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Anglo American (mining)
Encyclopedia
Anglo American plc is a global mining company headquartered in London
, United Kingdom
. It is a major producer of diamonds, copper, nickel, iron ore and metallurgical and thermal coal and the world's largest producer of platinum
, with around 40% of world output. It has operations in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America and South America.
Anglo American has its primary listing on the London Stock Exchange
and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
. It has a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
along with American, J.P. Morgan, founded the Anglo American Corporation, a gold mining company, in 1917 with £1 million, raised from UK and U.S. sources, and ultimately derived the name of the company.
The AAC became the majority stakeholder in the De Beers
company in 1926. Two years later, the AAC began mining in the Zambian copper belt.
In 1945, the AAC moved into the coal industry by acquiring Coal Estates. Twelve years later, in 1957, Sir Ernest died in Johannesburg
and was succeeded by his son, Harry Oppenheimer
, who also became chairman of De Beers. In the late 1940s and 1950s, the AAC focused on the development of the Free State goldfields (seven major mines simultaneously) and the Vaal Reefs mine. The success of the mines enabled the company to become the world’s largest gold-mining group.
in Canada. In 1967, the company moved into the steel industry by acquiring Scaw Metals. From 1967 to 1975, it continued to grow and established a number of ventures, including the Mondi Group
(timber, pulp and paper), Amgold (later AngloGold Ashanti
) and then Amcoal (through the consolidation of several of its mining operations in South Africa and later known as Anglo Coal and in 2010 changed to Anglo Thermal). In 1982, Harry Oppenheimer retired as chairman of the AAC and was succeeded by Gavin Relly
. Two years later, Oppenheimer retired from De Beers and passed the chairmanship to Julian Ogilvie Thompson
, who in 1990 also became chairman and chief executive of the AAC.
corporation, which in 2004 merged with the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation
to form AngloGold Ashanti
. Anglo American reduced its stake in AngloGold Ashanti to 16.6 percent in 2008 and exited the company completely in 2009.
In 2000, Julian Ogilvie Thompson retired as chief executive of Anglo American and was succeeded by Tony Trahar
. Ogilvie Thompson also retired as chairman in 2002 and was replaced by Sir Mark Moody-Stuart. In the same year, Anglo American acquired Tarmac
, a supplier of building materials, and Shell Petroleum Company’s Australian coal assets In 2001, De Beers was privatized after being a listed company for more than 70 years.
In 2002, South Africa’s Mining Charter was approved and Anglo American and other mining companies with operations in the country were mandated to transfer a percentage of their South African production to historically disadvantaged South Africans. Anglo American has since carried out black economic empowerment transactions across all businesses with operations in South Africa totaling R26 billion worth of transactions. Also, in 2002, Anglo Base Metals acquired the Disputada copper operations in Chile from Exxon Mobil Corporation and opened a representative office in Beijing, China. In 2003, Anglo American acquired a major stake in iron ore producer Kumba Resources
.
In 2007, Cynthia Carroll
succeeded Tony Trahar, becoming the first non-South African and first female chief executive of Anglo American. The Mondi Group
, a paper and packaging business, was also spun out in 2007. During the next two years, Anglo American opened a representative office in New Delhi, India, acquired control of the Michiquillay copper project in northern Peru and the MMX Minas-Rio
and Amapa iron ore projects in Brazil and later acquired stakes in the Pebble copper project in Alaska and Foxleigh coal mine in Australia.
Anglo American Plc. sold a 24.5 percent share in its Chilean copper unit for $5.39 billion to Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation
paid with a promissory note which is due on November 10, 2011. With this deal, the Anglo American Sur complex was valued at $22 billion.
Wholly owned subsidiaries include Anglo Base Metals, Anglo Ferrous Metals and Industries, Anglo Thermal and Anglo Industrial Minerals (Tarmac
). Partially owned subsidiaries include Copebras (Brazil), Anglo Platinum
Ltd (South Africa)(79.6%)and 63.4% of Kumba Iron Ore. The paper and packaging business Mondi Group
was spun out in 2007. It also holds 45% of the diamond mining company De Beers
. Anglo-American entered into talks in November 2011 with the Oppenheimer family to purchase an additional 40% stake in De Beers for $5.1 billion, which would increase their stake to 85%.
