AngloGold Ashanti aims to be proactive and transparent in our work to identify and minimise the current and future climate risks to our operations and business and to chart a pathway to net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Coinciding with the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow and together with members of the ICMM, which represents about a third of the global mining and metals industry, we re-committed to a goal of net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 2050. This supports the Paris Agreement’s objectives to limit the increase in global average temperature to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
In 2020, our newly established Climate Change Working Group initiated work to update our climate change response, and in late 2021 we published our first TCFD-aligned Climate Change Report which frames our refreshed Climate Change Strategy.
The Climate Change Strategy, approved by the board in November 2021, seeks to embed the management of physical risks, transition climate risks, and climate change-related opportunities into our strategic and operational planning processes.
Our climate work is further underpinned by a framework that aims to improve our climate maturity along four pillars, aligned to the TCFD themes, namely governance, strategy, risk management, and climate metrics and targets. The Climate Change Report summarises our climate actions to date, including the key initiatives taken since 2008, which contributed to the ~48% reduction in our portfolio’s absolute GHG emissions by the end of 2020. It also discusses the carbon pricing transition risk work completed for each of our operations, and provides a summary of the physical climate risks for each operational mine and major projectsal mine and major projects.
The year saw the development of baseline energy and carbon emissions models for the 2022 Level 1 life of mine plans. This required each site to map out and quantify the individual energy inputs needed to deliver on the business plans for each operational mine, up to 2030. It further enabled forecasting baseline carbon emissions and testing the potential effects of energy efficiency and energy switching initiatives for individual operations, and the Company as whole. Extension of the model to beyond 2030, reflecting Level 2 and Level 3 life of mine plans, permits longer-term emissions forecasting, and building a pathway to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
During 2021, Promethium Carbon undertook a comprehensive estimate of our Scope 3 GHG emissions on an operated asset basis. Approximately 92% of the estimated ~808kt of Scope 3 GHG emissions were attributed to just two of the 15 GHG Protocol Categories; Purchased Goods and Services and Fuel and Energy Related activities. Reducing Scope 3 GHG emissions, which comprises approximately ~37% of our total 2021 GHG emissions, requires a collective effort with value chain partners and this first comprehensive assessment provides a useful foundation for further action.
The year in review was our first full 12-month period without our former South African operations and saw our absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions drop to 1.38MT, a 41% reduction, compared to 2020 and ~69% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions compared to our baseline year in 2007. Comparatively, our 2021 direct and indirect energy consumption was only 14% lower than in 2020. The carbon intensity of our energy mix, a new metric we are tracking relative to a basket of peers and one which measures how clean our energy mix is, has been reduced to ~63 Kilograms of CO2e emitted per GJ of energy, which, compared to 2020, is a 31% improvement. Find further detail on our climate performance in the Climate Change Report 20/21.
Climate change is one of the critical global challenges of our time, with the potential for significant impact on the world’s economic and financial systems.
