Diversified miner Anglo American has announced its plans to divest its thermal coal operations in South Africa (SA) and Colombia.

According to a Reuters report, the company plans to exit Colombia’s Cerrejon thermal coal mine within one and half to two years. The plan also includes divesting SA thermal coal assets within two and half years.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The step comes as the British multinational miner aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations by the year 2040.

In a meeting with investors, Anglo American highlighted its sustainability efforts amid increasing pressure on the mining industry to reduce carbon footprint.

CEO Mark Cutifani was quoted by the news agency as saying: “With the bulk of (growth) options in copper, PGMs, and now also crop nutrients, we are increasingly positioned to supply those metals and minerals that enable a cleaner, greener, more sustainable world.”

In 2021, Anglo American expects that the production for all minerals will increase by 14%, while unit costs will drop by 3%.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The company is expected to spend between $5.7bn and $6.2bn next year.

Additionally, the miner expects to produce around 890,000 to one million tonnes of copper in 2023, with the Quellaveco project in Peru expected to commence production in 2022.

Through its carbon neutrality strategy, Anglo American seeks to Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, specifically. The company also expects that eight of its assets will reach the carbon neutrality goal by 2030.

Mining Technology Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Mining Technology Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now