In 2008, the company had 105,000 permanent employees and 39,000 contract employees in its managed operations located in 45 countries.
Anglo American's biggest project is the Minas-Rio
iron ore project in Brazil; it has faced delays and high costs, but in December 2010 Anglo American gained a key license from the government that would allow work to start. Production is initially expected to be 26.5Mt/y; iron ore would be sent through a 525 km slurry pipeline
to a port at Açu
and Brownfield with nearly 70% devoted to Greenfield projects.
) to help improve the sensitivity of exploration surveys.
Anglo American established Boart Products South Africa Limited in 1936 (later named Boart International) to turn the company’s stockpile of boart, or low-grade natural diamonds, into drilling products. This initiative resulted in the development of the first mechanically set diamond drill bit and later led to additional research into cutting and abrasive tools.
Recently Anglo American has embarked on the partial redesign of two South African underground coal mining operations and the introduction of mining technologies not seen before in South Africa or Australia. Even though these technologies are in use in the USA and UK, the mine design around the technology will likely set the pace for coal mining into the next 20 years and give Anglo American a distinct advantage above competitors in the underground coal mining industry.
. Additionally, Anglo American committed to support the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
which strengthens governance by improving transparency and accountability in the extractives sector.
A socio economic toolkit originally developed by Anglo American to manage the social aspects of its operational impacts, was released into the public domain for non-profits and other companies to use. The program was commended by the World Business Awards program of the United Nations Development Programme
With a significant number of operations and employees in South Africa, Anglo American faces the HIV/AIDS challenge on a large scale. In response, it runs a workplace program for HIV/AIDS testing and counseling. In 2002, it started to provide antiretroviral drugs for employees with AIDS
Anglo American is a signatory participant of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.
amid the subsequent government backlash.
In August 2007, the British charity, War on Want
, published a report accusing Anglo American of profiting from the abuse of people in the developing countries in which the company operates. According to the charity, "in the Philippines and South Africa, local communities threatened with Anglo American mines have faced severe repression in their fight to stay on their land, while in Ghana and Mali, local communities see little of the huge profits being made by AngloGold Ashanti
but suffer from fear and intimidation and from the damaging impact of its mines on their environment, health and livelihoods". Anglo American subsequently published a report responding to War on Want and separately disclosed its safety performance in its most recent annual earnings report, along with immediate measures to address safety concerns
Anglo American was also accused in 2007 of damaging environmental practices: in order to complete its planned Alaskan Pebble Mine
in collaboration with Northern Dynasty Minerals, the global mining giant may build a massive dam at the headwaters of the world's largest sockeye salmon
fishery, which it would risk obliterating. Opponents are also pointing to the use of cyanide
, heavy metals
, and acid mine drainage
which can all have potentially devastating effects on the pristine environment of the Bristol Bay
area. Opponents of the Pebble Mine created Ballot Measure 4 to impose additional water quality standards on new large-scale mines in the state. However, in August 2007, Alaskans voted against the initiative. The Pebble Limited Partnership has not yet put forward a project proposal and is working to prepare a Prefeasibility Study for the project in the second half of 2009. The mine proposal must still undergo environmental studies and the permitting process, including being subject to state and federal water protections
Nunamta Aulukestai (Caretakers of Our Land) and the Renewable Resources Coalition commissioned a report regarding Anglo American and their current and past subsidiaries. The report is written by Philip Mattera, a corporate reporter. The report, released in July 2008, criticizes Anglo American for community, worker safety, public health, and environmental problems at their mining operations in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mali, Ireland, and the United States (Nevada
) and notes the difference between Anglo's stated corporate goals and their actual corporate performance.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is a major producer of diamonds, copper, nickel, iron ore and metallurgical and thermal coal and the world's largest producer of platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
, with around 40% of world output. It has operations in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America and South America.
Anglo American has its primary listing on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
. It has a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
1917 to 1960
Sir Ernest OppenheimerErnest Oppenheimer
Sir Ernest Oppenheimer was a diamond and gold mining entrepreneur, financier and philanthropist, who controlled De Beers and founded the Anglo American Corporation of South Africa.-Career:...
along with American, J.P. Morgan, founded the Anglo American Corporation, a gold mining company, in 1917 with £1 million, raised from UK and U.S. sources, and ultimately derived the name of the company.