Prioritised SDG
OUR PERFORMANCE
DATA TABLES
Indicator | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Energy consumption (Petajoules) | |||||
Group (including sold assets)* | 22.04 | 25.57 | 26.32 | 25.38 | 29.76 |
Group (excluding sold assets)* | 22.04 | 21 | 20.69 | 18.91 | 18.16 |
Argentina | 1.76 | 1.56 | 1.86 | 1.87 | 1.90 |
Cerro Vanguardia | 1.76 | 1.56 | 1.86 | 1.87 | 1.90 |
Australia | 8.13 | 7.77 | 7.68 | 6.72 | 6.32 |
Sunrise Dam | 3.10 | 2.79 | 2.67 | 2.49 | 2.18 |
Tropicana | 5.03 | 4.97 | 5.01 | 4.23 | 4.14 |
Brazil | 2.71 | 2.61 | 2.45 | 2.26 | 2.33 |
AGA Mineração | 2.01 | 1.98 | 1.83 | 1.72 | 1.77 |
Serra Grande | 0.70 | 0.62 | 0.62 | 0.54 | 0.56 |
Ghana | 2.55 | 2.45 | 1.99 | 1.84 | 1.72 |
Iduapriem | 1.56 | 1.43 | 1.41 | 1.58 | 1.46 |
Obuasi | 0.99 | 1.02 | 0.58 | 0.26 | 0.26 |
Guinea | 3.45 | 3.28 | 3.02 | 2.29 | 2.40 |
Siguiri | 3.45 | 3.28 | 3.02 | 2.29 | 2.40 |
Mali | 0 | 1.22 | 1.23 | 1.31 | 1.55 |
Sadiola | 0 | 1.22 | 1.23 | 1.31 | 1.55 |
Yatela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
South Africa | 0 | 3.35 | 4.40 | 5.17 | 10.05 |
Mine Waste Solutions | 0 | 0.67 | 0.82 | 0.87 | 0.83 |
Vaal River | 0 | 0.37 | 0.60 | 1.20 | 4.61 |
West Wits | 0 | 2.31 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 4.61 |
Tanzania | 3.44 | 3.34 | 3.69 | 3.92 | 3.49 |
Geita | 3.44 | 3.34 | 3.69 | 3.92 | 3.49 |
Energy intensity (Gigajoule per metric tonne treated) | |||||
Group (including sold assets)* | 0.50 | 0.37 | 0.33 | 0.32 | 0.35 |
Group (excluding sold assets)* | 0.50 | 0.49 | 0.51 | 0.47 | 0.44 |
Argentina | 0.60 | 0.69 | 0.64 | 0.65 | 0.58 |
Cerro Vanguardia | 0.60 | 0.69 | 0.64 | 0.65 | 0.58 |
Australia | 0.61 | 0.60 | 0.60 | 0.57 | 0.54 |
Sunrise Dam | 0.77 | 0.69 | 0.65 | 0.62 | 0.54 |
Tropicana | 0.55 | 0.56 | 0.58 | 0.54 | 0.54 |
Brazil | 0.55 | 0.49 | 0.54 | 0.55 | 0.53 |
AGA Mineração | 0.54 | 0.52 | 0.57 | 0.58 | 0.59 |
Serra Grande | 0.56 | 0.41 | 0.47 | 0.47 | 0.39 |
Ghana | 0.42 | 0.44 | 0.28 | 0.30 | 0.29 |
Iduapriem | 0.28 | 0.29 | 0.28 | 0.30 | 0.29 |
Obuasi | 1.90 | 1.66 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Guinea | 0.30 | 0.29 | 0.29 | 0.22 | 0.21 |
Siguiri | 0.30 | 0.29 | 0.29 | 0.22 | 0.21 |
Mali | 0 | 0.33 | 0.26 | 0.25 | 0.31 |
Sadiola | 0 | 0.33 | 0.26 | 0.25 | 0.31 |
South Africa | 0 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.26 |
Mine Waste Solutions | 0 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
Vaal River | 0 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.29 | 0.58 |
West Wits | 0 | 0.67 | 0.63 | 0.66 | 1 |
Tanzania | 0.63 | 0.62 | 0.71 | 0.73 | 0.65 |
Geita | 0.63 | 0.62 | 0.71 | 0.73 | 0.65 |
GHG emissions (Kilotonnes of GHG) | |||||
Group (including sold assets)* | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Group (excluding sold assets)* | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Argentina | 96 | 83 | 101 | 102 | 106 |
Cerro Vanguardia | 96 | 83 | 101 | 102 | 106 |
Australia | 475 | 451 | 449 | 395 | 372 |
Sunrise Dam | 175 | 154 | 146 | 140 | 122 |
Tropicana | 300 | 297 | 303 | 255 | 250 |
Brazil | 111 | 83 | 76 | 66 | 76 |
AGA Mineração | 77 | 59 | 52 | 45 | 52 |
Serra Grande | 35 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 24 |
Ghana | 230 | 238 | 185 | 165 | 160 |
Iduapriem | 128 | 126 | 121 | 134 | 124 |
Obuasi | 102 | 112 | 64 | 31 | 36 |
Guinea | 234 | 222 | 205 | 156 | 163 |
Siguiri | 234 | 222 | 205 | 156 | 163 |
Mali | 0 | 83 | 84 | 89 | 106 |
Sadiola | 0 | 83 | 84 | 89 | 106 |
Yatela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
