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Exxaro Resources Ltd
Annual Report 2020

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FY2020 Annual Report · Exxaro Resources Ltd
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Exxaro Resources Limited 

Integrated report 2020

POWERING A 
CLEAN WORLD

CONTENTS

ABOUT EXXARO
1 About Exxaro
2 About our integrated report
6 Our material matters

UNDERSTANDING OUR BUSINESS

10 Chairperson’s statement
12 Year in review
18 Business structure and ownership
20 Coal asset base
22 Renewable energy asset base
24 Our investment proposition
26 Governance for sustainable value creation
36 Our business model
38 Our material matters in action

POSITIONING THE BUSINESS FOR GROWTH
52 CEO’s report
54 Our strategy: Positioning Exxaro for sustainable growth 

and impact

56 Performance against our 2020 strategy
60 Understanding our key strategic trade-off considerations
62 Stakeholder management
66 Business risks and opportunities for growth
80 Combined assurance for effective governance

OUR PERFORMANCE IN 2020
84 Finance director’s overview
96 Operational performance
98 Macro-environment
104 Business resilience
108 Our people
114 Human rights
116 Social licence to operate: enabling our legitimacy
118 Our environment: stewardship and compliance

 122     OUR MINERAL RESOURCES AND 

MINERAL RESERVES

131 Glossary
IBC Administration

Navigating this report

We use the following icons throughout our report:

Read more online
www.exxaro.com

Read more in  
this report

COVID-19’s impact on 
our organisation

Material themes

CONNECT WITH EXXARO
We encourage and welcome feedback on our reporting suite from 
our stakeholders. Please send any comments or suggestions to: 

Malusi Buthelezi
Manager: Integrated reporting and ESG 

Tel: +27 12 307 3174 
Mobile: +27 83 460 3723
Email: Malusi.Buthelezi@exxaro.com 
www.exxaro.com

Follow Exxaro on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn 
and YouTube

 Disclaimer: Photographs of people without masks  
were either taken pre-COVID-19 or full health and safety 
protocols were followed as appropriate. With thanks to 
Stefanie De Beer, Line of Sight Photography for Cennergi’s 
windfarm photographs used in our integrated and ESG reports.

Macro-
environment

Business 
resilience

Our
people

Social 
licence to 
operate

Climate  
change

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning for 
growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

ABOUT EXXARO

Exxaro is more than a mining company. Guided by our purpose — 
powering better lives in Africa and beyond — we are a critical part of 
the South African economy and strive to be an active participant on 
the just transition to a low-carbon economy.  

Exxaro Resources Limited (Exxaro, the company or the group) is among the top five coal producers in South Africa. Since 2006, Exxaro has 
become one of South Africa’s largest and foremost black-empowered and diversified mining companies. 

The group is a constituent of the JSE Limited (JSE) Top 40 Index and among the top 30 in the FTSE/JSE Socially Responsible Investment 
Index. Exxaro is also proud to embrace the principles of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). 

Based on our position as a major coal supplier in South Africa, we understand the importance of being carbon-neutral and finally net zero 
carbon. Therefore, we have started incorporating renewable energy solutions into our existing portfolio to reach this milestone by 2050. To 
this end, Exxaro is pleased to announce the acquisition from Khopoli Investments Limited (Khopoli), wholly owned by Tata Power Company 
Limited (Tata), of Khopoli’s 50% interest in Cennergi Proprietary Limited (Cennergi) for a cash consideration of R1 739 million (including price 
adjustments). As of 1 April 2020, Exxaro assumed 100% ownership of Cennergi. 

  Read more about what this acquisition means for Exxaro on page 118. 

Our diversified asset portfolio comprises interests in renewable energy (wind) and thermal and metallurgical coal, and equity-accounted 
investments in iron ore, zinc and residual pigment manufacturing. Exxaro also has business interests globally in Europe (comprising a 
marketing and logistics office in Switzerland), the United States of America (USA) (through Tronox Holdings plc) which we disposed of in 
February 2021 and Australia (comprising a joint venture with Anglo Coal (Grosvenor Proprietary Limited) in the Moranbah coal mine).

Locations of our windfarm operations and coal operations and projects

SOUTH 
AFRICA

4

Grootegeluk

LIMPOPO

NORTH WEST

Leeuwpan

7

2

8

Tumelo

GAUTENG

5

MPUMALANGA

Mafube

6

1

Belfast

Dorstfontein

Matla

3

Forzando

FREE STATE

KWAZULU-
NATAL

EASTERN CAPE

Amakhala Emoyeni

Tsitsikamma Community

Mine

Windfarm

Mining operations:  
South Africa

Belfast

Location

South of Belfast

Dorstfontein complex (74%)

North-east of Kriel

Forzando complex (87%)

North of Bethal

Grootegeluk complex

West of Lephalale

1

2

3

4

5

Leeuwpan

6 Mafube (50%)

7

8

Matla

Tumelo (49%)

South-east of 
Delmas

East of Middelburg

West of Kriel

North-west of 
Hendrina

Asset 
type

Mine

Mine

Mine

Mine

Mine

Mine

Mine

Mine

Australia

Moranbah Project (50%)

Location

Queensland

Renewable Energy: South Africa 
(Cennergi)

Location

Eastern Cape

Amakhala Emoyeni windfarm

Tsitsikamma Community windfarm

Cookhouse

Tsitsikamma

AUSTRALIA

Moranbah

 Refer to page 20 for more information about our coal asset base and page 22 for our renewable energy operations. 

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  1

 
About Exxaro

ABOUT OUR INTEGRATED REPORT

Exxaro’s 2020 integrated report explains the year’s progress in 
our journey to create and preserve value for our stakeholders. 
As our primary communication to our stakeholders, we strive to 
ensure that the content in this integrated report contains the most 
material information relating to our value creation journey and 
shares our story transparently and understandably. 

SCOPE AND BOUNDARY
This report contains important information about our strategic decisions and operational performance for the period 1 January 2020 to 
31 December 2020 (the 2020 financial year). Our 2020 integrated report covers the financial and non-financial information of the group’s 
operations in South Africa, Europe, the USA and Australia. We include limited information of operations where we do not have management 
control but hold a significant equity interest, namely Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary Limited (SIOC), a subsidiary of Kumba Iron Ore 
Limited, or joint control, namely the Mafube mine and Moranbah project joint ventures. 
financial statements. 

 For more information, refer to our annual 

 The 2020 integrated report also includes a summary of the most material information in our 2020 climate change response strategy 
(CCRS) report, environmental, social and governance (ESG) report and Consolidated Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (CMRR) report, 
which can be accessed on our website under the investors tab. 

 Visit our website for historical information. 

OUR REPORTING BOUNDARY (risks, opportunities and outcomes)

Sustainable  
Growth and Impact 
strategy

(refer to page 54 

 )

Business model

(refer to page 36 

 )

Operational 
performance

(refer to page 96 

 )

Material matters

(refer to page 6, 

38 

 )

Business risks  
and opportunities  
for growth

(refer to page 66 

 )

Governance 

(refer to page 26 

 )

FINANCIAL REPORTING ENTITY (control and significant influence)

EXXARO

Joint arrangements

Subsidiaries

Investments

Government 
and regulators

Employees 
and labour

Communities

Investors

Customers

Suppliers

Other 
stakeholders

Reporting frameworks 
The content of this report is guided by:
 • Our materiality determination process (page 6) 
 • Companies Act, 2008 (Act 71 of 2008), as amended (Companies Act) 
 • International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
 • JSE Listings Requirements
 • Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) codes of good practice
 • Broad-based Socio-economic Empowerment Charter for the Mining and Minerals Industry 2018 (Mining Charter III)
 • International Integrated Reporting Council’s Integrated Reporting  Framework ( Framework)
 • United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) 
 • Global Reporting Initiative standards (elements of the ESG report are cross-referenced for a broader perspective)
 • King IV Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa, 2016 (King IVTM)*
 • The South African Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC Code), 2016 (SAMREC)

* Copyright and trademarks are owned by the Institute of Directors in South Africa NPC and all of its rights are reserved.

2  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Reporting suite 

 Exxaro is committed to transparent reporting, and as such, annually publishes a suite of reports (available on our website under the 

investors tab) that should be read in conjunction with this integrated report. These reports include:

Exxaro Resources Limited 

Environmental, social and  
governance report 2020

Exxaro Resources Limited 

Climate Change Response  
strategy report 202

Report on alignment with the  
recommendations of the Task Force on  
Climate-related Financial Disclosures

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Exxaro Resources Limited 

Consolidated Mineral Resources
and Mineral Reserves report 2020

Exxaro Resources Limited 

Tax report 2020

Exxaro Resources Limited 

Group and company annual financial 
statements for the year ended  
31 December 2020

Exxaro Resources Limited
Summarised group annual financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2020 and
notice of the annual general meeting 

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POWERING A 
CLEAN WORLD

POWERING A 
CLEAN WORLD

POWERING A 
CLEAN WORLD

POWERING A 
CLEAN WORLD

POWERING A 
CLEAN WORLD

POWERING A 
CLEAN WORLD

ESG report

CCRS report

CMRR report

Tax report

Group and company 
annual financial 
statements

Summarised AFS 
and notice of annual 
general meeting

Our sustainability framework: integrated thinking and the six capitals
Exxaro believes in sustainable value creation, enabled through carefully considering the relationship among the capitals we use and affect. 
We have integrated the six capitals into our business model and strategy, and continuously strive to positively contribute to and negate any 
adverse impacts on these capitals. We do this to ensure our sustained success and foster a more sustainable operating environment for Africa 
and beyond. We also aim to create and preserve value for our stakeholders and society at large, and prevent the erosion thereof. In this report, 
we share our progress in this regard and demonstrate our prospects. The six capitals we use and affect are:

Natural

Social and 
relationship

Manufactured

Human

Intellectual

Financial

 Refer to page 38 for more information on the linkage between the six capitals, matters of significance to the business, related risks, the 

United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our strategy and business model, and our engagement with stakeholders.

Board responsibility
Exxaro’s board of directors acknowledges its responsibility for ensuring the integrity of Exxaro’s reporting suite, including this integrated 
report. Our board believes this report addresses all Exxaro’s material matters and presents a balanced view of the group’s strategy and 
business model in relation to Exxaro’s ability to create and preserve value over the short, medium and long term, as defined by the capitals. 
As such, the board believes that this integrated report was prepared in accordance with the International  Framework. The integrated 
report, which remains the ultimate responsibility of the board, is prepared under the supervision of senior management, and subject to 
rigorous internal and external assurance reviews.

Jeffrey  
van Rooyen 

Independent 
chairperson

Mxolisi  
Mgojo

Chief executive 
officer (CEO)

Riaan 
Koppeschaar

Finance director

Geraldine  
Fraser-Moleketi

Zwelibanzi 
Mntambo 

Lead independent 
non-executive 
director

Non-executive 
director

Vuyisa  
Nkonyeni 

Independent 
non-executive 
director

Ras  
Myburgh

Independent 
non-executive 
director

19 April 2021

Peet  
Snyders

Independent 
non-executive 
director

Likhapha  
Mbatha

Non-executive 
director

Mark  
Moffett

Independent 
non-executive 
director

Isaac  
Mophatlane

Independent 
non-executive 
director

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
About Exxaro

ABOUT OUR INTEGRATED REPORT continued

Exxaro’s commitment to the UN SDGs
Exxaro voluntarily endorses the UN SDGs, and aims to positively contribute to achieving these. We also continuously benchmark our 
performance against global best practice.

We participate in the National Business Initiative (NBI) in South Africa to align the 17 SDGs with the country’s National Development Plan 
(NDP). We also employ leading practices in upholding the most material SDGs so that our business leaves a lasting positive impact. In line 
with our strategy, we support the following SDGs:

Ensure  
healthy lives

Provide quality 
education and 
lifelong learning

Empower girls and 
women to achieve 
gender equality

Generate and  
secure sustainable 
clean energy

Create jobs, 
sustainable 
livelihoods and 
equitable growth

Make our local 
communities 
inclusive, safe, 
resilient and 
sustainable

Manage natural 
resource assets 
sustainably

Combat climate 
change and  
mitigate its  
impacts

Protect our 
environment 
and minimise 
biodiversity loss

Ensure good 
governance, 
effective 
institutions, and 
stable and peaceful 
societies

Create constructive 
partnerships 
between ourselves, 
governments, the 
private sector and 
civil society

CERTIFICATE BY GROUP COMPANY SECRETARY
In terms of section 88(2)(e) of the Companies Act, I, Karen Maré, in my capacity as acting group company secretary confirm that, to the best 
of my knowledge, for the year ended 31 December 2020, Exxaro has filed with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission all such 
returns and notices as required of a public company in terms of the Companies Act and that all such returns and notices appear to be true, 
correct and up to date.

Karen Maré, Inlexso (Pty) Ltd
Acting group company secretary

Centurion
19 April 2021

4  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Load-out station at Grootegeluk

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  5

About Exxaro

OUR MATERIAL MATTERS

Our material matters guide our integrated reporting process, which 
is driven in turn by strategic and integrated thinking that enables 
sustainable value creation and preservation. These matters help us 
manage our risks and opportunities, and guide our commitment 
to our stakeholders. We determine these material matters through 
a detailed materiality determination process.

DETERMINING MATERIALITY
The purpose of our materiality determination process is to give our stakeholders insight into the matters that may affect our ability to create 
and preserve value over time.

Materiality determination process

Material issues  
for reporting 
purposes

Critical assessment
of stakeholder 
reports

Prioritising of identified
matters by executives 
and those charged  
with governance

6

7

5

Assess 
against global 
reporting 
context

1

3

2

Analysis of external
sources such as
media reports  
and articles

Internal interviews
and interviews  
with board members

4

Review of material
matters included in the 
integrated and annual
reports issued by peers

Review of internal
documentation
including risk register

MATERIALITY MATRIX
Our materiality determination process identified 18 material matters. These are shown in the matrix that follows, reflecting their importance 
for Exxaro and our stakeholders. The identified material matters are mapped into five broad themes: 

Theme

Macro-environment
The context in which  
we operate considering these 
material matters.

Material matters
 • Price and currency volatility
 • Country risk
 • Infrastructure access and capacity
 • Climate change resilience
 • Social unrest

Theme

Our people
We refer to the organisation’s internal  
stakeholders and our external stakeholders  
in our supply and value chains.

Material matters
 • Legal, regulatory and compliance 

excellence

 • Transparency, ethics and integrity
 • Workforce: culture, capability, 

diversity, inclusion and innovation

 • Health, safety and wellness
 • Social unrest
 • Supporting job and business 

creation

 • Supporting a just transition 
to a low-carbon economy

Social licence to operate
We operate in an environment of stakeholder 
capitalism# and where our business  
activities impact our stakeholders who respond  
to these impacts. This interaction provides for a 
social licence to operate supporting regulatory  
licences and permits.

Climate change
Climate change is no longer a refutable  
occurrence. We are committed to the Paris  
Agreement and have established business objectives 
to respond to the risks and opportunities presented  
by climate change.

 • Responsible environmental 

stewardship

 • Climate change resilience
 • Supporting a just transition 
to a low-carbon economy

Business resilience
The business’s ability to 
respond to key  
macro-issues and  
success in achieving its 
objectives.

