The land, water and ecosystems around our operations are not just part of our working environment. They are shared spaces that sustain communities, livelihoods and biodiversity. At Anglo American South Africa, we recognise our responsibility to care for these environments and ensure they remain healthy for future generations.
We plan for the full lifecycle of our sites from the beginning, including post-mining land use and ecological restoration. This helps ensure that the areas where we work are strengthened, not depleted, by our presence both during operations and long after closure.
We focus on actions that can be seen and felt: restoring biodiversity, protecting water resources, reducing emissions and using natural resources efficiently. These efforts are driven by our belief that strong environmental stewardship is essential for shared prosperity and resilient communities.
Explore our innovative initiatives aimed at creating a positive, sustainable legacy for future generations.
Protecting the natural habitats around our operations is central to how we work. In our Kumba Iron Ore operations at Kolomela and Sishen mines, we partner with ecological specialists to monitor species, restore habitats and rehabilitate land progressively during mining, not only afterwards.
At Kolomela, long-term biomonitoring allows us to track changes in flora and fauna, using ecological indicators to guide restoration and land-use decisions. At Sishen, ongoing rehabilitation efforts include the re-establishment of indigenous grasses and shrubs, helping stabilise soil, prevent erosion and encourage the return of local wildlife.
These activities help us understand how ecosystems respond to environmental changes over time. This informs how we protect vulnerable species, re-establish indigenous vegetation and reduce disturbance to natural environments. Each site has tailored plans based on its unique landscape, ecological makeup and surrounding community needs.
This approach is not only about compliance. It is about actively strengthening the health and resilience of local ecosystems so that they continue to thrive alongside, and eventually beyond, our operations.
Water is one of South Africa’s most scarce and precious resources. We recognise that our responsibility is not only to manage our own usage carefully, but also to contribute to secure, sustainable access for the communities around us.
At Kolomela and Sishen mines, our teams work with local authorities, engineers and environmental specialists to monitor water quality, reduce consumption and improve the resilience of municipal systems. Through collaborative projects with government partners and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, we have helped install boreholes, repair critical pipelines and strengthen infrastructure to ensure that the surrounding communities have access to a reliable supply of water.
We are continually investing in the efficiency of our operations, from recycling process water to preventing contamination and reducing draw on shared sources. This work is guided by rigorous monitoring and long-term planning so that water resources are protected for future generations.
Our approach stems from a simple principle: water security supports human dignity, local economies and environmental health. By managing water responsibly and working alongside communities to protect supply, we help ensure that this shared resource remains available to all who depend on it.
Reducing our carbon footprint is a priority across our South African operations. We are actively lowering reliance on fossil-fuel-based energy sources, improving operational efficiency and accelerating the use of cleaner and renewable technologies wherever possible.
Through our Renewable Energy Programme, we are contributing to the development of renewable energy capacity in South Africa while improving the stability of our own supply. At our Kumba Iron Ore operations, efficiency upgrades to material handling, ventilation and processing have already reduced energy intensity year on year, helping us steadily cut diesel consumption and operational emissions.
We also continue to trial and implement innovative technologies, including pathways for the electrification of equipment and the use of alternative fuels, as part of the transition toward carbon neutrality by 2040. These developments are supported by measurable emissions tracking and transparent reporting, ensuring progress can be assessed openly and honestly.
We recognise that climate action is a shared responsibility. By lowering our emissions, supporting new forms of domestic renewable energy generation and improving energy resilience for our operational regions, we contribute to a future where responsible development and environmental integrity reinforce one another.
With innovation as a core Value at Anglo American, we continuously explore new technologies and smarter ways of working that can reduce environmental impact and strengthen sustainability outcomes at our sites. Across our Kumba Iron Ore operations, this includes nature-led monitoring, digital planning tools and improvements in how we track and measure environmental performance.
We understand that our responsibility to the land does not end when mining stops. From the earliest planning stages, we design for responsible closure and post-mining use so that our sites can support new environmental and community value in the future.
At our Kumba Iron Ore operations, rehabilitation happens progressively. We restore disturbed land step by step through reshaping, soil replacement and re-establishing indigenous vegetation. This approach enables ecosystems to stabilise while mining is still underway, rather than waiting until operations end.
Closure planning also includes working with local stakeholders, environmental experts and authorities to decide how the land can best serve the region once mining ends. In some areas, this may support conservation and natural habitat restoration; in others, it may create space for community-driven economic activity or infrastructure needs.
By planning with foresight and acting with care, we aim to leave behind landscapes that are stronger, healthier and more adaptable than when we first arrived. Responsible closure is not the end of the story; it is the foundation for what comes next.
