AngloGold Ashanti Sustainability Review 2009
Sustainability goals and progress
P
12
Environment, community
and human rights
Performance 2009
2008 – Commitments
2009 – Delivery
Develop quantitative performance
We remain committed to group energy targets to improve energy efficiency per
targets for energy and water
ounce of gold produced by 15% in the short to medium term and to reduce
during 2009
greenhouse gas emissions per ounce of gold produced by 30% in the longer term.
With more difficult mining conditions encountered as our mines mature, reducing
energy consumption further is challenging. Developing site-level energy
performance objectives will only be completed in 2012. In the interim, we continue
our efforts to reduce energy consumption, particularly at our energy-intensive South
African operations (41% of total energy consumed in 2009). While our electricity
consumption at these operations has reduced by 7.3% in the last two years and
our electricity consumption per tonne of rock treated has reduced by 11.5% in the
same period, electricity consumption per unit of gold produced has increased by
20.6% as a consequence of the more difficult mining conditions encountered.
Improving our water performance is equally challenging. We are continuing our
efforts to improve water consumption efficiency and water management at all sites.
Address key opportunities and risks
This high-level study was completed during 2009 and raised awareness of the
identified by the 2008/9 climate
implications of climate change throughout AngloGold Ashanti. A project to develop
change study
carbon credits under the UN Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has already
been initiated, as recommended by the study.
Implement an integrated incident
An integrated incident classification and reporting standard was implemented
notification and reporting system to
as planned in 2009. New and clearer environmental and community incident
include community incidents
classification criteria have been adopted.
Roll out new policies and practices
The implementation of the new global security framework started in 2009. It is a
and train security personnel in the
three-year plan and good progress was made in key areas in 2009, particularly in
Voluntary Principles on Security and
the
roll out of Voluntary Principles procedures and best practice and in the training of
Human Rights (Voluntary Principles)
AngloGold Ashanti and third party security service providers. Self-audits were
undertaken at the end of 2009 to identify gaps and mitigation strategies.
Maintain certification to the ISO14001
ISO14001 certification was maintained at all operations. In 2009 progress
environmental management system
was made on development of management standards that incorporate community
standard and incorporate community
aspects. This work will be completed by 2012, rather than 2011 as originally
aspects (by 2011) and implement
scheduled. Standards on air quality, chemicals, closure and rehabilitation, land
environment and community
use, waste and water have been approved and implementation has begun.
management standards.
Conduct a Corporate
The programme was conducted at our operations in Australia, Namibia, South Africa,
Environmental Review
Tanzania and the USA. The scope of the review was extended during the year to
Programme biennially
include community aspects.
Conduct a review of closure
A closure and rehabilitation management standard was introduced. It was externally
planning practices in 2009
reviewed against international best practice before finalisation. Each mine’s closure plan
was reviewed against the standard in order to identify gaps in implementation.
Establish a government relations
The function has been established. In 2009, significant work was undertaken to put
function and embed it into the
systems in place, including the generation of quarterly reports on government
company’s decision-making
relations and political risk which are reviewed by the executive committee.
processes
Develop and pilot a globally applicable
In 2009 a model was developed and a pilot engagement exercise initiated in
model for government
South Africa. This will be continued in 2010.
engagement practice
In South Africa, participate in
In South Africa, the company, through the industry representative body, the
the Mining Charter review and
Chamber of Mines, is actively involved in the Mining Charter review process.
influence outcomes
AngloGold Ashanti’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Cutifani, has been elected Vice
President of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa and will, by virtue of this
position, play an active role in the review process
See pages 30 to 43 for further details
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