 • Key customer dependency
 • Financial performance and resilience
 • Prudently maximising the value 

of our coal portfolio

 • Supporting a just transition to 

a low-carbon economy

 • Cost competitiveness of our products
 • Capital allocation
 • Legal, regulatory and compliance 

excellence

 • Cybersecurity, technology and 

digitalisation

# Where organisations are oriented to serve the interests of all their stakeholders.

6  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

I

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Supporting 
job and 
business 
creation

Climate 
change 
resilience

Responsible 
environmental 
stewardship

Social  
unrest

Health, 
safety 
and 
wellness

Transparency, ethics 
and integrity

Financial 
performance 
and 
resilience

Prudently maximising 
the value of our coal 
portfolio

Workforce: culture, 
capability, diversity, 
inclusion and innovation

Supporting a just 
transition to a 
low-carbon economy

Legal, 
regulatory 
and 
compliance 
excellence

Country 
risk

Cybersecurity, 
technology 
and 
digitalisation

Cost 
competitive- 
ness of our 
products

Capital 
allocation

Price and 
currency 
volatility

Key 
customer 
dependency

Infrastructure 
access and 
capacity

HIGH

Importance for Exxaro

 VERY HIGH

Macro-environment

Business resilience

Our people

Social licence to operate

Climate change

 For more information on our material matters, refer to page 38.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  7

 
 
 
 
Tsitsikamma Community windfarm

8  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020
8  Exxaro Resources Integrated Report 2020
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UNDERSTANDING 
OUR BUSINESS

10 Chairperson’s statement

12 Year in review

18 Business structure and ownership

20 Coal asset base

22 Renewable energy asset base

24 Our investment proposition

26 Governance for sustainable value creation

36 Our business model

38 Our material matters in action

POWERING POSSIBILITIES

We are dedicated to powering 
possibilities through renewable energy ventures as we 
deliver on our Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy.

The Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) is a global, asset 
owner-led initiative that assesses companies’ 
preparedness for the transition to a low-carbon 
economy. In 2020, Exxaro received a TPI ranking of 4/4, 
reflecting our commitment to managing GHG emissions. 
The high score highlights our commitment to supporting 
a just transition to a low-carbon economy and shows 
that we are well positioned to benefit from opportunities 
the transition presents.

“The whole company has come together behind Exxaro’s 
sustainability and climate change efforts. This ranking is 
a testament to everyone’s hard work and dedication to 
building a country and a world that we will be proud to 
leave to our children and their children. It is a signal to 
responsible investors that our company is participating 
in the transition to a low-carbon economy and that we 
will continue to thrive long after we stop needing coal,” 
said CEO, Mxolisi Mgojo.

EExExxxxxExEEx araro Resources Integrated report 2020  9
Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  9

Understanding our business

CHAIRPERSON’S STATEMENT

Jeffrey van Rooyen
Chairperson

I begin my 2020 integrated 
report statement with a 
commitment to sharpen our 
strategic resolve in the middle 
of uncertainty presented by 
the COVID-19 pandemic. While 
2020 presented us with 
numerous challenges, I am 
pleased to report that we 
made significant progress in 
refining our strategy. Exxaro 
was founded with a singular 
purpose — to power better lives 
in Africa and beyond. Our 
strategy is designed to deliver 
on that promise now and into 
the future. 

10  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND IMPACT STRATEGY
As an organisation, we take pride in our ability to not only grapple 
with the challenges we face, but to also find solutions that meet 
our stakeholders’ current and future needs and expectations. This 
year, as we undertook an extensive strategic review, we remained 
cognisant of the critical role Exxaro plays in South Africa — powering 
the country’s economic growth. At the same time, we must balance 
the obligation and opportunity that we have to play an active role in 
the just energy transition to a low-carbon economy. 

In the near term, coal is likely to remain dominant in South Africa. 
Our strategy allows for the current state of play, proactively 
creating the future we want. As a whole, our coal business remains 
robust, delivering high-quality coal safely and efficiently to generate 
returns for shareholders and meet market requirements. 

We have to look at business beyond coal, as envisaged in our 
approach to a just transition (refer to our strategy: positioning 
Exxaro for sustainable growth and impact section on 
We see Exxaro as a diversified organisation with energy and mineral 
resources capabilities critical and relevant in a world of low-carbon 
emissions. In 2020 were introduced a different approach to 
community development to drive impact at scale. We aim to lead 
better and bigger development initiatives that will arrest and 
reverse the scourge of poverty in our communities.

 page 54). 

Over the past year, we set up the building blocks to establish an 
energy business of the required size to support our growth 
ambitions. We assembled a dedicated board of directors and 
leadership team, as well as allocated capital to drive the energy 
business forward.

Our energy company board is chaired by independent non-executive 
director, Mark Moffett. He has been on our board since 2018, has 
extensive experience in building new businesses, and has a deep 
understanding of the energy sector. 

To help build the required capabilities to grow our energy business 
successfully, we conducted an extensive global and local search for 
a suitable managing director. I am pleased to announce that Roland 
Tatnall was appointed managing director: energy and a member of 
the executive committee. Roland’s multifaceted experience in Africa 
and South Africa’s energy sectors will help sustainably drive 
our growth.

Together, Mark and Roland, supported by our audit committee 
chairperson, CEO and finance director, have a strong team to deliver 
against our strategic priorities.

The third pillar of our diversification strategy is the minerals 
business, which will be built on commodities with strong 
fundamentals that are relevant and sustainable in a low-carbon 
world. A minerals diversification strategy was approved by the 
Exxaro board of directors during June 2020, to create an Exxaro 
of the future that is built on three core pillars, coal, minerals and 
energy. The minerals division’s ambition is to utilise Exxaro’s core 
competencies to supply minerals that power a cleaner world in a 
responsible and sustainable manner impacting positively on our 
stakeholders while providing superior shareholders returns and 
driving our decarbonisation objectives.

OUR STRATEGIC REALIGNMENT: CAPITAL 
ALLOCATION, DIVESTMENTS AND DIVIDENDS
In terms of our capital allocation framework, Exxaro remains 
disciplined in returning cash to shareholders, managing debt, and 
selectively reinvesting for the growth and resilience of the business 
in a low-carbon future. As a result, we are implementing exit 
strategies for operations that no longer align with our strategic 
vision. Our intention is not to operate as an investment holding 
company. As mentioned previously, we undertook a strategic 
decision to dispose of our total equity interest in Exxaro Coal 
Central Proprietary Limited (ECC) and Leeuwpan, having identified 
these assets as non-core to the future objectives of Exxaro. 
Subsequent to 31 December 2020, Exxaro signed a sale and 
purchase agreement with Overlooked Colliery Proprietary Limited, 
who will acquire ECC. The sale will only be effective once all 

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

conditions precedent to the sales agreement have been met. 
The disposal of Leeuwpan continues.

We also announced our intention to exit our shareholding in Tronox, 
which was finalised after year end, following approval by the 
Financial Surveillance Department of the South African Reserve 
Bank. As a result of the transaction, the board of directors resolved 
to use the proceeds to pay a special dividend of 543 cents per 
share, approximately R1.9 billion, to external shareholders and to 
implement a share buyback programme to the value of R1.5 billion.

Our revised strategy, and focus on building our renewable 
energy business necessitated a review of our dividend policy. 
Exxaro’s declared dividend policy was previously based on two 
components: a pass through of the SIOC dividend received and a 
dividend based on a cover ratio of 2.5 times to 3.0 times Exxaro 
adjusted group earnings, to include earnings contribution from 
Cennergi. 

Following the dividend policy review, the board of directors 
approved for the targeted cover ratios to be applied on Exxaro 
group earnings and not only coal earnings. In line with this revised 
dividend policy, the board has declared a final dividend of 
1 243 cents per share.

GROWING OUR BUSINESS SUSTAINABLY
We need to execute our clearly defined strategy in a way that 
enables us to build profitable businesses, secure the capital we need 
and deliver appropriate returns for our investors. To achieve these 
goals, proper risk management and governance are essential. 

We understand that successful growth requires the ability to 
take appropriate risks and world-class risk management. I believe 
that we have the knowledge, skills and experience to harness 
opportunities, while ensuring we remain within our approved 
risk appetite. 

Ethical and effective governance is key in this regard — from how 
we, as a board, operate and cooperate to how Exxaro works with our 
stakeholders to deliver on mutual strategies. We continue nurturing 
collegiality so that we cooperate with each other, sharing our 
responsibilities with mutual respect and trust. 

BUILDING A DIVERSE BOARD TO SUPPORT 
VALUE CREATION
The world we operate in is more complex than ever. As a leadership 
team, we recognise this and believe that we must draw on the 
diverse competencies and knowledge of our board members to 
successfully address the complex issues we face and identify 
opportunities inherent in our context.

The board is diverse across a multitude of metrics and as 
chairperson, I consider it important to ensure we play to the 
strengths of each board member, all of whom continue to go the 
extra mile under difficult circumstances. 

To strengthen our board, we appointed Chanda Nxumalo in 2020. 
Chanda has 15 years’ experience in the renewable energy and power 
sector. Subsequent to year end, we appointed Mandlesilo (Mandla) 
Msimang who has extensive experience in national and international 
governance and information and communications technology 
sectors. Mandla and Chanda will both support Exxaro’s growth 
strategy in energy.

The board continuously focuses on ensuring that there is adequate 
succession planning to maintain ongoing knowledge. In line with 
this, Mxolisi Mgojo, our CEO, will retire when he reaches the 
retirement age of 63, on 31 May 2023. To ensure a seamless 
transition, Dr Nombasa Tsengwa has been appointed as CEO-
designate and member of the board effective from 16 March 2021. 
Her appointment as CEO will become effective once the CEO retires 
on 31 May 2023. 

Dr Tsengwa’s appointment forms part of a carefully considered 
succession plan that has taken place over the past two years. The 
transition period will ensure a smooth and phased handover of duties 
and responsibilities. Dr Tsengwa has more than 18 years’ executive 
management and board experience in the public and private sectors 
and we look forward to her contributions in her new role. 

 Refer to page 106 of our ESG report for the board’s biographies. 

Furthermore, my tenure as chairperson and independent 
non-executive director of the board of Exxaro will come to an end at 
the annual general meeting to be held on 27 May 2021. It has been a 
great honour to serve on the Exxaro board for 12 years, and I wish 
the organisation all the best as it takes its next strategic evolution. 
A rigorous search process was conducted and a new chairperson 
designate has been appointed with effect from 19 April 2021. 
Mr Mvuleni Geoffrey Qhena is the former CEO of the Industrial 
Development Corporation (IDC), a significant shareholder of Exxaro. 
As such, Geoffrey brings with him a clear understanding of the 
organisation and the mining sector. 

Looking ahead, we will continue evaluating the board and leadership 
to ensure we have the right skills and experience to support Exxaro’s 
growth. We will focus on innovation and technology, climate change 
and sustainability in the year ahead. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND CLOSING
We are currently facing dual crises: COVID-19 and climate change. 
Both have had a profound impact on society, our business and the 
communities where we operate. We see ourselves as active 
participants and responsible stewards of our stakeholders’ trust, 
the natural resources we depend upon and of a sustainable and 
thriving business.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we remained committed to 
supporting our stakeholders. Among others, we made monetary 
donations to several organisations, implemented social distancing 
and other COVID-19 prevention measures, established testing stations 
and provided personal protective equipment (PPE). At the date of 
this report, 12 colleagues had regrettably succumbed to COVID-19. 
We extend our sincere condolences to their families and friends. 
We remain committed to doing everything in our power to keep 
our stakeholders safe. Looking ahead, we plan to work with our 
stakeholders and partners in government, business and civil society 
to halt the spread of the virus. 

While we have achieved much over the past year, from a strategic, 
operational and financial perspective, there is still much work to be 
done. Our revised strategy recognises the impact of climate change 
and balances our commitment to being an active participant in a 
just transition. The true tests will come in the years ahead, as we 
implement our strategic plans and deliver on our purpose. I believe 
that the foundations laid over the past years will ensure that we 
remain a resilient and responsive business, providing tangible 
returns to all our stakeholders.

Thank you to the board and executive team for your continued and 
unwavering support during the year.

Jeffrey van Rooyen
Chairperson

19 April 2021

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  11

Understanding our business

YEAR IN REVIEW

POWERING BETTER LIVES THROUGH VALUE CREATION
While the operating context remained challenging in 2020, Exxaro 
strived to leverage the opportunities presented by the new normal 
and ensure our focus remained steadfast — delivering on our purpose 
to create and preserve value for our stakeholders, through the 
responsible use of our capitals.

 Please refer to our business model on page 36 for more information about how we differentiate ourselves through delivering on our 

purpose. Our response to COVID-19 is on page 14. 

Our value distribution (as shown below) reflects our contribution to our stakeholders, with the impacts on the capitals we rely on reflected 
in the pages that follow. 

VALUE DISTRIBUTED TO STAKEHOLDERS IN 2020

GreenShare employee scheme 
(previously phantom employee scheme) 

R51 million

(2019: R80 million)

(2019: R95 million)

(2019: R1 391 million)

(2019: R1 315 million)

(2019: R558 million)

(2019: R1 690 million)

(2019: R4 209 million)

Community investments and volunteerism

R143 million

Dividend paid to external
shareholders of Eyesizwe 

R978 million

Employees’ tax

R1 223 million

Cost of finance 

R1 305 million

Payments to government: 
taxation contribution

R1 947 million

Salaries, wages and benefits 

R3 795 million

Cash dividend paid

R3 034 million

(2019: R5 812 million)

12  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE AND KEY OUTCOMES IN 2020

Natural capital 

Trend

Target

2020

2019

R3.8 billion

Our employees enjoy the largest 
share of value created from 
earnings as well as investments 
in development

1 209 cps

Shareholders receive a return  
on their investment through 
dividends

R19.5 billion

Suppliers and contractors are 
supported by our procurement  
of consumables, services and 
capital goods

R1.9 billion

Governments of countries in 
which we operate and invest 
receive taxes and royalty 
payments

25% ROCE

Providers of finance receive  
a return on their investment

R79.8 million

24 enterprises were granted 
loans and grant funding

R3.2 billion

We reinvest in the growth of our 
coal business: R2.2 billion 
sustaining capital and R1 billion 
expansion capital

1 HEPS is headline earnings per share.
2 Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation 

(EBITDA) is net operating profit before interest, tax, 
depreciation, amortisation, impairment charges/reversals 
and net loss or gain on the disposal of assets and 
investments (including translation differences recycled 
to profit or loss).

Reportable environmental incidents 
(levels 2 and 3)

Carbon intensity (scope 1) 
(ktCO2e)

Carbon intensity (scope 2) 
(ktCO2e)

Water intensity 
(kL/run of mine)

Rehabilitation funding adequacy of 
commercial mines, including  
guarantees (%)

Human and intellectual capital

Fatalities (as of 2 March 2021)

Lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR)

Occupational health incident frequency 
rate (OHIFR)

Skills provision (% of appointment 
from within)*

Social and relationship capital

B-BBEE contribution level

Black ownership (%)

Social and labour plans (SLPs) project 
delivery (time variance) (%)

SLPs project delivery
(cost variance) (%)

Manufactured capital

Capital project delivery measure 
(time variance) (%)

Capital project delivery measure 
(cost variance) (%)

Financial capital

Core operating margin (%)

Annualised return on capital employed 
(ROCE) (%)

Net debt to core EBITDA2 (times)

0 level 3s
6 level 2s

Actual for
previous year
less 5%

Actual for
previous year
less 5%

0

0

5.5% 

improvement

7%
improvement

13.7

2%
improvement

0.20

0.182

80% to 100%

69

0

0.11

0.31

0

0.05

0.19

0.11

68

0

0.12

0.24

60

88.44

47.90

1

30.1

2

38.22

0

0

0

0

20

>20

<1.5

(11)

(59)

11.1

6.3

17

27

1.0

2

30

(11)

(58)

5

3.1

15.24

27.51

0.6

Improvement in performance/ 
value created

Unchanged performance/
value preserved

Deterioration in performance/ 
value preserved

* 2019 figures cannot be compared to 2020 due to a change in the definition.

