Anglo anticipates continual production growth to 2022

18th January 2019 By: Marleny Arnoldi - Deputy Editor Online

Diversified miner Anglo American is targeting incremental yearly earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of between $3-billion and $4-billion by 2022.

CE Mark Cutifani said last month that the group had completely transformed the quality of its asset portfolio and its performance as a whole over the past five years.

The increase will come from a combination of meeting or surpassing industry best-practice equipment performance across the company’s operations, volume growth from existing and new operations – such as the Quellaveco copper project, in Peru – and the deployment of Anglo’s FutureSmart Mining technologies and digitalisation.

“It is these technologies that will transform how we mine, process and market our products, providing the next step change in our performance.”

Meanwhile, Anglo expects production for 2018 to be 2% above previous guidance and costs about 5% below previous guidance. The company anticipates production to increase by 3% in 2019, with cost inflation fully absorbed by its productivity and cost improvements.

Subsequently, Anglo expects a 5% production increase in both 2020 and 2021.

The group has managed to reduce its net debt by more than $9-billion over the past three years and it paid almost $2-billion in dividends to shareholders in the past 18 months.

Anglo has reported that the group is well positioned to drive enhanced returns through its capital allocation options, maintaining a strong balance sheet, while delivering attractive shareholder returns, and value-adding, disciplined growth.

“Anglo’s portfolio spans the products and product qualities that will supply the needs of a cleaner, more electrified and richer world. We have a well sequenced range of high-returning, quick-payback growth options – from life extensions in diamonds and metallurgical coal to growth across our copper, diamonds and metallurgical coal businesses, in particular.

“Combined with our multistakeholder focus to create a truly sustainable business, we believe we are set to keep delivering on all fronts.”