South Africa | 0 | 950 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Mine Waste Solutions | 0 | 177 | 210 | 210 | 201 |
Vaal River | 0 | 109 | 173 | 317 | 1 |
West Wits | 0 | 664 | 835 | 805 | 1 |
Tanzania | 234 | 227 | 251 | 266 | 238 |
Geita | 234 | 227 | 251 | 266 | 238 |
GHG emissions intensity (Kilograms of GHG per tonne treated) | |||||
Group (including sold assets)* | 31 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 46 |
Group (excluding sold assets)* | 31 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 27 |
Argentina | 33 | 37 | 35 | 35 | 32 |
Cerro Vanguardia | 33 | 37 | 35 | 35 | 32 |
Australia | 36 | 35 | 35 | 33 | 32 |
Sunrise Dam | 43 | 38 | 36 | 35 | 30 |
Tropicana | 33 | 34 | 35 | 33 | 33 |
Brazil | 23 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
AGA Mineração | 21 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 |
Serra Grande | 28 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Ghana | 38 | 42 | 24 | 31 | 32 |
Iduapriem | 23 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
Obuasi | 196 | 183 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Guinea | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 14 |
Siguiri | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 14 |
Mali | 0 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 21 |
Sadiola | 0 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 21 |
South Africa | 0 | 40 | 35 | 38 | 70 |
Mine Waste Solutions | 0 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Vaal River | 0 | 47 | 45 | 78 | 156 |
West Wits | 0 | 194 | 176 | 171 | 280 |
Tanzania | 43 | 42 | 48 | 50 | 44 |
Geita | 43 | 42 | 48 | 50 | 44 |
Indirect Energy (Petajoules) | |||||
Group Indirect Energy (including sold assets)* | 2.52 | 5.99 | 6.48 | 6.85 | 11.35 |
Group Indirect Energy (excluding sold assets)* | 2.52 | 2.74 | 2.21 | 1.88 | 1.84 |
Obuasi | 0.81 | 0.79 | 0.45 | 0.24 | 0.25 |
Iduapriem | 0.51 | 0.53 | 0.48 | 0.50 | 0.45 |
AGA Brazil (Mineracao) | 0.82 | 1.05 | 0.91 | 0.80 | 0.81 |
Serra Grande | 0.39 | 0.37 | 0.37 | 0.34 | 0.33 |
Vaal River | 0 | 0.37 | 0.60 | 1.17 | 4.26 |
West Wits | 0 | 2.30 | 2.96 | 3.06 | 4.58 |
Mine Waste Solutions | 0 | 0.58 | 0.70 | 0.74 | 0.66 |
Direct Energy (Petajoules) | |||||
Group Direct Energy (including sold assets)* | 19.52 | 19.58 | 19.85 | 18.54 | 18.42 |
Group Direct Energy (excluding sold assets)* | 19.52 | 19.48 | 19.71 | 18.34 | 17.87 |
Sadiola | 0 | 1.22 | 1.23 | 1.31 | 1.55 |
Obuasi | 0.19 | 0.22 | 0.13 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
Iduapriem | 1.05 | 0.91 | 0.93 | 1.08 | 1 |
Siguiri | 3.45 | 3.28 | 3.02 | 2.29 | 2.40 |
Geita | 3.44 | 3.34 | 3.69 | 3.92 | 3.49 |
Sunrise Dam | 3.10 | 2.79 | 2.67 | 2.49 | 2.18 |
Tropicana | 5.03 | 4.97 | 5.01 | 4.23 | 4.14 |
AGA Brazil (Mineracao) | 1.20 | 0.94 | 0.92 | 0.92 | 0.96 |
Serra Grande | 0.30 | 0.25 | 0.24 | 0.21 | 0.23 |
Cerro Vanguardia | 1.76 | 1.56 | 1.86 | 1.87 | 1.90 |
Vaal River | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.03 | 0.35 |
West Wits (Input) | 0 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.04 | 0.03 |
Mine Waste Solutions | 0 | 0.09 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.16 |
Indirect GHG Emissions (Kilotonnes of GHG) | |||||
Group Indirect GHG Emissions (including sold assets)* | 189 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Group Indirect GHG Emissions (excluding sold assets)* | 189 | 181 | 135 | 110 | 114 |
Obuasi | 90 | 97 | 55 | 29 | 35 |
Iduapriem | 56 | 64 | 58 | 61 | 55 |
AGA Brazil (Mineracao) | 29 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 |