 Refer to strategic dashboard in the ESG report for more information.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  13

Understanding our business

YEAR IN REVIEW continued

OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19

OVERVIEW

Exxaro monitored and responded to the unfolding pandemic from the 
first report of the disease by the World Health Organization in 2019. 
Guided by leading global and local authorities, we continued 
protecting our people’s health and safety throughout the pandemic. 

Exxaro’s COVID-19 statistics as at 1 March 2021

Total employees screened

Total tests

11 621

Total confirmed cases

2 780

Active cases

14

Recoveries

2 754

Lives lost

12

35 293

d
e
m
r
fi
n
o
C

s
e
s
a
c

99

265

842

1 095

2

205

55

22

5

0

15

175

s
e
s
a
c

e
v
i
t
c
A

0

0

5

4

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

4

s
e
i
r
e
v
o
c
e
R

99

265

834

1 088

2

201

53

22

5

0

15

170

t
s
o
l

s
e
v
L

i

0

0

3

3

0

4

1

0

0

0

0

1

2 780

14

2 754

12

BUs

Belfast

Leeuwpan

Matla

Grootegeluk

Tshikondeni

ECC

The conneXXion

FerroAlloys

Durnacol

Hlobane

Cennergi

MaFube

Total

Keep On campaign
As the festive season approached, the second wave gained 
momentum. Considering the increase in safety incidents during 
this season, compounded by panic about the negative impact of 
COVID-19, Exxaro launched the Keep On communication 
campaign to convey messages of compliance, encouragement 
and caution. Hygiene kits (face masks, sanitiser, multivitamins 
and awareness material) were given to employees to share with 
family and friends.

The campaign encourages employees and our host communities 
to keep wearing masks, maintain social distance, wash hands 
and look out for COVID-19-related symptoms. If anyone shows 
symptoms, they are informed of easy, safe and free COVID-19 
testing at one of our stations. Daily reminders are sent to 
employees via the LetsConnect app. 

14  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

When the South African government declared a 
state of national disaster, we implemented crisis 
management and business continuity plans 
including health and safety controls. The rise in 
local cases activated the next phase of risk 
management — focusing on three objectives:

AVOID AND 
REDUCE THE 
INFECTION 
RATE

DELAY 
INFECTION 
WHERE 
POSSIBLE

MANAGE
RISKS 
ASSOCIATED 
WITH INFECTED 
CASES AS THEY 
ARISE

Regrettably, we have lost 12 colleagues to COVID-19 
complications as of 1 March 2021. Our sincerest condolences 
go to their families, friends and teams. 

In September 2020 when cases declined, and anticipating the 
second wave seen in parts of the northern hemisphere, Exxaro 
introduced new interventions to bolster preventive efforts. 
These included closer management of employees with 
comorbidities, driving COVID-19 compliance and our employee 
assistance programme (EAP), and providing oximeters and a 
COVID-19 call centre to people in self-isolation. We also decided 
to continue amended business processes so that restrictions 
were only eased to allow international travel.

Measures that remain in place include: 
 • Working from home for employees who do not have to be in the office
 • Rigorous screening and testing of employees as they return to work
 • Continuation of EAP counselling services
 • Isolation facilities for employees who test positive for COVID-19
 • Limited travel between BUs

As a member of the Minerals Council South Africa, Exxaro collaborates 
with other mining houses in preparing for the COVID-19 vaccine roll out. 
We will use our existing healthcare facilities to vaccinate employees and 
host community members. 

 
  
 
 
 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

IMPACT ON STRATEGY

Despite COVID-19, Exxaro reported resilient results for the year ended 31 December 2020. We returned a total dividend of  
2 429 cents per share to shareholders in 2020.

Our capital allocation framework, given the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, remains prudent in returning cash to shareholders, 
managing debt and selectively reinvesting for the growth of our business. To manage COVID-19 uncertainty, Exxaro acquired a short-term 
overdraft facility of R1.75 billion. In total, R1 billion was repaid in July 2020 and R750 million in October 2020. We also activated R2 billion, 
which is available under our R10 billion facility with a consortium of banks.

COVID-19 accelerated responsible investing momentum and exerted pressure on capital markets to commit to carbon reduction targets. 
We are confident that attaining our carbon-neutrality target for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by then, while making our portfolio 
resilient in a low-carbon world through our energy and minerals strategies (
exposure risk. 

 page 54), will mitigate the financial impact of our carbon 

With the just transition as our pathway, our considered social interventions include sustainable impact strategies that involve, among 
others, regenerative rehabilitation and repurposing relevant assets, such as our land, to develop new industries beyond coal mining 
for local communities. COVID-19 impacted the initiation of some planned Impact Catalyst projects (
We experienced a two-month delay in progress due to lockdown but we used this time to refine our approach. 

 page 80 in the ESG report). 

In addition to measures implemented to combat the spread of COVID-19, Exxaro has sufficient liquidity to withstand interruptions and 
will remain a going concern for the foreseeable future.

OPERATIONAL RESPONSE

IMMEDIATE CRISIS MANAGEMENT

STRATEGIC AND LONG TERM

CARE AND SAFETY

• Employee safety, resilience 
and productivity

• Partner with government for 
resilient communities

• Support small, medium and 
micro-enterprises (SMMEs)

  BUSINESS CONTINUITY
 • Capital optimisation and 
cost management
  • Collaborate with Minerals 

Council for industry 
safety and prevention 
measures
• Cooperate with 

Department of Mineral 
Resources and Energy 
(DMRE)

LONG-TERM  

RESILIENCE

• Greater policy certainty

• Agree on key national 
projects and policy 
interventions

• Public-private partnerships

• Unlock SMMEs — improve 
ease of doing business

IMPACT ON OPERATIONS

 • BUs at varying capacities during level 5 

lockdown. There were no impacts on 

Cennergi

 • 10-day shutdown at Belfast, ECC and 

Leeuwpan over Easter 2020

 • Surprise DMRE visit to Matla confirmed 

compliance with regulations

 • Matla at 80% (others at full capacity) 

during level 3 lockdown

 • 2 780 confirmed COVID-19 cases as at 

1 March 2021

COVID-19 sanitising procedures

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  15

 
 
 
 
Understanding our business

YEAR IN REVIEW continued

IMPACT ON STAKEHOLDERS

Stakeholders

Short term

Long term

•  Employees 

and 
contractors

•  Labour 
unions

 • Roster changes
 • Pre-site screenings
 • Relocation to temporary accommodation closer 

to operations

 • One-on-one professional and anonymous 

counselling services

 • Monitoring and screening to mitigate 

 • Re-establish working conditions
 • Staggered return to work
 • Some employees continue working remotely 

(depending on job description)
 • Workforce capacity may increase
 • Social distancing remains important
 • Accelerated digital migration to redesign and 

transmission

 • Mental health awareness
 • Destigmatisation campaign

enhance the future of work (new and innovative 
technologies for remote working and business 
value)

• Communities

• NGOs

 • Immense financial strain
 • Healthcare facilities under strain
 • Insufficient PPE
 • Schools need to comply with COVID-19 

regulations

 • Vaccine roll out
 • Uncertain future
 • Climate change impacts likely to be aggravating
 • Develop strategic response intervention for 

community development

 • Resurgence of infections will impact economic 

recovery with constrained household and 
corporate expenditure

 • Economic reconstruction and recovery plan 

expected to increase economic growth

 • Maintain dividend policy

 • Government and private-sector relief funding
 • Navigating pandemic and lockdown challenges
 • Payment holidays
 • Dealing with employee-related matters
 • Focus on SMME development through 

enterprise and supplier development (ESD) 
programme

 • Continue using social media platforms that are 
community and career driven yield the most 
impact in terms of reach and engagement

• Customers

• Government

•  Investors and 

analyst

• Suppliers

• Media

 • Lower demand during lockdown
 • GG6 expansion project delayed
 • Reversion to riskier financial markets

 • Limited access to emergency funding
 • Cannot run businesses from home
 • Unable to support families
 • Reduced turnover
 • Decrease in employees
 • Temporary closure or pause in trading

 • Exxaro’s media engagements strategy is aimed 

at informing stakeholders with relevant 
information about Exxaro’s total performance 
and creating awareness of the organisation, 
through social and traditional media 
communication

 • Our social media strategy shifted in 2020 

towards developing differentiated content for 
each platform that resonates with each target 
audience — that is, it is more stakeholder-led 

 • We also had a series of media engagement 
sessions in collaboration with the Minerals 
Council South Africa addressing pertinent 
social issues related to COVID-19 and how the 
industry was addressing these for their 
employees and host communities

  Refer to stakeholder management on page 62 for detailed information on our stakeholder engagement during this time.

16  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

COVID-19 food parcel donation at Leeuwpan mine

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  17

Understanding our business

BUSINESS STRUCTURE AND OWNERSHIP

Exxaro is one of the largest and foremost black-empowered, 
South Africa-based diversified resources companies. The company 
was formed in 2006 but has decades of experience as a company 
rooted in South Africa and respected by its peers for its innovation, 
ethics and integrity.

Over

80%

100% 

20.62%

26%

10.83%

OWNERSHIP 
STRUCTURE

30%
Eyesizwe RF

52.2%
BEE special 
purpose 
vehicle

14.9%
EXXARO

22.9%
Industrial 
Development 
Corporation 
(IDC)

5.0%
Exxaro ESOP
SPV

5.0%
Exxaro 
Community 
NPC

Our asset portfolio includes interests in coal, renewable energy (wind) and titanium dioxide (TiO2).  
Exxaro is a 30% black-empowered and listed company on the JSE’s Top 40 Index and a top 30  
member of the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment index.

In 2020, Exxaro produced 47.4 million tonnes (Mt) (including buy-ins of 0.3Mt) of coal (2019: 45.6Mt), 
reflecting contributions from our expanded flagship Grootegeluk mine. 

At 31 December 2020, the group had assets of R78.6 billion and a market capitalisation 
of R50 billion (US$3.4 billion).

18  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

OUR ASSETS

Coal
Coal mining is Exxaro’s core operation, 
structured under four legal entities all 
managed and operated by Exxaro. We 
also have a 50% joint venture with Anglo 
South Africa Capital Proprietary Limited 
(Anglo) in the Mafube operation, and a 
49% equity interest in Tumelo Coal Mines 
Proprietary Limited (Tumelo). 

We also have a 11.97% effective equity 
interest in Richards Bay Coal Terminal 
Proprietary Limited (RBCT).

CENNERGI**

Renewable energy (wind)
Exxaro contributes to the national 
energy supply through Cennergi. 
Two wind projects in the Eastern 
Cape reached commercial operation 
in 2016: Amakhala Emoyeni near 
Bedford (134MW) and the 
Tsitsikamma Community Windfarm 
on Mfengu community land (95MW).

SIOC

Ferrous
A leading supplier of high-quality iron 
ore to the global steel industry and a 
Kumba Iron Ore Limited subsidiary. We 
hold a 20.62% interest in the Sishen 
Iron Ore Company. 

BLACK MOUNTAIN

Exxaro holds a 26% interest in Black 
Mountain Mining (BMM), a zinc-led 
business, and continues to evaluate 
it’s options.

TRONOX HOLDINGS PLC***

TiO2
26% direct interest in KZN Sands 
Proprietary Limited (KZN Sands) and 
Tronox Minerals Sands Proprietary 
Limited (Namakwa Sands) and 10.83% 
interest in Tronox Holdings plc, a global 
leader in mining, production and 
marketing inorganic minerals and 
chemicals. In 2017, Exxaro began 
implementing the strategic disposal of 
this shareholding. Subsequent to 
31 December 2020, Exxaro divested 
from its investments in Tronox.

*   

** 

 Eyesizwe (RF) Proprietary Limited (Eyesizwe), 
a special purpose vehicle private company, 
incorporated under South Africa’s laws, holds the 
black economic empowerment (BEE) shares.
 Acquisition of Tata Power’s 50% interest in 
Cennergi was effective on 1 April 2020.

***   Subsequent to 31 December 2020, Exxaro divested 

from its investments in Tronox.

Coal
Core operations
 • Largest coal reserves in the country providing a platform for sustainable early value
 • Largest supplier of energy coal to Eskom and ArcelorMittal SA Limited (AMSA) while 

domestically growing projects for export thermal coal

 • Grootegeluk is acknowledged as one of the largest integrated mining and 

beneficiation operations globally, running the world’s largest coal beneficiation 
complex, and the only producing mine in the coal-rich Waterberg, adjacent to 
Eskom’s Matimba and Medupi power stations — Grootegeluk’s capacity is expanding 
by 7% (1.7Mtpa) with the double-stage beneficiation plant (GG6) and new rapid 
load-out station to enhance the growth of our exports

 • Six managed coal operations (including 50% share of Mafube) produced 47.4Mt of 

thermal and metallurgical coal (up 4% in 2020) — the majority of power station coal 
is supplied to Eskom

 • To date, 74% of the R17.5 billion capex has been spent on greenfield and brownfield 

expansion and sustaining projects

Renewable energy
Wind
Cennergi is a southern African-based diversified independent power producer (IPP) 
that focuses on the ownership, operation and maintenance of renewable energy 
projects and complete asset management services of its own projects, as well as those 
of others.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  19

Understanding our business

COAL ASSET BASE

8

Grootegeluk

LIMPOPO

MPUMALANGA

Mafube

7

1

Belfast

Dorstfontein

2

4

Tumelo

3

Forzando

GAUTENG

5

Leeuwpan

6

Matla

Project

Mine

Our extensive coal asset base is a key 
differentiator and critical part of how we 
create value for our stakeholders. 

20  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

SOUTH AFRICA

AUSTRALIA

Moranbah

OPERATIONS

1

BELFAST

Location: South of Belfast

Market: Export

Product: Thermal coal

Mineral Resources (inclusive)
Measured: 71.3Mt 
Indicated: 19.9Mt

Mineral Reserves (inclusive)
Proved: 40.2Mt
Probable: 2.1Mt

Mining method: Open-cut

Run of mine (RoM): 3.24Mt

Life of mine (LoM): 11 years

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

2

DORSTFONTEIN 
COMPLEX

3

FORZANDO
COMPLEX

4

TUMELO

Location: North-east of Kriel

Market: Domestic and export

Product: Thermal coal

Mineral Resources (inclusive)
Measured: 175.6Mt
Indicated: 121.4Mt

Mineral Reserves (inclusive)
Proved: 50.9Mt
Probable: 30.1Mt

Mining method Open-cut and 
underground

RoM: 3.4Mt

LoM: 16+ years*

Location: North of Bethal
Market: Domestic and export
Product: Thermal coal
Mineral Resources (inclusive)
Measured: 86.9Mt
Indicated: 32.3Mt
Mineral Reserves (inclusive)
Proved: 9.6Mt
Probable: 4.1Mt
Mining method: Open-cut and 
underground
RoM: 2.2Mt

LoM: 5 years*

Only mineral assets with Measured 
and Indicated Resources are 
illustrated. Inferred Resources are 
reported in the supplementary 
CMRR report.

