6 April 2011

Isibonelo has been awarded the Department of Mineral Resources’ safety flag for the year 2010/11 which is the highest and most prestigious award given to a mine with excellent safety record. The Safety Achievement Flag is awarded to mines showing the greatest reduction in the number of days lost owing to accidents when comparing two consecutive three-year periods.

Isibonelo Colliery near Secunda, Mpumalanga, has not recorded a single lost-time injury in three-and-a-half years. It completed 4,000 fatality-free production shifts in 2010. The operation employs 289 employees and 377 contractors and mines five million tonnes of thermal coal per annum for conversion into synthetic fuels by Sasol. The thermal coal business as a whole achieved significant success in 2010, with all nine South African mines operating without a fatality.

In line with its safety culture, practices and leadership at all levels, Anglo American has achieved a step change in safety performance. Globally, fatalities declined from 44 in 2006 to 14 in 2010, representing a 68% improvement. The company’s lost-time injury frequency rate fell from 1.16 to 0.57 (per 200,000) during the same period. This represents a 51% improvement.

Commenting on Isibonelo’s safety achievement the Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, said workers like those at Isibonelo deserve the country’s highest praise for their conscious effort in making safety a priority. “An achievement of this nature is a result of dedicated leadership and sustained effort on the part of everyone on the mine,” said Minister Shabangu.

Norman Mbazima, CEO of the thermal coal business unit of Anglo American praised his team for their continued focus on safety. “Our fatality-free performance in 2010 raises the bar for us to accomplish even more and proves that high levels of productivity can be achieved safely. All credit must go to our employees, labour unions and leaders for their hard work and collaboration which have enabled us to reach this milestone,” said Norman.

David Msiza, acting chief inspector of mines said that this achievement served as an encouragement for all in the mining industry to ensure that zero harm becomes a reality in all operations in South Africa. “For (Anglo American) Thermal Coal to have no fatalities speaks of dedication and people willing to take responsibility for their deeds. It also bears testimony to high-level management involvement and dedication to the health and safety programmes in place,” he said

For further information, please contact:

South Africa
Pranill Ramchander, Head of Corporate Communications and Branding SA
Tel: +27 (0)11 638 2592

Editor’s Notes:

Anglo American

Anglo American plc is one of the world’s largest mining companies, is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. It’s portfolio of mining businesses spans precious metals and minerals – in which it is a global leader in both platinum and diamonds; base metals – copper and nickel; and bulk commodities – iron ore, metallurgical coal and thermal coal. Anglo American is committed to the highest standards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses and geographies and to making a sustainable difference in the development of the communities around its operations. The company’s mining operations and extensive pipeline of growth projects are located in southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America and Asia.
www.angloamerican.com