COVID-19 | Anglo American

Australia

In Australia, where the resource sector has been deemed an essential service and continues to operate, we are working closely with government authorities, industry and community organisations to take a coordinated approach to reducing the spread of COVID-19 and keep the communities where we operate safe.

All our mine sites and offices have extensive measures and social distancing protocols in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and maintain safe operations
We are implementing proactive identification of vulnerable people and giving clear advice not to come to work with cold or flu symptoms
We are surveying employees, including temperature checking at the mine gate, and continuing active management of employees and contractors who have travelled
We are carrying out site risk assessments leading to a range of site-based measures
We are supporting vulnerable groups through our grants programme and helping with critical supplies to regions
We are reducing commuter workforce movements through our communities by stopping non-essential travel to our sites and relocating some people to live locally
We are switching from commercial to charter flights for our workforce to ensure social distancing and hygiene measures are complied with and to further reduce interaction with the public

Botswana

In Botswana, diamonds in general, and the Government’s partnership with De Beers in particular, have played a central role in the country’s socio-economic development. The Debswana (50:50 JV between the Government and De Beers) mines in the country, and the medical facilities that the business has established around them, are providing vital support to Botswana’s medical preparations in relation to COVID-19.

We have made facilities available to be utilised by Government health authorities as treatment/isolation centres
We have made two ambulances available to support wider healthcare efforts in the country
We have compiled databases of retired medical personnel from Jwaneng and Orapa Hospitals for Government health authorities
We have been collaborating with District Health response teams to jointly identify and support vulnerable households
The local government has been provided with financial support to assist with procurement of supplies, as well as donating much needed items such as sanitiser

Brazil

In Brazil, we have purchased respirators and PPE equipment, totalling over $1 million, which are being donated to the healthcare systems in the states and municipalities where our operations are located. The resource sector continues to operate.

Ventilators are currently being assembled for delivery to nine municipalities in three states (Minas Gerais, Goiás and Rio de Janeiro) during the course of next week (6 April)
We have been participating in various municipal crisis response committees, offering our support in emergency response and crisis management as appropriate
We are also providing educational materials on prevention and response to the municipalities, funding informative campaigns on local radio stations and on social media
Administrative employees, interns, elderly people, people with medical conditions or who live with people from risk groups are working from home
There are sanitation and distance measures in force between employees in work stations, cafeterias, meetings and any other potential points of contact
Communications to our communities and employees on prevention, working from home and mental health are being issued regularly
We are offering remote communication and collaboration tools

Canada

In Canada, De Beers’ Gahcho Kué mine is located in a remote northern area where smaller communities provide a significant proportion of the workforce.

De Beers has engaged with IBA partners to ensure that employees from communities that are especially vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19 are able to isolate themselves and avoid the risk of bringing an infection back to the community
Shift patterns for workers at the Gahcho Kué mine have been adapted to minimise the amount of travel required
Gahcho Kué mine has provided funding to each IBA community to purchase food hampers for at-risk community members

Chile

In Chile, we have set up an emergency fund that will support the supply of key medical and other items, as well as stimulate local economic recovery once the pandemic eases. Our efforts are focused in the Metropolitan and Valparaíso regions, where our operations are located. The resource sector continues to operate.

We are planning to implement a series of initiatives that seek to support the vital economic recovery phase for our local communities
We have put in place measures to support the contractors and suppliers to our operations
In the north of Chile, the Collahuasi mine in which Anglo American owns a 44% interest has donated a state of the art COVID-19 testing machine, which generate results in four hours, to its local Tarapacá Health Service
Our main office in Santiago is almost 100% working from home
We have reduced the number of workforce and contractors on-site, assuring application of sanitary measures and also business continuity
We have organised delivery of sanitary implements for every worker attending operations

Nambia

In Namibia, Namdeb Holdings (50:50 JV between the Government and De Beers) plays a key role both nationally and in local communities surrounding diamond recovery areas. Namdeb Holdings and the Debmarine Namibia-Namdeb Foundation have already put in place a range of support both nationally and at a local level in support of the country’s response to COVID-19.

Facilities have been made available to be utilised by Government health authorities as treatment/isolation centres
The Debmarine Namibia–Namdeb Foundation has ordered 30 ventilators and vital signs monitors for local hospitals, mainly in Windhoek and Oranjemund
The Debmarine Namibia–Namdeb Foundation is co-funding a sanitation programme in Windhoek’s informal settlement where households are at high risk due to lack of sanitation services and inability to self-isolate
In the town of Oranjemund, Namdeb has provided specific support including the provision of isolation facilities, the purchase of a testing machine (with a commitment that residents without medical aid will be tested for free), personal protective equipment (PPE) for Oranjemund Town Council employees and financial support for the publication of local COVID-19 education material. Isolation facilities have also been provided in the town of Luderitz

Peru

In Peru, a national quarantine is in place until 12 April and all but critical work on our Quellaveco copper project is suspended. We are supporting emergency efforts in the country and in the area local to our project to combat COVID-19 by providing much needed food, protective equipment, testing kits, transport and intensive care facilities including:

12,000 non-perishable food packages plus 3,000 packages with agricultural products distributed to families in various districts and provinces in Moquegua, where the Quellaveco project is located
4,350 meal packs a day to health employees and volunteers, the army and police
500,000 COVID-19 quick testing kits in partnership with the National Mining Society’s initiative
10,000 protection masks and pairs of gloves for police and army forces
车辆to help transport health personnel
6 intensive care bed stations, with all required equipment, including ventilators

In the UK, we have made available 13 apartments in our St Andrews House building, which forms part of the Group’s new London headquarters, for NHS staff working at the nearby St Bart’s Hospital over the next three months.

Our De Beers operation in Maidenhead has converted its 3D printers from developing parts for synthetic detection machines, to instead making headbands for the face shields that form part of the PPE being worn by healthcare staff
At our Woodsmith Project, we are currently exploring any ways in which we can further support a number of existing local initiatives
Only essential site workers are in the office, everyone is else working from home