Anglo American PLC has announced that its Minas-Rio iron ore and Barro Alto nickel mines in Brazil have achieved the IRMA 75 level of performance, reflecting the company's commitment to responsible metals production and sustainability. These mines are the first iron ore and nickel-producing mines in the world to complete an IRMA audit. The company's participation in IRMA aims to promote transparency and best practices in sustainability, adding value to customers by helping them meet expectations for responsibly sourced mined materials. Through their digital traceability platform Valutrax™, Anglo American is making it easier for customers to have visibility over products with third-party assurance such as IRMA.
Anglo American's Regional Director - Americas, Ruben Fernandes, emphasized the company's commitment to assuring all operations against a recognized responsible mining standard by 2025, as outlined in their Sustainable Mining Plan. Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of IRMA, commended Anglo American for volunteering the first iron ore and nickel mines for an audit against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining, highlighting the company's leadership in the practical application of responsible mining principles.
The CEO of Anglo American in Brazil, Ana Sanches, expressed pride in the work done at Minas-Rio and Barro Alto on responsible mining, noting that the IRMA assurance process has provided valuable insights to measure performance against international best sustainability practices and identify areas for improvement. The IRMA scoring system recognizes four levels of performance: IRMA Transparency, IRMA 50, IRMA 75, and IRMA 100, signifying different levels of compliance with the Standard's requirements.
Other Anglo American operations that have been independently audited include the Mototolo, Amandelbult, and Mogalakwena PGMs operations in South Africa, as well as the Kolomela and Sishen iron ore operations, also in South Africa. The outcomes of those audit reports are pending. The IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining, developed over a decade through a public consultation process, is considered one of the most rigorous certification processes. The reports for Minas-Rio and Barro Alto can be found on IRMA's website.
Anglo American is a leading global mining company, producing essential metals and minerals for a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable world. The company is committed to being carbon neutral across its operations by 2040, as outlined in its Sustainable Mining Plan.