Additional information

The following additional information on environment and natural resource stewardship is reported in compliance with GRI.

EN1: Materials used by weight or volume.

The primary raw materials used by the group include the ore processed during the extraction and recovery of gold from its host rock (direct raw materials). Primary process materials used include non-renewable materials such as liquid fossil fuels, lubricants and solid fossil fuels and renewable materials such as cyanide, explosives, acids and alkalis. These bulk materials are used or consumed during gold processing and are relevant to environmental management in that these must be controlled by the operations to avoid environmental impacts. Cyanide is managed under the guidelines provided by the International Cyanide Management Code.

View Direct raw materials data tables

EN2: Percentage of materials used that are recycled input materials.

As a gold mining company, AngloGold Ashanti produces gold, either as a bullion (typically 80-95% gold) or refined (99.5+%) bars, as well as silver and uranium as by-products. These are, by definition, original metal. Owing to the nature of mining, companies use manufactured products, such as steel, fossil fuels, chemicals and explosives, and natural resources, such as water, timber and mined rock, as well as electricity, to produce their commodities. There is therefore limited opportunity to substitute recycled or secondary materials on a meaningful scale, except where suppliers have already incorporated recycled materials into the product, for example, recycled steel into piping, liners and steel balls.

Consequently, measuring the extent of use of recycled input materials is not deemed meaningful.

EN12: Description of significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity in protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas.

EN17: Other relevant indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight.

During 2008 and 2009, AngloGold Ashanti carried out a detailed and independent GHG emissions assessment. Scope 3 emissions were included in this assessment and were found to be 0.4% of the group’s total emissions. Consequently, these other indirect GHG emissions are deemed to be immaterial.

EN19: Emissions of ozone-depleting substances by weight.

Ozone-depleting substances totalling 1,198kg (R11) were accidentally emitted from the West Wits operations during 2010.

During 2009, 1,768 kg (R11) were accidentally emitted from the West Wits operations.

EN20: NOx, SOx and other air emissions by type and weight.

* Reported as µg/m³ (average)

EN22: Total waste by weight, type and disposal method.

View Hazardous waste 2010 data tables

View Non-hazardous waste 2010 data tables

EN26: Initiatives to mitigate environmental impacts of products and extent of impact mitigation.

This core indicator is categorised under the GRI aspect of products and services.

Our primary product is gold, which is chemically inert. Gold is used as a store of financial value by banks and investors, in the manufacture of jewellery and in several industrial applications. It is infinitely recyclable. It has little to no direct impacts. However, there are impacts related to the production of gold. To mitigate and manage these impacts, we maintain a group environmental policy which is given effect through site-based environmental management systems that are certified to the ISO 14001 standard. More detail on our approach to environmental management issues can be found on pages 46 to 52 of the group-level report.

EN27: Percentage of products sold and their packaging materials that are reclaimed.

Our products are not sold with packaging. Our primary product, gold, being a precious metal, is infinitely recycled by the market.

EN28: Monetary value of significant fines and total number of non-monetary sanctions for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

None that exceed the threshold stipulated under GRI Indicator SO8 of this report.

MM2: The number/percentage of sites identified as requiring biodiversity management plans according to stated criteria, and the number/percentage of sites with plans in place.*

* Partial response to GRI Mining and Metals Sector Supplement indicators coming into effect from January 2012.

AngloGold Ashanti is developing a biodiversity standard which will be finalised during 2011. It is based on ICMM’s Good Practice Guidance on Mining and Biodiversity, and has been subjected to internal and external peer review. The company does not currently require the development of stand-alone biodiversity management plans but rather requires that biodiversity is considered as part of the ISO 14001 process, with the site’s significant environmental aspects being identified and management plans developed to address these. Through this process, the need for biodiversity action plans is determined locally. Management plans address both regulatory and interested and affected parties’ requirements.

MM3: The approach to the management of overburden, rock, tailings, and sludges, residues, including assessment of risks, structural stability of storage facilities, metal leaching potential, and hazardous properties.*

* Partial response to GRI Mining and Metals Sector Supplement indicators coming into effect from January 2012.

The information given below represents a partial response to MM3, a GRI Mining and Metals Sector Supplement indicator which calls for the company to identify the total amounts of overburden, rock, tailings and sludges and their associated risks. This indicator becomes reportable only from January 2012.

Various waste materials are produced during the mining cycle. Internal Tailings and Heap Leach Management Frameworks set the standard as well as provide guidance to which tailings and heap leach facilities must be constructed and operated. Internal geotechnical engineers are responsible for ensuring the structural stability of tailings, heap leach facilities and waste rock dumps.

During the design phase, appropriate handling and placement considerations have to be factored into the project design to ensure satisfactory protection of the environment and the safety of neighbouring communities. Risk assessments, environmental impact assessments, stakeholder engagement processes and other studies are used to identify appropriate mitigation measures and controls.

During the operational phase, monitoring and audit processes are used to establish trends, identify emerging issues and to ensure conformance to the defined standard operating procedures and operating licence requirements for these various facilities, for example stability assessments, water quality monitoring, hydrogeological and geochemical modelling etc., are carried out to monitor the effectiveness of the design and controls.

Closure considerations are generally defined at the design phase, continually revised throughout and finalised during the operational phase. These controls are then implemented during the closure phase (with appropriate post-closure monitoring).