Location: North-west of Hendrina
Market: Domestic and export
Product: Thermal coal
Mineral Resources (inclusive)
Measured: 7.7Mt
Indicated: 0.2Mt
Mineral Reserves (inclusive)
Proved: Not yet declared
Probable: Not yet declared
Mining method: Underground
RoM: —

LoM: —

5

LEEUWPAN

Location: South-east of Delmas
Market: Domestic and export
Product: Thermal coal
Mineral Resources (inclusive)
Measured: 79.9Mt
Indicated: 2.6Mt
Mineral Reserves (inclusive)
Proved: 42.0Mt
Probable: 5.7Mt
Mining method: Open-cut
RoM: 6Mt

LoM: 8 years

6

MATLA

7

MAFUBE

8 

GROOTEGELUK
COMPLEX

Location: West of Kriel
Market: Domestic (Eskom)
Product: Thermal coal
Mineral Resources (inclusive)
Measured: 694Mt
Indicated: 123Mt
Mineral Reserves (inclusive)
Proved: 147.5Mt
Probable: 21.7Mt
Mining method: Underground
RoM: 6.2Mt

Life of mine (LoM): 3+ years*

Location: East of Middelburg

Market: Domestic and export

Product: Thermal coal

Mineral Resources (inclusive)
Measured: 111.2Mt
Indicated: 9.9Mt

Mineral Reserves (inclusive)
Proved: 32.1Mt
Probable: 23.0Mt

Mining method: Open-cut

RoM: 5.4Mt

LoM: 11 years

Location: West of Lephalale

Market: Domestic and export

Product: Thermal and metallurgical coal

Mineral Resources (inclusive)
Measured: 2 532Mt
Indicated: 1 422Mt

Mineral Reserves (inclusive)
Proved: 1 730Mt
Probable: 898Mt

Mining method: Open-cut

RoM: 54.6Mt

LoM: 21+ years*

*  Adequate reserves well beyond expiry of mining right.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  21

Understanding our business

RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSET BASE

FREE STATE

SOUTH 
AFRICA

NORTHERN CAPE

EASTERN CAPE

Amakhala Emoyeni

2

Tsitsikamma Community

1

OPERATIONS

1

TSITSIKAMMA 
COMMUNITY WINDFARM 
(TCWF)

AMAKHALA EMOYENI 
WINDFARM (AE01)

2

Location: Near Tsitsikamma in the Eastern Cape

Capacity: 95MW

Number of turbines: 31 x 3MW

Performance: Achieved 101.5% of target over 5 years

Customer: Eskom

PPA#: 20 years

Commercial operation: 2016

Shareholding: Cennergi (Pty) Ltd (75%), Watt RE Times 
(16%) and the Tsitsikamma Development Trust (9%)

# Power purchase agreement (PPA)

Location: Near Bedford and Cookhouse in the 
Eastern Cape

Capacity: 134MW

Number of turbines: 54 x 2.4MW

Performance: Achieved 99.4% of target over 5 years

Customer: Eskom

PPA#: 20 years

Commercial operation: 2016

Shareholding: Cennergi (Pty) Ltd (95%), Cookhouse 
Community Trust (2.5%) and the Bedford Community 
Trust (2.5%)

22  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Turbine at Amakhala Emoyeni windfarm

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  23

Understanding our business

OUR INVESTMENT PROPOSITION

Based on disciplined governance and capital allocation, quality 
resources, access to funds and competitive returns, Exxaro is a 
unique listed investment opportunity for shareholders.

WE DIFFERENTIATE OURSELVES IN THE MARKET THROUGH:

OUR UNIQUE COMPETITIVE 
ADVANTAGES

Our continued focus on operational 
excellence is designed to set our offering 
apart.
 • Large multi-product and long-life coal  
reserve base, with a quality coal reserve

 • Defensive and established domestic  
(short and long-term contracts) and 
international customer base

 • Adequate port and rail allocation to  

support export growth

 • Resilient and debt-free 30% black  

ownership structure

 • Ongoing cost-efficiency programmes
 • Focused approach to carbon reduction and 
management throughout our value chain
 • Portfolio optimisation for carbon and cost 

efficiency of our portfolio

OUR FINANCIAL STRENGTH

Our focus on preserving and building 
our financial resilience has stood us in 
good stead.
 • Strong balance sheet — 28% net 

debt:equity

 • Earnings and cash-generative 

operations

 • Returning cash to shareholders: 

dividend policy of 2.5 to 3.5 times 
adjusted group earnings, pass-through 
of SIOC dividend received and special 
dividends from surplus cash — 
competitive dividend yield

OUR GROWTH PROSPECTS

OUR UNERRING COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

We continue looking beyond today, to 
ensure we are able to deliver value into 
the future.
 • Long-term strategic plan in place to 

support the just transition to a 
low-carbon economy in a commercially 
appropriate manner

 • Organic coal production growth to 

supply domestic markets, Eskom and 
export markets

 • Domestic and offshore coal revenue 

growth, completing the R17 billion capex 
programme

 • Stable revenue model from renewable 

energy investment

Our commitment to health and safety: 
zero harm remains Exxaro’s key 
safety objective.
 • Recorded a record-low lost-time injury 
frequency rate (LTIFR) of 0.05 as at 
31 December 2020 (55% better than 
the set target of 0.11)

•  Achieved a record four fatality-free 

years on 2 March 2021

OUR WORLD-CLASS LEADERSHIP  
AND GOVERNANCE

STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVE AND 
RETURNS

We recognise that creating value for 
our stakeholders depends on effective 
and efficient governance processes 
and practices informed by the pillars 
of good corporate citizenship, that 
is, transparency, accountability and 
integrity.
 • Experienced, growth-oriented leadership 

team

 • Established governance structures — 
proven and leading ESG performance

 • Ethical leadership
 • Stakeholder-oriented approach
 • Leadership is proactive in the just 
transition and response to climate 
change

24  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 • Compliance and governance that ensures a sustainable 

organisation

 • Return on invested capital that is above our cost of capital
 • Catalyst for economic development which creates opportunities 

for job creation and ESD

 • Responding to the systemic challenge of climate change 

providing an opportunity for employees and communities to 
transition to a new world 

Exxaro’s monthly closing share price (%)

225
200
175
150
125
100
75
50
25
0

)
R
A
Z
(
e
c
i
r
P

2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

(cid:81) Exxaro share price

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Grootegeluk main office

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  25

Understanding our business

GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE VALUE CREATION

Within a constantly changing business environment, board members and executive management have a key role, and indeed a responsibility, 
to create value for the business and society. This requires the board and executive management to examine the company’s impact on society 
and how it could make a positive difference in the communities where Exxaro operates by embedding societal values deep into our core 
purpose, strategy and everyday decision-making. This was further strengthened through the group’s corporate governance framework, 
structure and processes the board created to oversee sustainability matters including reporting and accountability. Performance and 
sustainability are fully integrated in the achievement of value over time.

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Our board 
Our board of directors is accountable for Exxaro’s governance and performance, balancing the company’s interests as a responsible corporate 
citizen with the legitimate needs and expectations of stakeholders.

Jeffrey
van Rooyen (70)
Board chairperson and 
independent director 

(cid:132) 

Mxolisi Mgojo (60) 
CEO

(cid:132)(cid:132)

Riaan Koppeschaar 
(50) 
Finance director

(cid:132)(cid:132)

Geraldine  
Fraser-Moleketi (60)
Lead independent non-
executive director

(cid:132)

Likhapha Mbatha 
(66)
Non-executive director

Zwelibanzi Mntambo 
(63)
Non-executive director

Mark Moffett (61)
Independent non-executive 
director

(cid:132)

Isaac 
Mophatlane (48)
Independent non-executive 
director

Ras Myburgh (62)
Independent non-executive 
director

(cid:132)

Vuyisa Nkonyeni 
(51)
Independent non-executive 
director

(cid:132)

Anuradha Sing (49) 
Independent non-executive 
director

Peet Snyders (60)
(cid:132)
Independent non-executive 
director

(cid:132) Nomination committee chairperson
(cid:132) Remuneration committee chairperson 
(cid:132) Social and ethics committee chairperson
(cid:132) Audit committee chairperson 
(cid:132) Investment committee chairperson
(cid:132) Sustainability, risk and compliance committee chairperson
(cid:132) Executive directors

26  Exxaro Resources Integrated reporororort 2t 202000
26  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 Audit committee member
 Investment committee member
 Remuneration and nomination committee member
 Social and ethics committee member
 Sustainability, risk and compliance committee member

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Board composition 

Board composition* (%)

Director tenure* (%)

1818

18

(cid:93) Executive 
directors (2/11)
(cid:93) Non-executive 
directors (2/11)
(cid:93) Independent 
non-executive 
directors (7/11)

64

18

10

36

36

(cid:93) 0 to 2 years (0/11)
(cid:93) 2 to 4 years (4/11)
(cid:93) 4 to 6 years (4/11)
(cid:93) 6 to 9 years (1/11)
(cid:93) >9 years (2/11)

Age diversity (%)

9

9

64

18

(cid:93) 40 to 49 years (1/11)
(cid:93) 50 to 59 years (2/11)
(cid:93) 60 to 69 years (7/11)
(cid:93) 70 and older (1/11)

Gender diversity year-on-year

Racial diversity year-on-year

2018

30

%

2019

36

2020

25

70

64

75

2018

%

2019

2020

80

20

71

67

29

33

20

0
(cid:93) Female

(cid:93) Male

40

60

80

100

0
(cid:93) Black

20

40
(cid:93) Non-black

60

80

100

* Excluding Anuradha who retired by rotation on 28 May 2020.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  27

Understanding our business

GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE VALUE CREATION continued

Diversity of skills and experience

Leadership

Finance

Human resources

Legal

Governance and compliance

Economics

Transformation and ethics

Risk and opportunity 
management
Innovative technology  
and information governance

Environmental sustainability

Sales and marketing

Health and safety

Tax

Stakeholder relations

Project management

International

Local

Mining industry

Mining engineering

Renewable energy

Water technology

Agriculture/food security

0

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90% 100%

General management experience

Technical experience

 Refer to the ESG report for full details about the board and its roles and responsibilities.

28  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  29

Understanding our business
Understanding our business

GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE VALUE CREATION continued
GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE VALUE CREATION continued

Our executive committee 

Mxolisi  
Mgojo (60) 
CEO

Riaan Koppeschaar 
(50) 
Finance director

Nombasa 
Tsengwa (56) 
CEO designate

Vanisha  
Balgobind (47) 
Executive head:  
human resources

Alex  
De Angelis (40) 
Executive head: strategy 
and business 
transformation

Johan 
Meyer (52) 
Executive head: projects 
and technology

Mzila  
Mthenjane (50) 
Executive head: 
stakeholder affairs

Wim  
Diedericks (53) 
Executive head: strategy 
and business 
development 

Mongezi  
Veti (57) 
Executive head: 
sustainability 

Saret van 
Loggerenberg (45) 
Group company secretary 
and legal (ex officio)

Executive racial diversity (%)

Executive gender diversity (%)

50

50

(cid:93) Black (5/10)
(cid:93) White (5/10)

70

30

(cid:93) Women (3/10)
(cid:93) Men (7/10)

Executive age diversity (%)

10

60

30

(cid:93) 40 to 49 years 
   (3/10)
(cid:93) 50 to 59 years 
   (6/10)
(cid:93) 60 to 69 years 
   (1/10)

30  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

  Refer to the ESG report for full details about the board and its 
roles and responsibilities.

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

SUMMARISED CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT

The board of directors (the board) drives the strategy, sets 
performance and culture expectations as well as the governance 
framework for Exxaro, including its subsidiary companies, trusts and 
joint ventures.

In 2020, the board approved that the core businesses, energy and minerals, are empowered to exercise decision making and use their 
resources to thrive in an increasingly dynamic market and industry sector. The group is being designed to support this, with governance 
structures tailored to the level of maturity of core businesses, and to allow more decentralised decision making where empowered 
accountability can be exercised.

The board remains the focal point and custodian of corporate governance for the group and is fully committed to good corporate governance.

The board regards good corporate governance as fundamentally important to create value, applying the following principles and governance 
outcomes in its own ethical and effective leadership:

Ethical  
culture

Performance  
and value creation

Adequate and  
effective control

Trust, good 
reputation and 
legitimacy

 See page 94 of the ESG report for detailed disclosure.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  31

Understanding our business

GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE VALUE CREATION continued

Ethical culture
At Exxaro, integrity is central to how board conducts itself and sets the tone for building a truly ethical culture that is the basis of how we 
conduct business. 

Building organisational ethics is a journey. The board assumes responsibility for the governance of ethics and sets the direction for the 
approach to ethics and how it should be addressed by the organisation. Through the code of ethics, the company confirms the ethical 
principles of the organisation that, when followed, promote values such as trust, acceptable good behaviour and fairness.

Our values provide general guidelines for our interactions with each other and our stakeholders, and reflect what is important to us and how 
we conduct ourselves. Recognising that our public reputation is one of our most important assets, the organisation is committed to achieving 
the highest ethical standards in all our business operations. We recognise our obligations to all our stakeholders, particularly shareholders, 
clients, employees, business partners, competitors, the authorities, the environment and the wider community.

(cid:3)(cid:3)BOARD CHARTER AND CODE 

OF CONDUCT

Our board charter and code of conduct 
(board charter) regulates the parameters in 
which the board operates, and ensures 
application of good corporate governance 
principles in all dealings by, in respect and 
on behalf of the company and the group. It 
sets out the roles and responsibilities of the 
board and individual directors, including the 
composition and relevant procedures.  

 For more information, refer to our ESG 

report.

 For more information on our supplier 
code of conduct, please refer to https:// 
www.exxaro.com/assets/Files/8172_Exx_
SUPPLIER_SD_code_FA.pdf

STRATEGY
The board ultimately considers and approves 
the short, medium and long-term strategy, as 
formulated and developed by management. 
During assessment and formulation of the 
strategy, the board engaged with executive 
and senior management in several strategy 
sessions throughout 2020. The board 
appreciates that the company’s core purpose, 
its risks and opportunities, strategy, business 
model, performance and sustainable 
development are inseparable elements of the 
value creation process. The insight that 
conditions are changing and there is a need 
to become future fit continues to drive 
decisions and measure transition going 
forward.

 Our strategy is on page 54.

32  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

MONITORING ETHICAL CULTURE

The board monitors the ethical culture of the group through its reporting 
structures, which include two board committees (the social and ethics 
committee, and the audit committee), and the ethics committee (a 
management committee).

Our internal auditors conducted an integrity survey in the group during 
2020. Select employees participated in the survey and gave valuable 
feedback about the integrity culture, employees living the Exxaro values, 
employees’ adherence to these values and the code of ethics. Based on 
the survey results, the board made the following observations: 

Code of ethics
 • 84% read, understood and received training
 • 96% consistently live the values
 • 95% understand the importance of a strong internal control 
environment and support initiatives to strengthen controls

Reporting ethical breaches or fraud and corruption
 • 97% were aware of the fraud and ethics hotline and 3% were not aware 

The survey results were positive overall and key areas identified that 
require focus and/or intervention are being addressed.

RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP  
IN ACTION

The board ensures the organisation’s strategy and conduct reflect in its 
drive to be a responsible corporate citizen and purpose to power better 
lives in Africa and beyond.

 The board adopted an emergency response plan in 2019, focusing on 

capability interfaces for crisis management and business continuity, to 
ensure integrated disaster or incident response and recovery. The plan 
documents procedures that guide Exxaro’s response, recovery and 
restoration of operations to a predefined level after disruption.

When the South African government announced a national state of 
disaster and lockdown from 26 March 2020, the company immediately 
implemented its crisis management and business continuity plans across 
the group. The plans included health and safety controls and preventive 
measures implemented immediately and considered necessary to sustain 
our business. These plans also ensure we continue serving stakeholders, 
and protecting and supporting employees and their families. 

 For more information on our response, see page 14.

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Adequate and effective control
Exxaro’s corporate governance structure supports its ability to create value in the short, medium and long term. It is assessed to ensure agile 
decision making and to support business requirements. Through this structure, the board exercises effective control, and builds and protects 
the organisation’s reputation and legitimacy. We consider good corporate governance as the responsibility of our board, executive 
management and all our employees.

