Anglo American Believes Understanding Local Communities' Challenges, Partnership and Innovation are Critical to Delivering Sustainable Value

LONDON, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Anglo American launched its Sustainable Development Report 2011, "What it takes; partnership and innovation", at today's annual general meeting in London. The report focuses on Anglo American's sustainable development performance for the period 1 January to 31 December 2011, and provides an update of Anglo American's long-standing sustainable development initiatives, showing how sustainability is at the centre of its decision-making across all operations, and aspects of the business.

Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive of Anglo American, commented: "Raising awareness of modern, responsible mining has never been more important. As trust in companies and in government is decreasing across the world, we appreciate that the onus is on us to explain, and demonstrate, exactly how we create and share value in our host communities and countries. The Sustainable Development Report is an important part of communicating what constitutes a modern, responsible mining company."

"I believe that our main priorities are improving our safety performance; managing our relationships with communities; and responding to the challenge of climate change, which includes securing access to water. The way in which we manage these issues will have a profound influence on the future of our business, which is why we have embedded the principles of sustainable development into our strategy, our values, and through to the policies and processes that shape the way we operate.

"I have made safety and sustainable development a priority since joining Anglo American in 2007. For me, building public trust through continuous engagement with our myriad stakeholders, and demonstrating how we are a responsible, modern mining company are fundamental to securing and maintaining our licence to operate."

• Reaching Zero Harm: While mining is inherently a high-risk industry, we do not accept that anyone should be injured while working for us. In 2011, 90 per cent of our operations had no fatalities while our Lost Time Injury Frequency (LTIF) rates were 0.64, in line with our performance in 2010. We appreciate that we have a long way to go to achieve zero harm and we are redoubling our efforts to create a total intolerance to unsafe work conditions and behaviours.
  
• Supporting entrepreneurs to create Jobs: In 2011, Anglo American supported more than 38,681 business and 47,070 jobs internationally, through our enterprise development funds. In South Africa, in 2011, our Zimele enterprise development funds provided $16.3 million in funding for businesses and created a further 4,367 jobs, with a combined turnover of $75.3 million. Anglo American also launched a new Zimele Green fund, to provide investment for businesses that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, reduce energy and water consumption and improve waste and emissions management. Including the additional 4,367 jobs created in 2011, Zimele businesses now employ more than 19 000 people across South Africa.
  
• Encouraging healthier employees and communities: An important element of promoting employee wellness is our focus on HIV/AIDS, particularly at our operations in southern Africa, where the epidemic is especially prevalent. Anglo American operates the largest free HIV/AIDS workplace testing and treatment programme worldwide. By the end of 2011 over 90% of our employees knew their status and over 61% of those who were HIV positive were on treatment programmes. We are committed to increasing this treatment rate in 2012.
  
  Developing countries cannot reach their full economic potential without access to good healthcare and we are committed to improving the quality and access to primary health care. We appreciate that we cannot do this alone and collaboration between the public, private and civil societies is fundamental. In June 2011, Cynthia Carroll pledged a further $3 million over three years to the UK Government-led matching initiative for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI).
  
• Improving access to water: More than 80% of Anglo American's operations and planned projects are located in water-stressed basins, and these are often in remote locations, amidst communities that lack basic water infrastructure.

Our Water Efficiency Target Tool (WETT) was piloted at seven sites before being introduced across the Group in 2011. The WETT pilot at Anglo American Platinum achieved a 21% improvement in water efficiency during the first year of its implementation. In 2011, 66% of our operations' water requirements were met by recycling or re-using water.

To access the Sustainable Development Report 2011 in full please visit:  http://www.angloamerican.com/development/.

For more information about Anglo American's approach to sustainable development, please visit http://www.angloamerican.com/development/approach-and-policies or watch Anglo American's sustainable development videos on You Tube by clicking on the below links:

Enterprise Development: Anglo American Zimele

Anglo American Zimele - interview with Cynthia Carroll

Safety: Where Safety means more

Health: Bhubezi community health centre

SOURCE Anglo American Plc