The AAC became the majority stakeholder in the De Beers
De Beers
De Beers is a family of companies that dominate the diamond, diamond mining, diamond trading and industrial diamond manufacturing sectors. De Beers is active in every category of industrial diamond mining: open-pit, underground, large-scale alluvial, coastal and deep sea...
company in 1926. Two years later, the AAC began mining in the Zambian copper belt.
In 1945, the AAC moved into the coal industry by acquiring Coal Estates. Twelve years later, in 1957, Sir Ernest died in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and was succeeded by his son, Harry Oppenheimer
Harry Oppenheimer
Harry Frederick Oppenheimer was a prominent South African businessman and one of the world's richest men...
, who also became chairman of De Beers. In the late 1940s and 1950s, the AAC focused on the development of the Free State goldfields (seven major mines simultaneously) and the Vaal Reefs mine. The success of the mines enabled the company to become the world’s largest gold-mining group.
1960 to 1990
In 1961, the AAC expanded outside of southern Africa for the first time and became a major investor in the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting CompanyHudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co.
HudBay Minerals Inc. is a Canadian mining corporation. Founded as Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co., Limited it has been exploring and mining in Manitoba for over 80 years. Much of their history has centered around Flin Flon, Manitoba...
in Canada. In 1967, the company moved into the steel industry by acquiring Scaw Metals. From 1967 to 1975, it continued to grow and established a number of ventures, including the Mondi Group
Mondi Group
Mondi is an international paper and packaging company employing over 30,000 people with operations across more than 30 countries, predominantly in Central Europe, Russia and South Africa...
(timber, pulp and paper), Amgold (later AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti Limited is a global gold mining company. It was formed in 2004 by the merger of AngloGold and the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation.AngloGold Ashanti Limited is now a global gold producer with 21 operations on four continents...
) and then Amcoal (through the consolidation of several of its mining operations in South Africa and later known as Anglo Coal and in 2010 changed to Anglo Thermal). In 1982, Harry Oppenheimer retired as chairman of the AAC and was succeeded by Gavin Relly
Gavin Relly
Gavin Relly was a South African businessman and former chairman of Anglo American....
. Two years later, Oppenheimer retired from De Beers and passed the chairmanship to Julian Ogilvie Thompson
Julian Ogilvie Thompson
Julian Ogilvie Thompson is a South African businessman and former chairman of De Beers and Anglo American mining....
, who in 1990 also became chairman and chief executive of the AAC.
1990 to 2010
Anglo American Corporation merged with Minorco on 24 May 1999 to form Anglo American plc with its primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Its gold mining operations were spun off into the separate AngloGoldAngloGold
AngloGold was a gold mining company based in South Africa and majority-owned by the Anglo American group. In 2004 it merged with the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation to create the world's second-largest gold producer, AngloGold Ashanti. It's a big company....
corporation, which in 2004 merged with the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation
Ashanti Goldfields Corporation
This is the article on the mining company. For the football club of the same name see Ashanti Gold SC.The Ashanti Goldfields Corporation is a gold mining company based in Ghana that was founded by Edwin Cade. The Ashanti Mine, located at Obuasi, 56 km south of Kumasi, has been producing since 1897...
to form AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti Limited is a global gold mining company. It was formed in 2004 by the merger of AngloGold and the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation.AngloGold Ashanti Limited is now a global gold producer with 21 operations on four continents...
. Anglo American reduced its stake in AngloGold Ashanti to 16.6 percent in 2008 and exited the company completely in 2009.
In 2000, Julian Ogilvie Thompson retired as chief executive of Anglo American and was succeeded by Tony Trahar
Tony Trahar
Tony Trahar is a South African businessman and former chairman of Anglo American.Trahar was educated at St John's College and the University of the Witwatersrand, after which he qualified as a chartered accountant....
. Ogilvie Thompson also retired as chairman in 2002 and was replaced by Sir Mark Moody-Stuart. In the same year, Anglo American acquired Tarmac
Tarmac (company)
Tarmac is a company that is based in Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom and operates internationally. The company produces aggregates and road-surfacing materials, including tarmacadam, from which the company's name is derived...
