The Water-Mining Nexus
Water is the lifeblood of communities, ecosystems, and economies. It is also essential to mining operations, used in mineral processing, dust suppression, equipment cooling, and a host of other critical functions. Yet many of the world's most important mineral deposits are located in water-scarce regions, creating inherent tension between mining water requirements and the needs of surrounding communities and ecosystems. At Anglo American, we believe that addressing this tension is not optional β it is a fundamental prerequisite for responsible mining.
Our water stewardship strategy is built on the conviction that mining can and must operate within the ecological limits of the watersheds where we are present. This means not only reducing our own water consumption but actively contributing to the health and resilience of the water systems upon which our operations and host communities depend.
Our Water Targets and Performance
Anglo American has set ambitious, time-bound water targets that drive accountability across our global operations:
- 50% reduction in freshwater abstraction by 2030: Against a 2015 baseline, we are targeting a 50% reduction in the volume of freshwater we withdraw from natural sources. This target applies across all operations globally and is tracked through our integrated performance management system.
- Zero discharge of untreated water: All water discharged from our operations must meet or exceed local regulatory standards. In many cases, water leaving our sites is cleaner than when it entered, thanks to advanced treatment technologies.
- Net positive water impact: In water-stressed catchments, we aim to achieve a net positive water impact by returning more water to the environment than we consume. This ambitious target requires innovation in water recycling, alternative water sourcing, and catchment rehabilitation.
Innovation in Water Management
Technology and innovation are central to our water stewardship approach. Through our FutureSmart Miningβ’ programme, we are developing and deploying transformative water management technologies:
Coarse Particle Recovery
Our breakthrough coarse particle recovery technology enables us to process ore at a significantly coarser grind than conventional methods. This fundamental shift in mineral processing reduces water consumption by up to 85% at pilot-scale operations, while simultaneously reducing energy consumption. The technology has been successfully demonstrated at our El Soldado copper operation in Chile and is being scaled for deployment across our portfolio.
Desalination and Alternative Water Sources
In Chile's Atacama Desert β one of the driest places on Earth β our operations increasingly rely on desalinated seawater rather than scarce freshwater resources. We have invested in desalination capacity and pipeline infrastructure that transports treated seawater to our operations, preserving freshwater for agricultural and community use. This approach has reduced our freshwater dependency in Chile by over 40% since 2018.
Advanced Water Recycling
Across our global operations, we are implementing closed-loop water recycling systems that capture, treat, and reuse process water multiple times before it is ultimately discharged. At our Mogalakwena platinum mine in South Africa, water recycling rates exceed 75%, significantly reducing our freshwater requirements and minimising the volume of water discharged to the environment.
Biodiversity and Catchment Health
Water stewardship extends beyond our operational boundaries. Anglo American invests in catchment-scale conservation and restoration programmes that protect the ecological health of the watersheds where we operate:
- Wetland rehabilitation: In the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, we have rehabilitated over 2,000 hectares of wetland habitat that was degraded by historical mining and agricultural activities. These restored wetlands provide critical ecosystem services, including water filtration, flood attenuation, and biodiversity habitat.
- Alien invasive species removal: Invasive plant species consume significant volumes of water and displace native vegetation. Our clearing programmes in South Africa have removed invasive species from over 5,000 hectares, freeing up water resources and restoring native habitats.
- Community water access: We have invested in community water infrastructure, including boreholes, water treatment facilities, and distribution networks, that provide clean, safe drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in our host communities.
Collaboration and Transparency
Effective water stewardship requires collaboration beyond corporate boundaries. Anglo American is an active member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Water Working Group and the CEO Water Mandate, contributing to the development of industry-wide water management standards and best practices. We report our water performance annually through the CDP Water Security questionnaire, where we have consistently achieved an A-list rating for our comprehensive approach to water risk management and disclosure.
We also engage directly with local water governance structures and community water committees to ensure that our water management decisions are informed by the needs and priorities of all water users within our catchments. This participatory approach to water governance reflects our belief that water is a shared resource that must be managed collaboratively.
Towards the Waterless Mine
Anglo American's ultimate ambition is to develop mining processes that require no freshwater at all. While this goal is technically challenging, progress in dry processing technologies, advanced water recycling, and alternative water sourcing gives us confidence that the waterless mine is achievable within the coming decades. By pursuing this ambitious vision, we are not only reducing our own environmental footprint but demonstrating to the industry that sustainable water management and world-class mining performance can coexist.