Amid an increased focus on the clean energy transition, diversified mining group Anglo American highlights sustainability as an integral aspect of how it operates and that the company goes to great lengths to understand the full impact of its strategic decisions in this regard.

“Underpinning our approach to sustainability is our Sustainable Mining Plan (SMP), built on our critical foundations and three global sustainability pillars which set out our commitment to stretch goals, and driving sustainability outcomes through technology, digitalisation and our innovative approach to sustainable economic development,” the company reports.

In line with the company’s goal to achieve a 50% reduction in freshwater abstraction in water-scarce areas in which a number of its South American operations are located, Anglo American continues to investigate and invest in technologies that reduce its freshwater use and has developed a series of innovative water-stewardship initiatives and partnerships to drought-proof mining operations and safeguard water supply to local communities.

In terms of carbon emissions, Anglo notes its progress towards its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 30%, which is embedded in the miner’s SMP and reflects its target of being carbon neutral across its global operational footprint by 2040.

In this regard, Anglo American highlights that all of its South American operations now draw their electricity from renewable sources, the latest asset taking up such an endeavour being the Quellaveco copper mine, located in the Moquegua region, in Peru. This mine continues to collect data to understand its water consumption baseline, as operations stabilise following its first production.

Quellaveco has also completed the prefeasibility phase of the Group’s Net Positive Impact (NPI) initiative, establishing the main offset options and key biodiversity species recognised as priorities to comply with the group’s sustainable mining goals.

In Brazil, Anglo American’s Minas-Rio iron ore project, located in the state of Minas Gerais, has acquired new areas of natural habitat as part of its strategy to create an ecological corridor around the operation, further reinforcing Anglo American’s commitment to sustainable practices and ecological connectivity in the region.

At present, Anglo American manages more than 22 000 ha of native vegetation, divided into multiple protected areas.

In terms of catalysing thriving communities, Anglo American points out that its Collaborative Regional Development (CRD) programme has been earmarked as an innovative partnership model designed to foster economic and social development at scale across its operating regions, taking local context into account.

In Peru, the CRD platform – known as Moquegua Crece – has already undertaken a number of projects, including local government capacity development in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), as well as implementing projects to support the production and commercialisation of superfood products such as seaweed, spirulina and cushuro.

“In Chile, we have promoted a series of pilot projects together with our strategic partner – Fundación Chile, a key partner in promoting industrial development and innovation policies in Chile and in cooperation with other third parties,” Anglo American states.

These projects include the production of new, more drought-resistant raspberry varieties in the central zone of Chile, developed with the Catholic University of Chile and the non-governmental organisation Pro Til Til.

They also include delivery of the first hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus constructed in Chile and support for the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile MBA programme’s Social Investment Fund, which, together with eight companies, seeks to invest and promote startups with positive social and environmental impact.

Solidifying Presence through Digitalisation

Through Anglo’s FutureSmart MiningTM initiative, the company says it is changing the way it operates through smart innovation that connects technology, digitalisation and a holistic approach to sustainability.

This initiative was initially established as a blueprint in the development of Quellaveco, which is a fully digital, automated mine, with innovative water supply designs factored in from the outset. 

The company says it is applying the same innovation-led approach to its next phase of projects, using Quellaveco as a model for the successful integration of technology, sustainability and digitalisation to connect metals and minerals to all people who need and value them.

In outlining the progress made in adopting and developing new technology, Anglo American has developed a new generation of engineered controls that reduce risk in work processes, including the Integrated Remote Operations Centre (IROC) in Santiago, Chile for its Los Bronces copper mine, and the ongoing roll-out of autonomous drill and truck fleets at a number of its operations in the region.

The company is also transforming how it uses data through integrated digital tools for planning, simulation, execution and monitoring, and has implemented an automated, real-time predictive air quality monitoring solution at the Los Bronces and El Soldado copper mines and the Chagres copper smelter, all located in Chile, in line with the group’s commitment to a healthy environment and putting the safety of people first.

With a history of more than 45 years in South America, Anglo American states that it has a significant and growing interest and expectations for a productive future in the region, focused on the future-enabling metals and minerals for a cleaner, greener, more sustainable world and that meet the fast growing daily demands of billions of consumers.