In accordance with our changing context, the remuneration and nomination committee, contributing to the governance enhancement 
programme, aims to align strategic changes in the group with board and board committee composition. This requires revision of committee 
terms of reference and review of its mandate.

Our corporate governance structure

S
R
E
D
L
O
H
E
K
A
T
S
D
N
A
S
R
E
D
L
O
H
E
R
A
H
S

,

D
R
A
O
B
E
H
T
O
T
G
N
I
T
R
O
P
E
R
D
N
A
Y
T
I
L
I
B
A
T
N
U
O
C
C
A

STAKEHOLDERS

SHAREHOLDERS

Board of directors 
Chairperson: Jeffrey van Rooyen
Appointed by shareholders

Board subcommittees
Assist board to discharge duties

Ad hoc investment 
committee 
Chairperson: 
Isaac Mophatlane

Remuneration 
and nomination 
committee 
Chairperson: 
Erasmus Myburgh

Sustainability, risk 
and compliance  
committee 
Chairperson: 
Peet Snyders

Social and ethics 
committee 
Chairperson: 
Geraldine Fraser-
Moleketi

External auditors

Appointed by 
shareholders

Audit committee 
Chairperson: 
Vuyisa Nkonyeni

R
I
S
K
M
A
N
A
G
E
M
E
N
T
A
N
D
A
S
S
U
R
A
N
C
E

Appointed by 
shareholders

Appointed by the  
board

Appointed by the  
board

Appointed by the  
board

Appointed by 
shareholders

To fulfil the statutory 
functions set out in 
section 94 of the 
Companies Act and provide 
independent oversight of 
the quality and integrity 
of the group’s financial 
statements

To monitor and report 
to the board on material 
acquisition, merger and 
investment or disposal 
opportunities and ongoing 
material transactions

To assist the board in 
ensuring that the group 
remunerates fairly, 
responsibly and in a 
transparent manner

To oversee the group’s 
consideration and 
performance in terms of 
all material non-financial 
issues including social, risk, 
compliance, safety, health 
and environmental issues

To fulfil the statutory duties 
set out in Regulation 43 
to the Companies Act, 
oversee and report on 
organisational ethics, 
responsible corporate 
citizenship, sustainable 
development and 
stakeholder relationships

CEO

Executive leadership team

Management committees to assist the group executive
Investment review committee, combined assurance and ethics committee

Functional departments
Managing directors, executive heads and heads

Finance, minerals, energy, strategy and business transformation, human resources, sustainability, stakeholder affairs, corporate 
secretariat and legal, audit and assurance, risk and compliance, and information management

Other
Subsidiary companies, trusts, special 
purpose vehicles (SPVs) and non-profit 
companies

Subsidiary board of directors  
or trustees

Energy
Subsidiary companies

Minerals
Subsidiary companies

Subsidiary board of directors 

Subsidiary board of directors 

Managing director

Managing director

Functional department, subsidiaries,  
SPVs and trusts

Functional department, subsidiaries, 
SPVs and trusts

INTEGRATED REPORTING AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

G
O
V
E
R
N
A
N
C
E
F
R
A
M
E
W
O
R
K

I

N
C
L
U
D
E
S
C
O
D
E
O
F
E
T
H
I
C
S

,

D
E
L
E
G
A
T
I
O
N
S

,

P
O
L
I
C
I
E
S

,

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Understanding our business

GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE VALUE CREATION continued

   BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
In the past year, Exxaro’s board committee structure 
embarked on a significant transformation journey, 
focusing on reimagining the operating model, acquisitions 
and evolving the broader business strategy. This is driven 
by a changing business environment and regulatory 
developments. To this end, Exxaro revisited and enhanced 
the respective terms of reference of its corporate 
governance structures. In line with King IV, considerations 
included:
 •  Exxaro’s current operating environment and the impact 

of its activities on public interest

 •  Effective collaboration through cross-membership 

between committees

 •  Balanced distribution of power

The terms of reference of the respective committees were 
updated with key focus areas and objectives revisited. In 
addition, a reporting framework was developed addressing 
the board’s expectations about reports received from 
management.

  Detailed reports from each of the board committee 

are on pages 117 to 133 of the ESG report.

   INNOVATION 
Within our overarching values, we have five cultural 
themes: responsibility, adaptability, openness and 
connectivity, diversity and ownership. We aim to foster a 
culture of adaptability to the ever-changing world around 
us, encouraging employees to learn and improve in 
everything they do. As change is inevitable, based on 
current social, economic and technological realities, the 
company aims to be agile and create new opportunities to 
move the group forward as a collective.

This culture enabled the company to seamlessly continue 
business activities during the COVID-19 lockdown and 
deliver on its objectives.

We held our first virtual annual general meeting (AGM) in 
2020, with shareholders or their proxies participating via 
electronic communication. Participants could vote during 
the AGM through an electronic participation platform. If 
participants wanted their vote(s) counted, they could 
submit information captured in the AGM notice to the 
platform service provider. Each shareholder who provided 
requested information was given a unique link to 
participate in the virtual meeting.

Trust, good reputation and legitimacy

   TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION   
   MANAGEMENT
The board governs technology and information 
management in a way that supports the organisation setting 
and achieving its strategic objectives. As information 
management and governance form an integral part of 
overall enterprise governance, the board adopted the 
following policies:
 •  Acceptable use of information and communications 
technology (ICT) equipment policy to protect our 
employees, partners and the company from illegal or 
damaging actions when using information, electronic and 
computing devices, and network resources to conduct 
business with internal networks and business systems
 •  A formal management framework for ICT governance 

providing structure to ensure information management 
investments support business objectives by aligning the 
information management strategy with the business 
strategy

The information management programme, including 
document information management and implementation of 
the data privacy programme in compliance with the 
Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act 4 of 2013) 
is in full force and effect.

   ERM
Our ERM approach provides a framework and process 
for all types of risk management, regardless of risk or 
impact type at all levels of the organisation. The same 
terminology and assessment mechanisms are used for 
finance, projects, safety and operational risk management. 
We have a set of risk names, one impact and one 
likelihood scale used across different disciplines to ensure 
management concentrates efforts and resources on 
material activities.

The board is satisfied that the company and group have 
a mature risk process that ensures risks potentially 
impacting its strategic objectives are pursued by 
management to create shareholder value.

Our top five risks in 2020 were:
 • COVID-19 concerns
 • Eskom systemic risk
 • Unavailability of rail capacity
 • Community unrest
 • Safety and health concerns

 Please refer to page 71 for details on our risks.

   STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
In support of its purpose to power better lives in Africa and beyond, 2020 saw the creation of the social impact strategy. The strategy 
ensures that the company continues to work towards improving the quality of our relationships with stakeholders. We strive to build 
long-term, stable and trusting relationships that create shared value. With a relatively procedural engagement approach, we mature 
through integrated and relational levels to the intentional, proactive management of stakeholder-related risks and opportunities.

 More information on our stakeholder engagements can be found on page 63.

34  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Performance of our board
Board meeting attendance
The board held four quarterly meetings, two governance sessions and seven special board meetings during the year. Attendance is calculated 
against the number of meetings the director was required to attend.

Members
Jeffrey van Rooyen

Designation
Independent non-executive director and board chairperson

Attendance
100%

Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi

Lead independent non-executive director

Riaan Koppeschaar

Executive director: finance director

Likhapha Mbatha

Mxolisi Mgojo

Non-executive director

Executive director: CEO

Zwelibanzi Mntambo

Non-executive director

Mark Moffett

Isaac Mophatlane

Ras Myburgh

Vuyisa Nkonyeni

Anuradha Sing#

Peet Snyders

Independent non-executive director

Independent non-executive director

Independent non-executive director

Independent non-executive director

Independent non-executive director (during her tenure)

Independent non-executive director

# Anuradha retired by rotation on 28 May 2020.

100%

100%

85%

100%

92%

92%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Key board activities in 2020 
 • Amendment of the corporate governance framework: The board approved amendments to the governance framework on 28 May 2020 to 
be more adaptive and agile, enable committed decision making as well as a more decentralised decision-making process through an effective 
and relevant corporate governance framework. Guidance was taken from King IV in these amendments and is reflected on page 100 of the 
ESG report 

 • Climate change: As the physical and transitional impacts of climate change pose a serious threat to our business and society, it requires 

immediate action to reduce the local and global physical effects. The board is aware of the role fossil fuel-generated power plays in releasing 
GHGs and contributing to climate change. A climate change response strategy was presented to the board, highlighting the need to respond to 
growing global and local pressure to move towards a low-carbon economy. The board requested a strategy for its approval to develop a climate 
change policy and to incorporate recommendations from the TCFD, highlighting climate change transitional and physical risks confronting the 
organisation and the related financial impacts of these risks. A strategic decision was made to begin the transition to a low-carbon future. On 
12 March 2020, Exxaro published its climate change position statement, which contains our aspirational target to be carbon-neutral by 2050 
 • GHG and water consumption reduction: From an environmental point of view, there has been significant focus on reducing GHGs and water 

consumption. At the 2019 Sustainability Summit, Exxaro reaffirmed its commitment to reducing its GHG emissions by 30%, its water 
consumption by 30% and a 20% energy intensity reduction by 2026. Reduction in water use and carbon emissions is 5% year-on-year. The 
TCFD framework was adopted on 10 March 2020 to engage with shareholders and other stakeholders about climate issues 

 • Cennergi acquisition: The board considered and approved the acquisition of Khopoli Investments’ 50% shareholding in renewable energy 

company, Cennergi. After concluding the agreement, Exxaro held 100% of Cennergi in 2020 

Phase 2 of implementation of the replacement BEE transaction: As part of the replacement BEE transaction of 2017, Exxaro committed to 
introducing appropriate schemes to benefit employees and communities. Exxaro is guided by the Mining Charter III when implementing 
these schemes. 

Performance evaluation 
An independent third party conducted a high-level evaluation of the board, committees and individual directors, including the chairperson and 
committee chairpersons, the finance director and the group company secretary. Board members participated in an independent evaluation 
process and received comprehensive feedback on the performance and effectiveness of the board and its committees. The purpose of the 
board evaluation was to ascertain: 
 • If the board addressed and improved items identified as part of the 2019 board evaluation process 
 • How effectively the board dealt with the COVID-19 crisis 
 • Whether the board made progress in key focus areas highlighted in the 2019 board evaluation 

The evaluation showed that, in the board’s opinion, its overall performance is satisfactory although definite areas warrant consideration and 
attention to further strengthen its performance and effectiveness. Specific observations and recommendations, based on ratings and 
comments, were made to the board and will form the basis of an action plan for 2021. 

Conclusion 
The board is satisfied that it complied with the provisions of the Companies Act and relevant laws of establishment relating to its 
incorporation, and that the company is operating in conformity with its MoI and other relevant constitutional documents. The board is also 
satisfied that it fulfilled its responsibilities in accordance with its charter during the reporting period. 

 Refer to our ESG report for the full corporate governance report.

Our commitment in action

                     Exxaro ranked 3rd in the Transparency  
                     and Corporate Reporting: South Africa  
                     2020 (TRAC SA 2020)

100 SA Companies under scrutiny for the transparency and implementation 
of anti-corruption programme

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  35

 
                       
                        
Understanding our business

OUR BUSINESS MODEL

Our business model, as reflected below, is a high-level summary 
of what we need, do and create as a business. 

OUR INPUTS  
The resources and relationships we rely on

OUR ACTIVITIES  
What we do

NATURAL CAPITAL

 • Run of mine: 81.0Mtpa (2019: 79.2Mtpa)
•  Land managed for six mining operations
•  Water withdrawal: 10.92Mm3 (2019:  7.68Mm3)
•  Diesel: 96 131kL (2019: 98 702kL)
•  Electricity: 605 770MWh (2019: 625 211MWh)

HUMAN CAPITAL

 • Employees: 6 739 (2019: 6 812)
•  Contractors: 15 726 (2019: 13 330)
• 
• 
•  Culture: connect2NEXT

Investment in skills development and talent management: R227 million (2019: R298 million)
Investment in employee remuneration: R3.8 billion (2019: R4.2 billion)

SOCIAL AND RELATIONSHIP CAPITAL

 • Social licence to operate required to conduct business
• 
• 
• 

Investments in SLP projects: R27.53 million (2019: R38.6 million)
Investments in ESD: R79.8 million (2019: R170.7 million)
Investments in community and volunteerism: R143 million (2019: R95 million)

MANUFACTURED CAPITAL

 • Eight mines, two coal projects and two windfarms
•  Sustaining capital: R2.1 billion (2019: R2.2 billion)
•  Expansion capital: R1.0 billion (2019: R3.6 billion)
• 

Investment in property, plant and equipment: R3.2 million (2019: R6.1 million)

INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL

 • Continued investment in world-class digitalisation
•  Business Excellence integrated into the business
•  Leadership and management training: 184 people attended (2019: 372)
•  Significant investment in updating and aligning our strategy to our purpose and long-term goals
•  Continued investment in leading governance structures: changes in board, engagement with investors

FINANCIAL CAPITAL

 • Core equity-accounted income: R6.5 billion (2019: R4.8 billion)
•  Core EBITDA: R7.3 billion (2019: R5.8 billion)
•  Cash dividend paid (including special dividend): R3 billion (2019: R5.8 billion) 
•  Revenue: R28.9 billion (2019: R25.7 billion)

At the core of Exxaro is our 
goal of powering better lives 
for Africa and beyond. 
We achieve this by:

•  RESPONSIBLE MINING

–  Responsible environmental 

stewardship

– Diversity and inclusion 
– Values-based leadership 
– Effective governance 

•  DIVERSIFIED EQUITY 

INVESTMENTS
–  SIOC — iron ore 
– BM — zinc
– Tronox — titanium 

•  RENEWABLE ENERGY 

OPERATIONS

•  INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY 
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

•  STAKEHOLDER 

ENGAGEMENT AND 
COMMUNICATION

We know that it’s not just about  
WHAT you do, but also HOW you do it. 
That’s why we continuously strive to 
differentiate ourselves in the industry 
by how we do business. We pride 
ourselves on being more than just a 
mining business. Creating and 
sustaining value for our stakeholders, 
while ensuring we are a force for good, 
supporting the economic and social 
growth of the country.

• 

 • Growing negative 
sentiment towards 
companies in the fossil 
fuel sector 
Increasing expectations 
on companies to solve 
societal issues
Increased reputational 
risks stemming from 
employees, contractors 
and suppliers’ conduct

• 

 • Manufactured capital 
remains costly, with 
delays in project 
completions hampering 
growth

 • As the world evolves at 
an unprecedented pace, 
both technologically 
and in terms of the 
operating context, rapid 
innovation and ideation 
is more important than 
ever and remains 
challenging

 •

In a low-growth 
environment, financial 
capital remains costly 
and scarce

The capital constraints we face

 • Attracting and retaining 
the right employees with 
the necessary skills for 
now and into the future 
remains challenging in a 
competitive market

 • Natural resources, 

including the mineral 
resources we rely on, are 
finite and must be 
managed carefully
•  Balancing the need for 
energy that supports 
economic growth 
(currently primarily 
fuelled by coal) with the 
need to transition to a 
low-carbon economy

VALUE CREATION OVER TIME

36  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

It is enabled through our strategy and designed to deliver on our 
purpose: to power better lives for Africa and beyond.

