Diversified major Anglo American has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with one of China’s biggest copper producers, Jiangxi Copper, to collaborate on responsible copper mining – from extraction to market.

The agreement was signed during a visit to Jiangxi Copper's headquarters in Nanchang, China, and is part of Anglo American's work with customers to create sustainable value chains beyond its own mining operations, recognising consumers' increasing expectations for sustainably sourced and supplied raw materials.

“We are developing a series of partnerships to shape a more sustainable and customer-centric value chain - one that meets consumer-driven demand for copper with demonstrably strong provenance credentials. That value chain begins with our portfolio of high-quality and long-life assets, now also including our world-class Quellaveco mine, in Peru, which began production in 2022,” said Anglo American Marketing CEO Peter Whitcutt.

China is the world's biggest copper-consuming nation, representing more than half of global demand for refined copper, fuelled by traditional applications in construction, appliances and machinery as well as the fast-growing renewable energy and electric vehicle sectors, with copper expected to play a pivotal role in enabling the country's own decarbonisation progress.

"As one of the world's largest copper producers, Jiangxi Copper is committed to green, sustainable and high-quality development. Through this cooperation with Anglo American, we will focus on advanced technologies and innovative applications of mining, processing and smelting, and promote the development of a sustainable and responsible copper supply chain with a focus on renewable energy utilisation, energy conservation and emission reduction", said Jiangxi Copper deputy general manager Chen Yunian.

Anglo American's managed copper operations in Chile - the Los Bronces and El Soldado mining operations and the Chagres smelter - were awarded the Copper Mark, the assurance standard for responsible production practices, in 2022.