Production at Anglo American’s Sishen and Kolomela mines—which are part of its Kumba iron ore project in South Africa—will decline this year because their workforces have been halved.
The mines will operate with 50pc of their respective personnel as part of a 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed by the country’s government. Using estimates based on a safe ramp up, the company said its 2020 iron ore production guidance for the project will decrease by 2-3mt.
Anglo American’s rail and logistics support infrastructure, which it uses for both mines and thermal coal operations it has in the country, will continue unencumbered. Moreover, its supply chain planning team will monitor and address any issues that arise during the lockdown.
The company announced it was complying with the Peruvian government’s extension of the national quarantine to April 12 by withdrawing all employees from its Quellaveco copper project and significantly reducing construction activity at the mine.