OUR OUTPUTS  
What we produce

OUR OUTCOMES  
The broader outcomes of our activities on the capitals

Risks and 
opportunities
Page 66

Strategy and 
resource 
allocation
Page 56

COAL 
47.4Mt product volumes 
(2019: 45.6Mt)

RENEWABLE ENERGY
727GWH in wind energy 
(2019: 762GWh)

IRON ORE (SIOC)
R6.1 billion core equity-accounted income 
(2019: R4.4 billion)

TITANIUM DIOXIDE
R226 million core equity accounted income 
(2019: R236 million)

WASTE
1 511 tonnes hazardous waste (2019: 4 090 tonnes)
1 031ktCO2e emissions (2019: 1 082ktCO2e)

Performance
Page 83

Stakeholders
Page 62

How we are improving our outcomes

We strive to mine 
responsibly, minimise our 
environmental impacts and 
be an active participant in 
the just energy transition 
to a low-carbon economy.

We are committed to 
achieving zero harm and 
continue working with our 
employees and contractors 
to eradicate any safety 
incident.

Further reading
 • Chairperson’s statement 

Further reading
 • Chairperson’s statement 

(page 10)

(page 10)

 • Our strategy (page 54)
 • Our environment 

 • Our strategy (page 54)
 • CEO’s report (page 52)

(page 118)

 • CEO’s report (page 52)

We continuously seek ways 
to engage and maintain 
relationships of mutual 
respect and benefit with 
our stakeholders.

Further reading
•  Chairperson’s statement 

(page 10)
•  Stakeholder 

management (page 62)
 • Our strategy (page 54)
•  CEO’s report (page 52)
•  Social licence to operate 

(page 116)

+   Carbon intensity down 9% (2019: down 5%)*

 Water intensity increased by 38% from 2019 (2019: 
reduced by 10%)*

–   Environmental incidents: zero level 3s (2019: zero 

level 3)

+  Valid mining rights: 100% (2019: 100%)
–  Stoppage directives: three (2019: seven)

=   Employee and contractor fatalities: none (2019: none)
–   LTIFR: 0.05 (2019: 0.12)
–   OHIFR: 0.19 (2019: 0.24)
+   Scarce skills retention on target

–   Community incidents: 3 (2019: 4)
+   Top-quartile mining performer in ESG
+   Governance structure ESG analyst rating: 4.6 out of 5 

(2019: 4.6 out of 5) 

+   ESD: 2.6% of NPAT (2019: 1.8%), supporting 

24 suppliers in 2020
+   BEE level 2 (2019: level 2)

=   Marginal cost overruns on mega-projects
=   Implementation timelines for mega-projects on target

+    Core system availability: 98.86% (2019: 99.8%)
+    Cyberintrusions: none (2019: none)

+    Core EBITDA margin: 25% (2019: 23%)
+    ROCE: 25% (2019: 28%
+    Core HEPS: 2 973 cents per share (2019: 2 354 cents 

per share)

+    Market capitalisation: R50 billion (2019: R47 billion) 

(2019: 13%)

+ Positive impact > value created 
–  Negative impact > value eroded
= Neutral impact > value preserved

* Although we have achieved greater levels of efficiency 
in our use of natural capital, these outcomes have been 
marked as negative as they reflect a reduction in the 
balance of natural capital available.

Optimising our 
manufactured assets 
remains a key strategic 
priority.

Further reading 
 • Chairperson’s statement 

(page 10)

 • Our strategy (page 54)
 • CEO’s report (page 52)

Ensuring our competitive 
advantage through 
innovation and 
digitalisation remains key 
to Exxaro’s strategy going 
forward.

We continue focusing on 
initiatives designed to 
lower costs, increase 
quality and manage our 
risk profile to deliver 
financial value. 

Further reading 
•  Chairperson’s statement 

Further reading 
•  Chairperson’s statement 

(page 10)

 • Our strategy (page 54)
•  CEO’s report (page 52)
•  Business resilience 

(page 104)

(page 10)

 • Our strategy (page 54)
•  CEO’s report (page 52)
•  Finance director’s 
review (page 84)
•  Business resilience 

(page 104)

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  37

 
      
Understanding our business

OUR MATERIAL MATTERS IN ACTION

Since 2019, our material matters have broadened in scope and significance, not surprising given the broader 
macro-trends such as COVID-19, global instability and climate change. Each material matter is explained 
below and aligns with our strategy (during 2020), business model and selected SDGs.

PRICE AND CURRENCY VOLATILITY

Why this matters
Price volatility refers to fluctuations in the price of our export and some domestic coal products. Currency volatility refers to fluctuations in 
the exchange rate for exports. As a price taker with product prices denominated in United States (US) dollar, we are exposed to changes in 
the US dollar to South African rand exchange rate and shifts in coal and iron ore prices (two major contributors to earnings). 

Larger macro-economic factors impact price and currency volatility. We have no control over these, which could significantly impact our 
business. We implement several plans to manage these challenges in our approved risk appetite (limited price hedging) and remain cognisant 
of the potential impact. Additionally, our revenue is diversified by Eskom’s fixed contracts with annual price escalation, providing a degree 
of stability. 

Material theme
Macro-environment

Related capitals

2020 strategic objectives* Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

business

 • Optimising our portfolio
 • Prudently optimising capital

 • COVID-19 concerns
 • Eskom systemic risk
 • Cost competitiveness of products
 • Country risk (political)
 • Low commodity price

Affected stakeholders
Customers, investors (returns on investment), employees (employment security) communities and government (taxes and employment)

Key stakeholder engagements
Exxaro engages continuously with customers and the market on coal pricing.
•  Export volume pricing is based on All Publications Index 4
•  Eskom coal pricing for long-term supply contracts at Grootgeluk are fixed and adjusted annually based on inflation
•  Short-term coal supply contracts to Eskom for ECC and Leeuwpan were not concluded by year end

 Refer to macro-environment on page 98 for more information.

COUNTRY RISK

Why this matters
Country risk refers to the inherent risk of conducting business in a country. 

We are exposed primarily to risks relating to South Africa — our home base. These risks include high levels of unemployment, downgrades 
by credit rating agencies, dampened economic growth and lagging policy reform. Country risk remains a critical risk area for us to monitor 
as deterioration may affect the ease of doing business, operational returns and the attractiveness of South Africa as an investment 
destination. We continue monitoring these risks and implement appropriate strategies, where possible, to ensure we can create value for 
our stakeholders and deliver on our purpose.

Material theme
Macro-environment

Related capitals 

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

business

 • Optimising our portfolio
 • Prudently optimising capital

 • COVID-19 concerns
•  Eskom systemic risk
•  Cost competitiveness of products
•  Country risk (political)
•  Low commodity price
•  Unavailability of rail capacity

Affected stakeholders 
Customers, suppliers, government, communities, employees, contractors, and investors and analysts

Key stakeholder engagements
All stakeholders could be affected to varying degrees by a deteriorating operating environment. Ongoing engagements with stakeholders on 
Exxaro’s response to this risk.

Refer to macro-environment on page 98 for more information.

*  All material matters correlate to our 2020 strategy, but have also informed our new Strategic Growth and Impact strategy. See page 54 of the integrated report for more information on our 

strategic evolution.

38  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

KEY CUSTOMER DEPENDENCY

Why this matters
Our operational sustainability is tied to the success of Eskom, the national power utility and ArcelorMittal SA Limited (Arcelor Mittal). 

We continue collaborating with our customers to ensure mutual success while looking to broaden our customer base. 

Material theme
Business resilience

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

 • Eskom systemic risk
•  Cost competitiveness of products

business

•  Optimising our portfolio
•  Delivering operational excellence
•  Prudently optimising capital

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders 
Customers, and investors and analysts

Related SDGs

Key stakeholder engagements  
•  During South Africa’s first COVID-19 lockdown, Eskom declared force majeure at both Matimba and Medupi power stations indicating that 
the demand would be lower. Our view was and continues to be, that the event did not constitute a force majeure, as stipulated in the coal 
supply agreements (CSAs). We continue to engage with Eskom on this and other issues

•  Production volumes reduced during the first part of the year as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown. As producers returned to full production, 
we saw a marked increase in demand. We kept in close contact with our key customers and were able to respond promptly as their coal 
demands increased

•  Some customers were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and requested more lenient payment terms in the short term
•  As these requests were for extended payment terms over a short period, Exxaro responded favourably to these requests; at the same time, 

managing this closely to ensure that the customers did not default on the agreed terms

Refer to business resilience on page 104 for more information.

INFRASTRUCTURE ACCESS AND CAPACITY

Why this matters
Infrastructure access and capacity relate to ports, railways, mines and power stations. 

Outdated, inefficient or poorly functioning infrastructure, as well as a lack of access to infrastructure, can adversely impact our operations’ 
effectiveness and our ability to service our customers and other stakeholders.

Material theme
Macro-environment

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

 • Unavailability of rail capacity
 • Cost competitiveness of products
 • Country risk

business

 • Optimising our portfolio
 • Prudently optimising capital

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders 
Customers, suppliers, government, investors and analysts

Key stakeholder engagements
Engagements with Transnet Freight Rail take place regularly and at various levels in order to discuss matters of both operational and 
strategic consequence. Exxaro experienced challenges with the availability of trains.

Refer to macro-environment on page 98 for more information.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  39

Understanding our business

OUR MATERIAL MATTERS IN ACTION continued

PRUDENTLY MAXIMISING THE VALUE OF OUR COAL PORTFOLIO

Why this matters
Our coal portfolio is a valuable natural resource entrusted to us, and must be selectively and responsibly extracted to ensure we optimise its 
value, support economic growth and social development while safeguarding the natural environment, managing reputational risks and 
preparing for the low-carbon future. 

Our just transition to a low-carbon future has a foothold on the early value coal strategy, a key pillar of our Sustainable Growth and Impact 
strategy.  

 See page 54 for more information.

Material theme
Business resilience

Related capitals

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

business

•  Optimising our portfolio
•  Delivering operational excellence
•  Prudently optimising capital

 • COVID-19 concerns
•  Community unrest
•  Safety and health concerns
•  Cost competitiveness of products
•  Climate change concerns
•  Country risk (political)
•  Inability to achieve financial 

targets

•  Low commodity price

Affected stakeholders 
Customers, suppliers, government, communities, employees, contractors, unions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and investors and 
analysts

Key stakeholder engagements
•  We have made good progress in our efforts to divest from the less robust local assets 
•  We have intensified our engagement with Anglo in order to facilitate processes to get to an investment decision on Moranbah South in as 

minimal time as possible 

•  At Leeuwpan and ECC, we continued to update employees on the progress of the divestment process and to address their concerns about 

the change of ownership

•  Our early value coal strategy aims to reduce the potential for stranded assets and maximise the value of the coal business in the short to 

medium term establishing a foundation for transitioning to a low-carbon future

Refer to business resilience on page 104 for more information.

SUPPORTING A JUST TRANSITION TO A LOW-CARBON ECONOMY

Why this matters
Exxaro is committed to alleviating potential social and relationship and human capital disruption that could lead to further unemployment 
and poverty.

We consider the social impact on employees and communities who depend on the coal economy and respond by preparing affected people 
through appropriate skills and social support structures, for example alternative economic activities. 

Material theme
Business resilience

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

 • Climate change concerns

Related SDGs

business

•  Optimising our portfolio
•  Delivering operational excellence
•  Prudently optimising capital

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders 
Customers, suppliers, government, communities, employees, contractors, unions, NGOs, and investors and analysts

Key stakeholder engagements
•  As we move towards carbon neutrality by 2050, we continue to ensure that our transition contributes to the socio-economic wellbeing of 
the communities in which we operate. We continue to empower local suppliers and emerging small businesses to grow their businesses 
beyond the life of our operations

•  We have begun establishing strategic relationships to support us in our mineral succession planning, whereby we are evaluating the 

alternative use of rehabilitated land for economic activities beyond mining

Refer to business resilience on page 104 for more information.

40  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND RESILIENCE

Why this matters
Over time, our financial performance and resilience directly influence our business’s sustainability, success and viability. 

Without delivering solid returns to shareholders over time and ensuring we have the financial resources to implement our growth plans and 
social development objectives, we cannot deliver value to our broader stakeholders. 

Material theme
Business resilience

Related capital

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

business

•  Optimising our portfolio
•  Delivering operational excellence
•  Prudently optimising capital

 • COVID-19 concerns
•  Eskom systemic risk
•  Cost competitiveness of products
•  Country risk (political)
•  Inability to achieve financial 

targets

•  Low commodity price

Affected stakeholders
Investors and analysts, customers, suppliers, government, communities, employees and contractors

Key stakeholder engagements
We have adopted agility in our day-to-day business operations, by implementing new ways of work, that allowed us to capture opportunities 
that presented themselves during the pandemic. Our newly implemented short-cycle value chain control, which is part of our new ways of 
work and response to the challenges brought by the pandemic, helped in ensuring product placement across various markets, even during 
global lockdown. 
•  The deteriorating macro-environment and the economic shock from COVID-19 resulted in the reduced financial viability of many 

contractors 

•  We engaged extensively with strategic suppliers with the view of tapping into the innovation potential and to delivering further value. 

Commodities that have been positively impacted by this review include the sourcing of magnetite and fuel

Refer to business resilience on page 104 for more information.

COST COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR PRODUCTS

Why this matters
Cost competitiveness is our ability to sustainably produce quality coal products at the lowest marginal and average total cost, both in the 
short and long term. We strive to ensure our coal operations are best-in-class and cost competitive through our operational excellence drive, 
including adopting relevant technology and innovation, as we continue meeting customer expectations in terms of volumes, quality and price. 
Being cost competitive in an environment of price volatility is a key tenant of our operational excellence strategy.

Material theme
Business resilience

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

business

•  Optimising our portfolio
•  Delivering operational excellence
•  Prudently optimising capital

 • COVID-19 concerns
 • Eskom systemic risk
•  Unavailability of rail capacity
•  Cost competitiveness of products
•  Country risk (political)
•  Inability to achieve financial 

targets

•  Low commodity price

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Customers, suppliers, employees, contractors, and investors and analysts

Key stakeholder engagements 
•  Exxaro is only competitive if we can sell our products profitably at market-related pricing. To this end Exxaro engages continuously with 

customers on what product works best in the required application. We also take a value chain approach by following a market to resource 
optimisation strategy

•  Given the impact of COVID-19, we have implemented a cost-saving drive called “closing the gap” across our operations, which has enabled 

us to preserve cash, thereby ensuring healthy cash flow to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on our business operations

Refer to business resilience on page 104 for more information.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  41

Understanding our business

OUR MATERIAL MATTERS IN ACTION continued

CAPITAL ALLOCATION

Why this matters
Capital allocation refers to how we invest and distribute our financial resources to support our strategy, increase efficiency, expand 
operations and maximise value. We carefully consider how we allocate capital to achieve our strategic goals and invest in our current 
operations and future growth plans. 

Material themes
Business resilience

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

 • Eskom systemic risk
•  Cost competitiveness of products
•  Inability to achieve financial 

targets

•  Low commodity price

business

•  Optimising our portfolio
•  Delivering operational excellence
•  Prudently optimising capital

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Investors and analysts, and debt funders

Key stakeholder engagements
•  Our capital allocation framework provides a guideline for the use of cash generated, including the dividend policy and reinvestment 

strategy to enhance the return on capital employed (ROCE). Business of tomorrow investments have ceased and are held for possible 
future divestment

•  A key consideration for proceeds received from the disposal of our Tronox investment was the special dividend and share buy back during 

Q2 2021

Refer to business resilience on page 104 for more information.

LEGAL, REGULATORY AND COMPLIANCE EXCELLENCE

Why this matters
Legal, regulatory and compliance excellence is our awareness and understanding of, and compliance with relevant industry and company 
laws, policies and regulations. 

