With unprecedented success, whirlwind Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll has succeeded in securing new-order mining rights holus-bolus for virtually all of the diversified miner's South African operations.

The only remaining loose ends relate to Anglo Platinum's 50:50 joint venture (JV) partnerships with black economically empowered (BEE) mining companies Royal Bafokeng Resources and African Rainbow Minerals.

Those apart, Carroll - who is being referred to along some corridors of mining power as ‘Cyclone Cynthia' because of the gusto with which she tackles tough issues - has won rights for Anglo American's South African coal, ferrous metals, base metals and its other platinum businesses.

A Department of Minerals and Energy spokesperson explained that the submissions from the two 50:50 JVs in question were being finalised, which was why they were not being grouped with the Anglo Platinum rights that had been granted.

"Anglo Platinum has conversion of rights in everything but to those two specific transactions and we are working with our joint venture partners to complete those, and those completions are imminent," Carroll said.

"We are well ahead of our 2009 commitment in terms of BEE deals and we are on the road to completing our obligation for 2018 and beyond," Carroll told Mining Weekly Online.

Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica denounced companies that were stalling converting to new-order rights until the last minute, in view of review of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act and the Mining Charter.

"Anglo has gone this far and we definitely will be completing the process before the deadline is reached and that is I what I want to see happening with others," Sonjica said.

Though there were still pending issues that Anglo Platinum had to address with some of the BEE partners, she was confident that the remaining processes would be completed well ahead of the 2009 deadline.

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