Serra Grande | 14 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 |
Vaal River | 0 | 109 | 173 | 315 | 1 |
West Wits | 0 | 663 | 828 | 800 | 1 |
Mine Waste Solutions | 0 | 171 | 201 | 200 | 186 |
Direct GHG Emissions (Kilotonnes of GHG) | |||||
Group Direct GHG Emissions (including sold assets)* | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Group Direct GHG Emissions (excluding sold assets)* | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Sadiola | 0 | 83 | 84 | 89 | 106 |
Obuasi | 13 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
Iduapriem | 72 | 62 | 63 | 73 | 68 |
Siguiri | 234 | 222 | 205 | 156 | 163 |
Geita | 234 | 227 | 251 | 266 | 238 |
Sunrise Dam | 175 | 154 | 146 | 140 | 122 |
Tropicana | 300 | 297 | 303 | 255 | 250 |
AGA Brazil (Mineracao) | 48 | 46 | 38 | 32 | 36 |
Serra Grande | 21 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 |
Cerro Vanguardia | 96 | 83 | 101 | 102 | 106 |
Vaal River | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 46 |
West Wits (Input) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 40 |
Mine Waste Solutions | 0 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 14 |
NOx, SOx (tonnes) | |||||
Oxides of Nitrogen | 4 968 | 5 118 | 4 862 | 4 624 | 28 184 |
Oxides of Sulphur | 174 | 134 | 143 | 117 | 170 |
Renewable & Non-Renewable Energy (PJ)
2021 | |
---|---|
Non-Renewable (PJ) | |
Mixed Source Grid | 2.52 |
Non-Renewable (Fossil fuels) | 19.03 |
Renewable (PJ) | |
Renewable – Hydropower | 0.49 |
Scope 3 Emissions (t CO2e)
2021 | |
---|---|
1: Purchased Goods and Services | 479 681 |
2: Capital Goods | 384 |
3: Fuel and Energy Related activities | 260 532 |
4: Upstream Transportation and Distribution | 29 493 |
5: Waste Generated in Operations | 4 567 |
6: Business Travel | 1 453 |
7: Employee Commuting | 23 141 |
8. Upstream Leased Assets | N/A |
9: Downstream Transportation and Distribution | 8 033 |
10: Processing of Sold Products | 689 |
11. Use of Sold Products | N/A |
12. End of Life Treatment of Sold Products | N/A |
13. Downstream Leased Assets | N/A |
14. Franchises | N/A |
15. Investments | N/A |
Estimated Group Total | 807 973 |
Scope 3 Emission categories 8 and 11-15, are not applicable to AGA’s operations.
Indicator | 2021 | |
---|---|---|
Financial implications and opportunities due to climate change | 0.00 | Climate change poses risks and opportunities to AngloGold Ashanti and consideration of these factors influences business-planning processes. Regulatory responses to climate change in the form of carbon pricing and budgeting are increasingly being considered in the jurisdictions in which we operate and as more participating countries ratify the 2015 Paris Agreement. See our 2020/21 Climate Change report for more information on approach to manage climate risks and opportunities. The Australian Commonwealth Government has introduced the Safeguard Mechanism (Rule 2015) to provide a framework for Australia’s largest emitters to measure, report and manage their emissions. It does this by encouraging large facilities, whose net emissions exceed the safeguard threshold, to keep their emissions at or below emissions baselines set by the Clean Energy Regulator. The safeguard mechanism applies to facilities with Scope 1 emissions of more than 100,000 tonnes of CO2-e per financial year. Over 2020, the Australian mining operations re-calculated their respective emissions baselines to comply with the changes in legislation and remained within these baseline limits during the 2021 calendar year. |