, a supplier of building materials, and Shell Petroleum Company’s Australian coal assets In 2001, De Beers was privatized after being a listed company for more than 70 years.
In 2002, South Africa’s Mining Charter was approved and Anglo American and other mining companies with operations in the country were mandated to transfer a percentage of their South African production to historically disadvantaged South Africans. Anglo American has since carried out black economic empowerment transactions across all businesses with operations in South Africa totaling R26 billion worth of transactions. Also, in 2002, Anglo Base Metals acquired the Disputada copper operations in Chile from Exxon Mobil Corporation and opened a representative office in Beijing, China. In 2003, Anglo American acquired a major stake in iron ore producer Kumba Resources
Kumba Resources
Exxaro Resources is a large coal and heavy minerals mining company in South Africa. It is also the largest South African based mining company in the country. The company operates facilities and offices in Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia.-External links:******...
.
In 2007, Cynthia Carroll
Cynthia Carroll
Cynthia Carroll is an American businessperson. She is the chief executive officer of Anglo American PLC, a London, UK mining company, which, among other things, is the world's largest platinum producer....
succeeded Tony Trahar, becoming the first non-South African and first female chief executive of Anglo American. The Mondi Group
Mondi Group
Mondi is an international paper and packaging company employing over 30,000 people with operations across more than 30 countries, predominantly in Central Europe, Russia and South Africa...
, a paper and packaging business, was also spun out in 2007. During the next two years, Anglo American opened a representative office in New Delhi, India, acquired control of the Michiquillay copper project in northern Peru and the MMX Minas-Rio
Minas-Rio
Minas-Rio is an iron ore mining project in Brazil. It is one of the world's largest mining projects, and is initially expected to export 26.5 million tonnes of iron ore in 2013, through a 525km slurry pipeline to a port at Açu; production potential is 53 Mtpa or higher.The project was bought by...
and Amapa iron ore projects in Brazil and later acquired stakes in the Pebble copper project in Alaska and Foxleigh coal mine in Australia.
2010 to present
On 4 November 2011 it was announced that Anglo American had agreed to acquire the Oppenheimer family's 40% stake in De Beers for $5.1 billion (£3.2 billion), raising its stake to 85% (with the remainder owned by the Botswana government).Anglo American Plc. sold a 24.5 percent share in its Chilean copper unit for $5.39 billion to Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Corporation
is Japan's largest trading company , a member of the Mitsubishi keiretsu. Mitsubishi Corporation employs over 50,000 people and has seven business segments including finance, banking, energy, machinery, chemicals, food and more....
paid with a promissory note which is due on November 10, 2011. With this deal, the Anglo American Sur complex was valued at $22 billion.
Operations
The company focuses on natural resources with five core business units: base metals, coal, diamonds, iron ore (or ferrous metals and industries) and platinum. Its operating footprint includes Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.Wholly owned subsidiaries include Anglo Base Metals, Anglo Ferrous Metals and Industries, Anglo Thermal and Anglo Industrial Minerals (Tarmac
Tarmac (company)
Tarmac is a company that is based in Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom and operates internationally. The company produces aggregates and road-surfacing materials, including tarmacadam, from which the company's name is derived...
). Partially owned subsidiaries include Copebras (Brazil), Anglo Platinum
Anglo Platinum
Anglo Platinum Limited is the world's largest primary producer of platinum, accounting for about 38% of the world's annual. The company, based in South Africa, was previously called "Anglo American Platinum Corporation Limited". Anglo Platinum expects to produce approximately 2.9 million...
Ltd (South Africa)(79.6%)and 63.4% of Kumba Iron Ore. The paper and packaging business Mondi Group
Mondi Group
Mondi is an international paper and packaging company employing over 30,000 people with operations across more than 30 countries, predominantly in Central Europe, Russia and South Africa...
was spun out in 2007. It also holds 45% of the diamond mining company De Beers
De Beers
De Beers is a family of companies that dominate the diamond, diamond mining, diamond trading and industrial diamond manufacturing sectors. De Beers is active in every category of industrial diamond mining: open-pit, underground, large-scale alluvial, coastal and deep sea...
