CHAMWE KAIRA
Anglo American plc, which owns De Beers said in its Report on Payments to Governments for the year ended 31 December 2023, that the number of employees in Namibia dropped to 1500 from 1600 during the previous year.
In Namibia, De Beers operates via a 50:50 joint operations with the Namibian government, recovering both land-based diamonds (Namdeb) and offshore diamonds (Debmarine Namibia).
Total procurement in Namibia reached US$287 million compared to US$300 million in 2022. Of this amount US$162 million was spent on local procurement. Capital expenditure reached US$43 million in 2023 compared to US$45 million in 2022.
The report said that total tax and economic contribution was US$611 million in 2023 compared to US$ 636 million in 2022.
In terms taxes and royalties borne, Anglo American paid US$144 million in 2023 compared to US$113 million in 2022.
In terms of wages and related payments in Namibia, the company said it paid US$85 million in 2023 compared to US$90 million in 2022. Anglo American said it spent US$4 million on community and social investments in 2023.
Chief Executive, Duncan Wanblad said the macro picture across geopolitics and the global economy has been volatile and we experienced prolonged cost inflation combined with cyclical lows in its Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) and diamond businesses.
He said the business challenges, the company experienced in 2023 will, to some extent, feed through into our tax and economic contribution data; however, it is important to note that the impact is not linear and to recognise the enduring and significant tax and economic contribution we continue to make throughout both the commodity cycle and the life of its mines.
“Ours is a long term business and we are committed to being the partner of choice for local communities and host governments. We will continue to contribute to and support socio-economic development in line with its sustainable mining plan throughout the lifecycle of its mines and throughout the economic cycles.”
Anglo American’s commitment to safety and sustainable mining practices, including a commitment to be carbon neutral across its operations by 2040 and an ambition to halve its scope 3 emissions by the same date, the company has much to offer all its stakeholders.
The company says it provides many of the essential metals and minerals that are fundamental to the transition to a low carbon economy and enabling a cleaner, greener, more sustainable world, as well as meeting the growing consumer-driven demands of the world’s developed and maturing economies, from homes and electronics to food and luxuries.
