Our managed subsidiary, Anglo Platinum, is the world's largest primary producer of platinum, accounting for about 40% of world supply.
The new Boschoek conveyor and silo system at Boschfontein West part of the UG2 Expansion project at Rustenburg section
It mines, processes, refines and markets the entire range of platinum group metals (PGMs) including platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. Base metals such as nickel, copper and cobalt sulphate are by-products and are significant contributors to earnings.
Operations
Anglo's platinum operations exploit the world's richest reserve of PGMs, known as the Bushveld Complex, which contains the PGM - bearing Merensky, UG2 and Platreef ores.
It currently owns:
- nine wholly-owned mines
- a tailings retreatment operation
- three smelters
- a base metals refinery
- a precious metals refinery
Each mine operates its own concentrator facilities, sending the output to Rustenburg Platinum Mines metallurgical facilities for smelting and refining.
Anglo Platinum's largest mines were restructured into more efficient, stand-alone units to ensure a sustainable reduction in the unit cost of production and to extract maximum value from the assets employed. Rustenburg Section was divided into five new mines – Khomanani, Bathopele, Siphumelele, Thembelani and Khuseleka – while Amandelbult Section was split into the Tumela and Dishaba mines.
Anglo Platinum also owns 85% of a tenth mine and has four joint ventures and two pooling and sharing arrangements including Bafokeng – Rasimone Platinum Mines (BPRM) and Styldrift properties, Mototolo, Modikwa, Kroondal and Marikana.
Strategy
Anglo Platinum's strategy is to develop the market for PGMs and expand production while conducting businesses safely, cost effectively and competitively. Anglo Platinum invests in research and development into new uses for PGMs, working with partners and customers including Johnson Matthey plc and global development campaigns for jewellery through the Platinum Guild International.
Growth
In response to the unprecedented rapid decline in PGM prices in the second half of 2008 and 2009, Anglo Platinum implemented a number of initiatives to reduce costs and improve operational productivity and also undertook a critical examination of capital expenditure.
Project capital spend is now directly related to Anglo Platinum's long term ounce requirements and the reduction in the rate of spend resulted in a number of projects being delayed.
Anglo Platinum is involved in developing mining activity for PGMs on the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe, the second largest known repository of platinum after the Bushveld Complex. Development and exploration work is focused on new projects in the area, including Unki, as well as establishing extensions to the resource base for future projects.