. Anglo-American entered into talks in November 2011 with the Oppenheimer family to purchase an additional 40% stake in De Beers for $5.1 billion, which would increase their stake to 85%.
In 2008, the company had 105,000 permanent employees and 39,000 contract employees in its managed operations located in 45 countries.
Anglo American's biggest project is the Minas-Rio
Minas-Rio
Minas-Rio is an iron ore mining project in Brazil. It is one of the world's largest mining projects, and is initially expected to export 26.5 million tonnes of iron ore in 2013, through a 525km slurry pipeline to a port at Açu; production potential is 53 Mtpa or higher.The project was bought by...
iron ore project in Brazil; it has faced delays and high costs, but in December 2010 Anglo American gained a key license from the government that would allow work to start. Production is initially expected to be 26.5Mt/y; iron ore would be sent through a 525 km slurry pipeline
Slurry pipeline
A slurry pipeline is used in mining to transport mineral concentrate from a mineral processing plant near a mine.- Overview :The concentrate of the ore is mixed with water and then pumped over a long distance to a port where it can be shipped for further processing. At the end of the pipeline, the...
to a port at Açu
Açu
Açu is a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil. The population in 2007 is 52,000 , and the area is 1,292 km². This place name comes from the Tupi language.-External links:**...
Exploration
In 2008, Anglo American (excluding De Beers) spent $212 million on exploring 21 countries for resources including copper, nickel, niobium phosphates and zinc. The two main types of exploration for the company are GreenfieldGreenfield land
Greenfield land is a term used to describe undeveloped land in a city or rural area either used for agriculture, landscape design, or left to naturally evolve...
and Brownfield with nearly 70% devoted to Greenfield projects.
Research and development
Anglo American, along with De Beers, backed the manufacturing of a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUIDSQUID
A SQUID is a very sensitive magnetometer used to measure extremely weak magnetic fields, based on superconducting loops containing Josephson junctions....
) to help improve the sensitivity of exploration surveys.
Anglo American established Boart Products South Africa Limited in 1936 (later named Boart International) to turn the company’s stockpile of boart, or low-grade natural diamonds, into drilling products. This initiative resulted in the development of the first mechanically set diamond drill bit and later led to additional research into cutting and abrasive tools.
Recently Anglo American has embarked on the partial redesign of two South African underground coal mining operations and the introduction of mining technologies not seen before in South Africa or Australia. Even though these technologies are in use in the USA and UK, the mine design around the technology will likely set the pace for coal mining into the next 20 years and give Anglo American a distinct advantage above competitors in the underground coal mining industry.
Corporate social responsibility
Anglo American is a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable DevelopmentWorld Business Council for Sustainable Development
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is a CEO-led, global association of some 200 international companies dealing exclusively with business and sustainable development....
. Additionally, Anglo American committed to support the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative increases transparency over payments by companies to governments and to government-linked entities, as well as transparency over revenues by those host country governments...
which strengthens governance by improving transparency and accountability in the extractives sector.
A socio economic toolkit originally developed by Anglo American to manage the social aspects of its operational impacts, was released into the public domain for non-profits and other companies to use. The program was commended by the World Business Awards program of the United Nations Development Programme
With a significant number of operations and employees in South Africa, Anglo American faces the HIV/AIDS challenge on a large scale. In response, it runs a workplace program for HIV/AIDS testing and counseling. In 2002, it started to provide antiretroviral drugs for employees with AIDS
Anglo American is a signatory participant of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.
Criticism
In 1977, the company demanded the paper it owned, Rand Daily Mail, tone down its equal-rights support after exposing the murder of South African activist Steve BikoSteve Biko
Stephen Biko was a noted anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s. A student leader, he later founded the Black Consciousness Movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. Since his death in police custody, he has been called a martyr of the...
amid the subsequent government backlash.
In August 2007, the British charity, War on Want
War on Want
War on Want is an anti-poverty charity based in London, England. It seeks to highlight the needs of poverty-stricken areas around the world and lobbies governments and international agencies to tackle problems as well as raising public awareness of the concerns of developing nations while...