For Exxaro, this means actively monitoring the regulatory environment to identify any changes in compliance requirements and adapting to 
compliance efforts accordingly, maintaining our licence to operate and going beyond compliance. This includes, among others, codes of good 
practice, industry charters and other regulations, and best practice such as the UN SDGs and NDP.

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

business

•  Optimising our portfolio
•  Delivering operational excellence
•  Prudently optimising capital

 • Community unrest
 • Safety and health concerns
•  Climate change concerns
•  Country risk (political)

Material themes
Business resilience
Our people

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Government, employees, contractors, and investors and analysts
Key stakeholder engagements
•  We regularly engage with the relevant authorities to ensure that our permits and rights are up to date and protected

Refer to business resilience on page 104 and our people on page 108 for more information.

42  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

TRANSPARENCY, ETHICS AND INTEGRITY

Why this matters
Creating and preserving value for our stakeholders is guided by our values and requires effective and efficient governance processes and 
practices informed by good corporate citizenship pillars, namely transparency, accountability and integrity. 

We continuously aim to be a responsible and ethical corporate citizen. Our approach to transparency, ethics and integrity encompasses 
among others, fraud prevention, anti-bribery and anti-corruption. In addition, we face intense scrutiny by consumers and activists demanding 
greater visibility and transparency regarding our carbon footprint and emissions reduction strategies, environmental stewardship and 
achieving social objectives. 

Material themes
Our people

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
•  Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

•  Community unrest
•  Safety and health concerns
•  Climate change concerns

business

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Customers, suppliers, employees and contractors 

Key stakeholder engagements
•  The procurement fraud and the proliferation of procurement scams present a risk to Exxaro and its suppliers. Above inflation increase in 

input costs present a risk to Exxaro’s financial sustainability. The adoption of best-in-class business processes and technology has enabled 
us to respond to both financial and fraud risks. During 2020 the board approved a new source to pay and accounts payable policy, we 
reviewed our supplier code of conduct, which articulates a commitment to the prevention of corrupt practice, anti-bribery and corruption 
laws and we improved our supplier due diligence processes. All suppliers are required to commit to this code of conduct as a condition of 
tender. In 2020, online training on Exxaro’s anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies was carried out with employees and contractors. In 
2020 we also completed the roll-out of Coupa, a Software as a Service (SaaS)-based e-procurement platform that will further reduce fraud, 
increase transactional speed and enable greater value release through savings

•  Board governance sessions are held twice a year to update the board and executive leadership on key and leading trends on governance

Refer to our people on page 108 for more information.

RESPONSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Why this matters
Environmental stewardship refers to responsibly using the natural resources we rely on. 
It highlights the custodial role we play in terms of how we use, manage and protect the natural environment while delivering on our strategic 
objectives and ensuring we create value for our stakeholders and the country at large. Key stewardship efforts relate to water, air quality and 
carbon emission reduction.

Material theme
Climate change
Social licence to 
operate

Strategic objectives
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

business

Related risks
 • Climate change concerns
 • Water security
 • Air pollution
 • Biodiversity and land use

Related SDGs

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Communities, customers, suppliers, government, employees, contractors, NGOs, and investors and analysts

Key stakeholder engagements
•  Several initiatives are underway aimed at reducing the environmental impact of Exxaro. A pilot study is being conducted with the 

collaboration of original equipment manufacturers to pilot the use of compressed natural gas on haulage trucks. Similarly, Exxaro has 
concluded an agreement with a service provider to recycle old off-road tyres

Refer to our environment on page 118 and social licence to operate on page 116 for more information.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  43

  
Understanding our business

OUR MATERIAL MATTERS IN ACTION continued

CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE

Why this matters
Climate change resilience refers to our ability to adapt and succeed in the face of direct and indirect climate change impacts. In addition to 
addressing and managing these risks, it encompasses our ability to capitalise on the strategic opportunities presented by the shift to a 
lower-carbon and resource-constrained economy. 
Guided by our purpose, our Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy is designed to ensure we are able to manage the direct and indirect 
climate change impacts on our current portfolio while ensuring we are able to contribute to the low-carbon environment of the future. 

Material themes
Macro-environment
Climate change

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Achieve carbon neutrality by 

 • Climate change concerns

Related SDGs

2050

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Customers, suppliers, government, communities, employees, contractors, and investors and analysts

Key stakeholder engagements
•  We recognise the numerous benefits associated with adopting a value chain approach to climate adaptation and resilience, especially given 
that the negative impacts of climate change are not only limited to our business’s operating space. Therefore, during 2020, engagements 
with our host communities and other value chain partners were undertaken to enable us to adopt critical elements for the design of a 
comprehensive climate adaptation and resilience approach which is largely based on sustainably investing in our operations, communities 
and value chain partners.

•  We have completed our TCFD recommendations assessment, with a favourable score of 90%. The outcome of the assessment will provide 

a framework for the future engagement of shareholders and other capital providers.

 Refer to macro-environment on page 98 and our environment on page 118 for more information.

 Detailed disclosure is available in our CCRS report

Cennergi’s Amakhala Emoyeni windfarm

44  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

WORKFORCE: CULTURE, CAPABILITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND INNOVATION

Why this matters
Our corporate culture is critical in determining our success today and in years to come. We aim to foster a culture that supports adaptability 
and innovation, leveraging the strength of diversity to enable our success. 
We are committed to ensuring we have the right capabilities and values to deliver on our strategy and lead the business into the future to 
achieve our vision and fulfil our purpose.

Material themes
Our people

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

•  COVID-19 concerns
•  Community unrest
•  Safety and health concerns

business

•  Delivering operational excellence
•  Creating a culture of inclusivity, 

agility and adaptability
•  Strengthen our capabilities
•  Drive performance to support our 

strategy

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Customers, suppliers, employees and contractors

Key stakeholder engagements
•  Exxaro is in the second year of a culture shift that is seeking to promote new ways of working across the organisation. After extensive face-
to-face launch events with employees in 2019, the focus turned to internal communications in 2020 via email, portal and the SMS/mobile 
platform, LetsConnect. The culture changes are supported by the launch of a new online learning platform and a new leadership philosophy 
built around mindsets. 

•  Exxaro is exploring partnerships with several stakeholders to support the implementation of our diversity and inclusion strategy and to 

benchmark policies and practices. In 2020, we signed up to the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles, which offer guidance on 
how we can further empower women in our workplace and in our communities. We met with the Department of Women, Youth and Persons 
with Disabilities and the Gender Equality Commission to understand national initiatives to which we could direct our support, and we 
engaged with the NBI to better understand its transformation and equity programme. We continue to work closely with Women in Mining 
in South Africa where a key focus in 2020 was gender-based violence (GBV). Internal communication campaigns on GBV received high 
levels of support from employees. Finally, we participated in the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index (GEI) for the first time. 

 Refer to our people on page 108.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  45

Understanding our business

OUR MATERIAL MATTERS IN ACTION continued

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLNESS

Why this matters
Our employees are the organisation’s lifeblood. Exxaro is committed to protecting their health, safety and wellness. We strive to achieve zero harm 
through collective responsibility, commitment and risk awareness. 

Our targeted health, safety and wellness strategies and programmes are in place to help us achieve this. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we 
continuously leveraged and enhanced our existing health and wellness programmes to protect our employees, contractors and communities.

Material theme
Our people

Strategic objectives
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

business

•  Delivering operational excellence
•  Human Rights practice

Related risks
•  COVID-19 concerns
•  Community unrest
•  Safety and health concerns

Related SDGs

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Employees, contractors, communities and unions

Key stakeholder engagements 
•  The people implications of COVID-19 stirred up a new reality for the human resources discipline, necessitating real-time co-creation 
of relevant guidelines across multidisciplinary working teams, with employee wellbeing at the forefront of our solutions thinking 
Communication during this period focused largely on COVID-19, addressing employee concerns about a potential loss of income, as well 
as initiatives such as return-to-work protocols, remote work support, a return-to-work survey, an anti-stigmatisation campaign, mental 
health and wellness, were leveraged to hinge culture messages. The process of aligning diversity and inclusion initiatives to culture also 
commenced 

•  COVID-19 placed new health and operational risks to Exxaro and its contractors. Exxaro conducted an impact assessment on suppliers 

impacted by COVID-19 lockdown regulations. Exxaro took a stance to compensate contractors who were not able to render a service during 
the lockdown in part or in full for actual proven costs

•  The strategy for the sourcing of COVID-19-related personal protective equipment (PPE) sought to minimize supply risks for the business 

but also increase the participation of local small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMES):
 — In order to minimise social contact we utilised Exxaro’s new digital sourcing platform
 — To mitigate the supply risk among SMMEs, we placed qualifying SMMEs on early payment terms 
 — Exxaro further provided nearly R80 million in loan and grant funding to SMMEs through 2020

•  The COVID-19 pandemic has had grave implications for our communities, compounding unemployment and poverty. With lockdown 

regulations being eased, community groups demanded that business units (BUs) prioritise skills development, employment and business 
opportunities. Exxaro has developed a post-lockdown response plan to address the needs of the communities. The plan will be carried out 
in collaboration with social partners such as World Vision and local non-profit organisations (NPOs). Our stakeholder relationships provided 
a platform for an effective response to the COVID-19 challenge within our communities, it included extensive collaboration with local and 
provincial governments on numerous initiatives

•  COVID-19 and its impact on employee safety, job security and continued employment conditions took centre stage with labour stakeholders 
during 2020. We continue to engage with unions at all levels to ensure they understand and have input into Exxaro’s approach to COVID-19. 
We have also developed people management guidelines to address the concerns raised 

•  Exxaro continues to engage with the DMRE through the Mining Charter III, as well as provincial departments of health in a coordinated and 

collaborative response to the COVID-19 crisis

 Refer to our people on page 108 for more information.

46  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

CYBERSECURITY, TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITALISATION

Why this matters
Technology is rapidly changing and evolving, impacting organisations around the world though its unprecedented risks and opportunities. To 
navigate this, Exxaro’s resilience and agility will be enabled by leveraging digital tools, as well as progressive methodologies and capabilities 
that enable us to enhance performance across the value chain. 

We continue investing in technology and digitalisation, taking an enterprise-wide approach rather than a point solution. While the business 
advances its transformation, and relies increasingly on technology, we remain cognisant of managing the risks associated with technology 
and digitalisation as we strive to secure Exxaro’s assets across all information security domains.

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

 • COVID-19 concerns
 • Cybersecurity risk

business

•  Optimising our portfolio
•  Delivering operational excellence
•  Prudently optimising capital

Related SDGs

Material themes
Business resilience

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Customers, suppliers, communities, employees, contractors, and investors and analysts

Key stakeholder engagements
An industry leading cybersecurity assessment tool has been implemented that automatically measures and monitors all aspects of 
cybersecurity and provides an overall rating percentage (called a cybersecurity “posture”). This rating is benchmarked against peer 
companies and Exxaro has already achieved a higher rating than the industry norm which will be improved even further going forward.

Refer to business resilience on page 104 for more information.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  47

Understanding our business

OUR MATERIAL MATTERS IN ACTION continued

SOCIAL UNREST

Why this matters
In our mining communities, our operations are the primary economic activity (other than Eskom) where there is limited economic 
diversification independent of mining. With few job opportunities elsewhere, due to low economic growth and high levels of unemployment, 
the local communities require employment and procurement opportunities (please see material matter below as well). Furthermore, there is 
increasing pressure on private organisations to provide services traditionally supplied by the state. These pressures can result in social unrest 
affecting our communities, employees and operations. 

We believe that Exxaro is a tenant in our host communities. A successful relationship with communities is key to our business success and 
growth. In addition to our SLPs, we invest in areas such as environmental conservation and health and welfare through our corporate social 
investment (CSI) programmes. Exxaro will continue addressing these issues of concern through current and future “impact at scale” 
initiatives to reach a long-term resolution on future opportunities to benefit communities.

Material themes
Macro-environment
Social licence to 
operate

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

business

 • Optimising our portfolio
•  Delivering operational excellence
 • Prudently optimising capital
 • Human Rights practices

 • COVID-19 concerns
•  Eskom systemic risk
•  Community unrest
•  Climate change concerns
•  Country risk (political)

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Government, communities, employees, contractors and unions

Key stakeholder engagements
 • We are striving to increase the participation of black-owned suppliers and those from host communities. Exxaro has adopted source to pay 
and supply chain sustainability policies that support the increased participation of black-owned, black women-owned, youth and people 
with disabilities. Exxaro is fully compliant with the B-BBEE codes with regards to preferential procurement and is on track to achieve full 
compliance with respect to the Mining Charter III by 2021. In 2020, Exxaro awarded over R500 million in direct contracts to black-owned 
SMMEs 

•  Prevailing health conditions, low literacy and low skills levels within the community, are a barrier to community members accessing 

employment and procurement opportunities, which continues to drive community protests. The emergence of “splinter groups” within 
recognised community representative structures is a threat to constructive engagement and the effective implementation of social 
initiatives as it create inconsistencies in representation, unproductive engagement, occasionally violent community engagement events, 
individual agendas and non-compliance with engagement processes 

•  Local taxi associations are key stakeholders in Exxaro’s BUs as they are relied upon for the transportation of staff members and contractors. 
However, there are challenges associated with local taxi associations as they expect and demand opportunities to transport employees and 
contractors while imposing exorbitant transportation rates which affect workers ability to travel to and from work

•  Prevailing misalignment and tension between local government structures, community members and community representation 

exacerbated by service delivery challenges has introduced complexity in the local stakeholder landscape and challenges Exxaro’s ability 
to implement SLP initiatives

•  Exxaro’s community benefit scheme was officially registered as “Exxaro Matla Setshabeng Development NPC” during 2020. The community 
investment vehicle also received circa R60 million in dividends from Exxaro. The community benefit scheme is pitched at the district level, 
aligning with the DMRE definition of community, to enable regional development and partnership with industry peers and the government 
through the district development model

•  We are exploring a pilot project with the NBI and Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), a project management unit of the 
Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to implement a municipal capacity-building programme
•  Cooperation from Exxaro contractors is being pursued to address the concerns and expectations of communities and ensure local 

consideration in skills development, employment and subcontracting

•  We have embarked on a process to enhance our Human Rights practice to ensure safe conduct of security personnel to avoid conflict 

during social unrest events/activities

Refer to macro-environment on page 98 and social licence to operate on page 116 for more information.

