these operations using only a fifth of the electricity normally associated with the smelting of platinum group metals (PGMs) – plus eliminate the emission of noxious gases associated with conventional pyrometallurgical production.

Moreover, tests already undertaken indicate that complete independence from the coal-based national electricity grid is potentially attainable if hydrogen-based power generation solutions are combined with solar power, where a big push is expected under Bethlehem at the Pilanesberg Platinum Mines, which have a resource of 90-million platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold (4E PGM) ounces.

Pallinghurst Co-CEO and Sedibelo chairperson Arne Frandsen, who spoke to Mining Weekly in a Zoom interview, emphasised the intensifying need for green credentials, coupled to Sedibelo’s own strong belief that going green across the entire value chain is the right thing to do in a world fighting an all-important battle against climate change. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

Frandsen views producing PGMs in an emission-free manner as the ideal way to underpin the role that PGMs play in fuel cells, hydrogen and a world obliged to go green. He regards delivery of green ounces as being crucial.

Kell is poised to assist enormously in all of this as it provides Sedibelo with on-site control of each and every link of the production chain, all the way through to the refined finished product.

The date when net-zero ounces emerge from Pilanesberg Platinum Mines is poised to be way ahead of the low-carbon achievements other mining companies are targeting.

Against the background of the latest chief ESG officer appointment, Frandsen was asked to elaborate on the full potential benefit that this title will bring with it.

“It’s part of the new world. ESG is not only a nice to have any longer. It is something that we have always adhered to at Pallinghurst, and our investment companies, but instead of it being on page 40 in the annual report, this is now page 1 stuff.

“This is the key thing because when people put money to work, they want to make sure that it is put to work with someone that is actually operating in a way that you would want your money to operate within. ESG is absolutely critical. We came up with the title and Lael Bethlehem is the world’s first chief ESG officer,” he said.

Mining Weekly: How high is your new chief ESG officer expected to lift the bar at Sedibelo’s Pilanesberg Platinum Mines?

Frandsen: She is reporting only on ESG and renewable and sustainable matters. She thinks of nothing else. It is about making that available and making sure that we adhere to that. She is sitting at the adults table at the head of the table and what she is preaching is the thing that we as a team will adhere to.

Mining Weekly: What are the chances of becoming completely independent of the national electricity grid?

Frandsen: You’ve hit it as a matador again. That is the single largest objection. Not that we don’t have a good relationship with Eskom. We have a very good relationship with them, and it has been so for more than ten years, but I think that if you are a big user of electricity, that you do what you can do, to ensure that you don’t tap more from the net. There is a lot of usage from other people, and I’ve said to my team that this is one of ...

Efforts in the steel industry to increase the metal’s environment friendliness – a process known as “green steel” – will assist diversified miner Anglo American in reducing its Scope 3 emissions, outgoing Anglo American CE Mark Cutifani has said.

Speaking during an investor day on December 10, he said that although the world needed the metals and minerals Anglo produced, the work the company has done to lower its carbon intensity in its portfolio over the past eight or nine years has set it up for a “very different future”.

This is in comparison to other mining companies that Cutifani alluded may have not done as much as Anglo has in terms of mitigating its impact on climate change, and “certainly those companies that are somewhat captive to one or two operating assets”.

In terms of its Scope 3 emissions, he said the company was “pretty confident” it could deliver the ambition of a 50% reduction by 2040, and that if the steel industry was able to decarbonise in line with a Paris Agreement-aligned 1.5 oC increase from the preindustrial era trajectory, then it might be able to reduce its Scope 3 emissions by as much as 80% by 2040.

“We are going to encourage that pace of change as much as we can and that is through the push into green steel, high-quality iron-ore, high-quality metallurgical coal; and then with the transition, the iron-ore and the high-quality iron-ore becomes even more important . . . we think we are advantaged by that push both in the medium and longer term,” said Cutifani.

Nonetheless, from Anglo’s current baseline, to 2030, he said the company expects its Scope 3 emissions to rise marginally, driven by a combination of the growth in its portfolio and the pace of which it will outstrip the rate of decarbonisation value chains, especially for steel.

“Even with our 35% growth in production by 2030, our Scope 3 increases only a fraction of that growth – that indicates that the growth is coming in through lower carbon intensity areas of the business,” said Cutifani.

As it progresses through the 2030s, he said Anglo will continue to lower its emissions and grow with new projects of which its UK-based Woodsmith polyhalite project was a good example in that it could “change the look and the feel of the company into the [20]30s”.

“With assets such as Woodsmith, Quellaveco and Collahuasi all underpinning the future of the business; it is a very different-looking Anglo today than it was even five years ago,” said Cutifani.