, published a report accusing Anglo American of profiting from the abuse of people in the developing countries in which the company operates. According to the charity, "in the Philippines and South Africa, local communities threatened with Anglo American mines have faced severe repression in their fight to stay on their land, while in Ghana and Mali, local communities see little of the huge profits being made by AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti Limited is a global gold mining company. It was formed in 2004 by the merger of AngloGold and the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation.AngloGold Ashanti Limited is now a global gold producer with 21 operations on four continents...
but suffer from fear and intimidation and from the damaging impact of its mines on their environment, health and livelihoods". Anglo American subsequently published a report responding to War on Want and separately disclosed its safety performance in its most recent annual earnings report, along with immediate measures to address safety concerns
Anglo American was also accused in 2007 of damaging environmental practices: in order to complete its planned Alaskan Pebble Mine
Pebble Mine
Pebble Mine is the common name of an advanced mineral exploration project investigating a very large porphyry copper, gold, and molybdenum mineral deposit in the Bristol Bay region of Southwest Alaska, near Lake Iliamna and Lake Clark. The proposal to mine the ore deposit, using large-scale...
in collaboration with Northern Dynasty Minerals, the global mining giant may build a massive dam at the headwaters of the world's largest sockeye salmon
Sockeye salmon
Sockeye salmon , also called red salmon or blueback salmon in the USA, is an anadromous species of salmon found in the Northern Pacific Ocean and rivers discharging into it...
fishery, which it would risk obliterating. Opponents are also pointing to the use of cyanide
Cyanide
A cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the cyano group, -C≡N, which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Cyanides most commonly refer to salts of the anion CN−. Most cyanides are highly toxic....
, heavy metals
Heavy metals
A heavy metal is a member of a loosely-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties. It mainly includes the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides. Many different definitions have been proposed—some based on density, some on atomic number or atomic weight,...
, and acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage , or acid rock drainage , refers to the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines. However, other areas where the earth has been disturbed may also contribute acid rock drainage to the environment...
which can all have potentially devastating effects on the pristine environment of the Bristol Bay
Bristol Bay
Bristol Bay is the eastern-most arm of the Bering Sea, at 57° to 59° North 157° to 162° West in Southwest Alaska. Bristol Bay is 400 km long and 290 km, wide at its mouth...
area. Opponents of the Pebble Mine created Ballot Measure 4 to impose additional water quality standards on new large-scale mines in the state. However, in August 2007, Alaskans voted against the initiative. The Pebble Limited Partnership has not yet put forward a project proposal and is working to prepare a Prefeasibility Study for the project in the second half of 2009. The mine proposal must still undergo environmental studies and the permitting process, including being subject to state and federal water protections
Nunamta Aulukestai (Caretakers of Our Land) and the Renewable Resources Coalition commissioned a report regarding Anglo American and their current and past subsidiaries. The report is written by Philip Mattera, a corporate reporter. The report, released in July 2008, criticizes Anglo American for community, worker safety, public health, and environmental problems at their mining operations in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mali, Ireland, and the United States (Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
) and notes the difference between Anglo's stated corporate goals and their actual corporate performance.
See also
- List of mining companies
- Mineral Policy InstituteMineral Policy InstituteThe Mineral Policy Institute is an Australian-based non-governmental organisation that specialises in preventing environmentally and socially destructive mining, minerals and energy projects in Australia, Asia and the Pacific. The institute as formed in 1995 in response to the internationalisation...
- Extractive Industries Transparency InitiativeExtractive Industries Transparency InitiativeThe Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative increases transparency over payments by companies to governments and to government-linked entities, as well as transparency over revenues by those host country governments...
- International Council on Mining and MetalsInternational Council on Mining and MetalsThe International Council on Mining and Metals is composed of 18 mining companies. The council was formed in October 2001 to comply with the mission set forth in the Global Mining Initiative. Criticism of lack of oversight in industrial mining operations from environmental and social groups...
- United Nations Global Compact
External links
- Official website
- D.R. Congo: Gold Fuels Massive Human Rights Atrocities, Leading international corporations established links to warlords, Human Rights WatchHuman Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, 2 June 2005 - Mining, De Beers, Anglo American Documentary On Google
- Anglo American stock prices on the London Stock Exchange