Diversified mining multinational Anglo American is leading the latest investment round of organic waste upcycling business Sanergy, which has operations in Kenya.

Sanergy's solutions are helping to transform how fast-growing cities in the developing world manage waste by upcycling it into high-value agricultural and energy products, such as insect-based protein for animal feed, organic fertiliser for regenerative farming and biomass fuel for sustainable, localised power sources, Anglo American said in a statement on June 28.

Sanergy’s zero-waste approach, founded on the principles of circularity, contributes to protecting human health and reducing environmental emissions, promoting sustainable agriculture and creating local and sustainable jobs along the value chain.

Sanergy is one of the largest organic recycling facilities in sub-Saharan Africa, operating at an industrial scale since 2021, while construction on a second facility is expected to begin soon.

Anglo plans to support Sanergy in its expansion plans in Kenya and more broadly across a number of Southern African and other countries where Anglo operates.

Part of Anglo’s investment will be used to validate Sanergy’s waste capture and conversion process with respect to emissions reduction potential and to facilitate access to the international carbon markets.

This could unlock an additional revenue stream for Sanergy to fund future growth and expansion activities and, in turn, provide Anglo with access to high-quality carbon credits.

Sanergy’s technology, which is enabling the provision of affordable yet high-quality sanitation services in non-sewered communities, is well placed to help solve some of the challenges associated with rising urbanisation and population growth, including improving overall public hygiene, reducing waste-to-landfill and its associated emissions and increasing food supply and agricultural productivity, Anglo said.

“Our Sustainable Mining Plan commits us to creating a healthy environment and building thriving communities wherever we work. Sanergy’s pioneering sanitation solutions and waste treatment technology have the potential to directly support our goals of protecting health and wellbeing, and being a catalyst for creating sustainable livelihoods,” said Anglo marketing CEO Peter Whitcutt.

“With this investment, we aim to extend our approach more broadly in our host countries to help tackle some of the most pressing human challenges. Together, we believe we can develop new solutions that also support our own decarbonisation objectives, including being carbon-neutral across our operations by 2040, as well as those of our customers.

“There is growing consensus on the role carbon markets can play in driving positive behaviours around emissions reduction as part of integrated climate mitigation strategies. Sanergy is an example of how carbon markets can be a component for change, mobilising capital for projects and activities that capture and remove emissions while providing wider societal benefits,” he said.

Anglo, as a responsible producer of diamonds through its De Beers subsidiary, as well as a responsible producer of copper, platinum group metals, premium quality iron-ore, steelmaking coal and nickel, and with crop nutrients in development, has committed to being carbon neutral across its operations by 2040.

“This investment takes us into pioneering territory as we look to expand across Africa and into South America and Asia, all the while in service of ever-growing urban populations, as well as farmers and local agriculture.

“We are delighted that Anglo American is joining us on this journey and expect that its expertise in so many of our potential markets will help us accelerate our business and the good that we can do,” said Sanergy CEO Ani Vallabhaneni.