... "Anglo American has been a supporter of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (E.I.T.I) since its inception and is pleased to be currently represented on the EITI Board via our membership of the ICMM. This reflects our belief that to build trust and a sustainable license to operate, we need to have open and inclusive conversations about the cost-benefits of mining. We remain committed to the multi-stakeholder group approach that lies at the heart of the EITI accountability process and aim to replicate this approach everywhere we operate.

In line with this, we publish an annual Tax and Economic Contribution Report which details our payments to governments of the countries in which we mine and operate, irrespective of whether they are EITI signatories. This year we will be bringing this out earlier than in the past to time with our 2021 full annual results in February so the two can be seen together. We are pleased that we score highly in the recent review of EITI Board members’ performance against expectations but recognise there is always more we and others can do. We support the idea that like other constituencies we should be held to account against those expectations, while recognising that not every company will start from the same place.

On the specific questions set out in the letter about how those expectations should be enforced, we are conscious that this is currently being discussed within the EITI alongside a review of the expectations themselves. It is only right that this process is internal for now. We strongly hope however that this will be agreed and settled at the upcoming Board meeting on 16-17 February 2022. ..."