48  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

SUPPORTING JOB AND BUSINESS CREATION

Why this matters
Given the high levels of unemployment and poverty in South Africa, particularly among the youth and women, Exxaro is committed to 
supporting job and business creation by investing in community upliftment and youth development. We focus on investments beyond mere 
CSI to create solutions that leave a legacy for our communities. We aim to empower, upskill and develop South Africans from a young age 
to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Material themes
Social licence to 
operate

2020 strategic objectives Related risks
 • Ensuring the sustainability of our 

Related SDGs

business

 • Delivering operational excellence
 • Become catalyst for economic 

development

 • COVID-19 concerns
•  Eskom systemic risk
•  Community unrest
•  Cost competitiveness of products

Related capitals

Affected stakeholders
Suppliers, government, communities, employees, contractors and unions

Key stakeholder engagements 
•  The focus of other government engagements in the second half of the year has been in support of Exxaro’s minerals succession plan — focusing 
on building relationships with departments and agencies that might help Exxaro to improve its understanding of best practices on communal 
land usage and the organisation’s role as an investor and supporter of South Africa’s growth aspirations

•  Engagement with community stakeholders typically revolves around demands for access to employment and procurement opportunities 
at Exxaro’s operations, as well as skills development that enables access to employment or procurement opportunities. Since the launch 
of Exxaro’s ESD programme in 2019, engagements have also taken place to promote access to ESD opportunities that in particular, lead to 
participation in the Exxaro value chain 

•  The gradual easing of COVID-19 lockdown regulations has seen most ESD beneficiaries return to normal operations. The ESD programme is 

achieving its objectives of both legislative compliance and social impact. Efforts with non-financial support programmes are gaining momentum 
and a progress report will be provided in the next reporting cycle

•  A survey conducted at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown amongst the Exxaro ESD programme beneficiaries, revealed that, of the 

20 beneficiaries responding to the survey, 55% indicated that their operations would be reduced, 35% would stop operations and 10% would 
remain unchanged. Eleven ESD programme beneficiaries were issued with force majeure letters by the various BUs and this had an impact on 
their cash flows. Consequently, the ESD programme gave priority to existing ESD beneficiaries for support through loan repayment holidays and 
information webinars. A total of 13 ESD beneficiaries successfully applied for loan repayment holidays of between three to six months, totalling 
R10.9 million 

•  The maintenance of healthy relationships with organised labour remains crucial for Exxaro and was particularly important within the context 
of COVID-19 in 2020. Our union engagements structures at BUs and employer level continue to function constructively in support of a stable 
employee relations climate. In addition to these normal engagements, a special session with the executive and national union leadership was 
held to provide an update on business context and seek their insights. We plan to hold similar sessions in future

Refer to social licence to operate for more information.

Refer to stakeholder management on page 62 for detailed information about how we engaged with our stakeholders during the year.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  49

Truck and shovel at Grootegeluk

50  Exxaro Resources Integrated Report 2020
50  Exxaro Resources Integrated Report 2020

POSITIONING THE 
BUSINESS FOR 
GROWTH

52 CEO’s report

54 Our strategy: Positioning Exxaro for sustainable growth and impact

56 Performance against our 2020 strategy

60 Understanding our key strategic trade-off considerations

62 Stakeholder management

66 Business risks and opportunities for growth

80 Combined assurance for effective governance

At Exxaro, we’re committed to creating real impact 
through innovative solutions. This year, we partnered 
with a blended learning platform provider to offer 
training and development to our communities, in 
addition to our workforce.

On 30 November 2020, we launched the Powering 
Knowledge platform for 50 small, medium and micro 
enterprises (SMMEs) in Belfast and Lephalale. The 
community-focused learning solution is designed to 
offer online reskilling and upskilling training as well as 
ESD programmes for SMMEs who are instrumental in 
creating jobs and growing the economy. 

The digital platform allows Exxaro to support more 
businesses than it would be able to in traditional face-to-
face training environments. It also allows participants to 
work through the material at their own pace. 

This is another example of how we continue embracing 
and enabling our people and communities through 
technology and innovation, powering tomorrow today.

ExExExxxExxEx aro Resources Integrated report 2020  51
Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  51

Positioning the business for growth

CEO’S REPORT

Mxolisi Mgojo
Chief executive officer

While the first three months of 
2020 passed smoothly with 
strong operational results, the 
emergence of COVID-19 
disrupted life as we knew it.  
As a team, we quickly reset our 
compass and shifted our 
engagement platforms for 
positive outcomes.

52  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

  WORKING TOGETHER TO FACE COVID-19

The pandemic underscored fundamental underlying societal issues, 
including unemployment, inequality and constrained healthcare. 
Across the spectrum, business, government, social partners and 
other stakeholders rallied together to respond to COVID-19 to halt 
its spread, and support those in need. The challenges we all faced 
during the year were extensive, these moments of triumph and 
ubuntu are what resonate with me. 

Exxaro saw this time of crisis as an opportunity to ensure our 
stakeholders, including government, our employees, suppliers and 
contractors and host communities, received the necessary support 
and commitment to help them overcome the pandemic’s negative 
impacts. As the country continues to face numerous challenges, 
exacerbated by COVID-19, I believe we have no choice but to come 
together to create a better future for the next generation.

Our operations heeded the call with a sense of urgency. From a 
community perspective, approximately R1.95 million was spent 
on various COVID-19-related initiatives including an R20 million 
donation to the Solidarity Fund, R13.9 million towards small, medium 
and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) and R7 million for two testing 
facilities at Grootegeluk and Matla. We conducted skills development 
and ESD programmes via online platforms for host communities. 
Our investment in free community WiFi for Siyathuthuka in Belfast 
ensured social distancing without loss of communication. Our Belfast 
and Grootegeluk operations assisted the Emakhazeni and Lephalale 
municipalities respectively with short-term water supply to prevent 
the spread of COVID-19. We collaborated with mining contractors and 
non-governmental organisations to provide food parcels and PPE 
to vulnerable people and essential service providers at the cost of 
R1.8 million and R209 million on COVID-19 preventative measures. 
Exxaro also contributed R460 000 to the Minerals Council South 
Africa initiative to provide PPE to the Department of Health in 
Mpumalanga.

To keep our employees safe, and in line with our health and 
wellness strategy that focuses on the diagnosis, management and 
prevention of diseases, our response to the pandemic continues 
to focus on avoiding, reducing and managing COVID-19 cases. 
As at 1 March 2021, a total of 2 780 employees have been infected 
since the onset of the pandemic, with a recovery rate of 99%. Our 
deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones due to 
the virus. We remain committed to our fight to prevent further loss 
of life and continue to implement COVID-19 preventative measures 
in line with government regulations and recommendations.

 Refer to our response to COVID-19 on page 14 for more 
information on the initiatives we implemented to assist host 
communities. 

OUTPERFORMING EXPECTATIONS
Despite a depressed global coal market for most of 2020, we 
reported a 25% increase in core group EBITDA to R7 291 million 
(FY19: R5 832 million), and a 26% increase in core headline earnings 
per share (HEPs) at R29.73 (FY19: R23.54) for the financial year 
ended 31 December 2020. This is a notable achievement in the face 
of the COVID-19 pandemic, a distressed local economy and relatively 
low thermal coal pricing environment. 

We navigated significant headwinds and new risks brought about by 
COVID-19 during the year, however, pleasingly all Exxaro operations 
returned to full capacity from the second half of the year, with 
Matla at 80% until the end of the third quarter. Overall coal 
production volumes (excluding buy-ins) increased by 4% to 47.4Mt, 
mainly attributable to higher production at Grootegeluk as well as 
the Belfast mine, which was fully ramped-up from March 2020. The 
increase was partly offset by lower production at Leeuwpan and 
ECC due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Sales improved by 5% to 46.8Mt 
as a result of a 34% increase in exports as well as higher domestic 
sales from Grootegeluk, offset somewhat, by lower domestic sales 
at Leeuwpan and ECC.

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Our ability to create value for stakeholders is anchored around our 
safety performance. Amidst the backdrop of the pandemic, it is 
pleasing to be able to report on our record safety performance. 
A significant highlight for the year was the achievement of a record 
48 months without a fatality as at 2 March 2021, and we continued 
to operate uninterruptedly with no section 54s. Our LTIFR for the 
year of 0.05 was 55% better than the set target, and represents 
a 58% year-on-year improvement in our LTIFR, which is a company 
record. I would like to commend all our teams for continuing to drive 
zero harm so effectively.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION
Exxaro grapples with two key concerns when facing strategic 
decision making: Exxaro’s future, and how do we balance the 
competing needs of our stakeholders while ensuring we deliver on 
our purpose?

 We have always been a predominantly fossil fuel business. 
However, we understand the crisis facing the planet due to climate 
change and are committed to being carbon-neutral by 2050 in 
terms of scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 
(as detailed in our ESG report in the environment section). At the 
same time, we must meet the needs of our stakeholders as we 
safely and responsibly extract maximum value from our assets.

 In 2020, we reviewed our strategic intent and developed a new 

Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy (refer to our strategy: 
positioning Exxaro for sustainable growth and impact on page 54). 
This strategy considers the complexities and opportunities we face, 
ensuring we are responsible today as well as into the future. Further, 
the outcomes of our TCFD recommendations assessment will 
provide a structured framework for engagement with the financial 
community as we embark on our just transition journey in response 
to climate change.

Our strategy also recognises that, to ensure sustainability, our 
positive impacts must reach far and wide. Exxaro must be a catalyst 
for meaningful change, with our legacy measurable long after 
mining ceases. This should be embodied in creating opportunities 
and economies that sustain communities and broader society for 
generations to come. 

UNLOCKING VALUE THROUGH OUR PEOPLE
As we embark on the next leg of our strategic journey, how we 
execute our plan will be a critical determinant of its success. That’s 
why we are focused on ensuring we have the right human capital to 
drive us forward and that we, in turn, offer our employees a value 
proposition that both motivates and inspires them.

This past year highlighted the importance of ensuring our people 
are resilient in a changing working environment to protect both 
their lives and livelihoods. I was inspired by my colleagues as they 
adapted time and again to an ever-changing context.

We continue developing and 
entrenching a company culture 
of agility, accountability and 
adaptiveness.

Our continuous investment in our employees across the 
organisation helps keep our goals aligned and focus in mind. Since 
2014, Exxaro has been recognised as one of South Africa’s top 
employers by the globally focused Top Employers Institute. The 
merit in these awards lies in our commitment to our employees.

We embrace diversity and inclusivity as an enabler of our business 
strategy, rather than a compliance exercise. The diversity of 
perspectives, skills and experience in our teams will support our 
growth and help us identify the unique risks and opportunities we 
will face. I believe that people must truly be empowered to unlock 
their unique talents to drive our business forward and ensure we 
can maximise our positive impact on society.

We strive to actively break down barriers for women in the mining 
sector. We are also committed to ending GBV, which we foster 
through collaboration with our peers and the Minerals Council 
South Africa. Exxaro firmly believes that no person should face 
discrimination, abuse or hardship for any reason, including race, 
gender, age or sexual identity, among others.

PROSPECTS
As a business, Exxaro has long recognised the risks associated with 
climate change, as well as the opportunities it brings for future 
development. The work we have done to ensure our strategy is 
aligned to these risks and opportunities will position us well for the 
future, as we ensure we capitalise on the momentum to liberalise 
South Africa’s energy sector. The combination of energy production 
and asset management will create an annuity income stream in the 
long term for the group. In the short term, the aim is to establish 
credentials as distributed energy solutions.

WITH GRATITUDE
While the year has not been easy, I believe the results speak for 
themselves. I am deeply appreciative of Exxaro’s people for their 
absolute dedication to their work. Thank you for your tireless 
efforts this year. To my fellow board members, thank you for your 
guidance and counsel as we faced complexities extending beyond 
our business. 

Finally, to our stakeholders across the globe, thank you for your 
continued support. 

I truly believe in Exxaro’s purpose and, along with my executive 
committee colleagues, I am committed to ensuring we power better 
lives every day. 

Mxolisi Mgojo 
Chief executive officer 

19 April 2021

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  53

 
Positioning the business for growth

OUR STRATEGY: POSITIONING EXXARO FOR SUSTAINABLE 
GROWTH AND IMPACT

We concluded the decade to 2020 with a new strategy and started the next 
decade with a firm foundation for our journey towards a just transition. 
2020 marked a milestone in the (near) conclusion and achievement of 
our prior strategic objectives, namely portfolio optimisation, ensuring a 
sustainable business, delivering operational excellence and product capital 
optimisation. We describe our performance against these objectives in the 
next section in the context of the following five material themes:

Macro-
environment

Business 
resilience

Our 
people

Social licence 
to operate

Climate  
change

Renewable energy is a rapidly growing aspect of the energy mix 
across all major economies, including South Africa. In South Africa, 
the Integrated Resource Plan forecasts renewables’ contribution 
to the energy mix to increase from about 10% today to between 
45% to 50% in 2030. Our investment in Cennergi is our 
commitment to this future energy scenario.

TAKING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
Our new Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy has been 
developed through broad consultation, informed by the latest 
industry research. Key stakeholders have been engaged throughout 
the process to ensure we consider their legitimate needs. The 
strategy has been submitted to the board of directors for input, 
supported by a clear implementation plan. 

In developing our Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy, we have 
further integrated sustainability, growth and impact because we 
understand that these elements of our business and operating 
environment are deeply connected.  

Going forward, our business portfolio will shift to more sustainable 
businesses, with a focus on renewable energy and a continued 
review of minerals contributing to a low-carbon world. This scope 
will establish the base for our new multi-core business. This multi-
core business will be built on the platform of skills and technology 
that is driving our coal business.

Our coal business remains critical and strategic in supporting South 
Africa’s economic development in the foreseeable future. 
Consequently, we have prioritised responsible mining through our 
early value coal strategy, which is a key pillar of the Sustainable 
Growth and Impact strategy. Our early value coal strategy optimises 
our coal reserves, minimises stranded high-value reserves and 
moves our operations lower on the cost curve. We are also able to 
meet our long-term CSAs to ensure the energy supply that supports 
the country’s socio-economic development.

We have shifted and migrated from our original thinking of growing 
Exxaro through our Business of Tomorrow initiatives and responding 
to climate change threats. Instead, our Sustainable Growth and 
Impact strategy will transform Exxaro in a systematic and integrated 
manner into a diversified company that will transition from a 
coal-base to a renewable energy and minerals business that will 
thrive in a low-carbon future. 

THE CONTEXT FOR CHANGE
Our purpose, to power better lives in Africa and beyond, is 
fundamental to our business. As our context continues evolving, 
our purpose informs our strategic plans and where we should focus 
our efforts.

We have long understood the need to balance the country’s 
socio-economic development, which relies on coal generated power, 
with the need to support the transition towards a low-carbon 
economy to reduce carbon emissions and the harmful impacts of 
climate change. This transition is changing life as we know it today 
and will impact energy and capital markets, value chains and the 
overall context for conducting business. These are major changes 
that will raise future challenges and increase external risks for those 
who do not adapt, but will present significant opportunities for 
those who are able to evolve. 

We are committed to responsibly 
balancing these competing needs 
and delivering on our purpose, 
both now and into the future, 
through a thriving diversified 
business. Hence, our integrated 
strategic approach addresses the 
current state of play and positions 
our business for the future. 

54  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Our Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy

Our purpose

Powering better lives in Africa and beyond

Our vision

Resources  
powering a clean  
world

What does this mean?
We see ourselves as a company who will be providing resources (beyond 
just commodities) critical to a low-carbon world. We see Exxaro as a 
diversified organisation with energy and mineral resources capabilities 
critical and relevant in a world of low carbon emissions.

Our strategy

Creating sustainable 
growth and impact

Our strategic 
objectives

Our roadmap to 
sustainable growth  
and impact

How will we achieve this vision?
To deliver on our vision, Exxaro will focus on efforts to transition at speed 
to further diversify our business with a focus on low-carbon minerals and 
energy businesses by making considered capital allocation decisions and 
divesting of assets that do not support our strategic aspirations.

To successfully operate in these growth areas, we understand that 
we need our people to thrive — this means creating an enabling work 
environment through effective operating models, enabling policies and 
ways of work. These will be built from the strong base that is the Exxaro 
culture and embodied values. Exxaro’s strategic focus on diversity and 
inclusion is designed to address the country’s legacy of exclusion by 
leveraging the power of diversity to create the requisite vibrancy and 
cultural representation needed to support our focus on innovation.

We aspire to grow our ability to catalyse economic growth by providing 
access to clean energy in our acquisitions and by building and enabling 
SMMEs.

To create Sustainable Growth and Impact, we will focus on the 
following five objectives:
1.  Transition at speed and scale
  We will further evolve into a recognisable diversified minerals and 
energy business at a pace that will enable us to capture significant 
growth opportunities while ensuring a just transition. 

2.  Make our minerals and energy businesses thrive
  We will enhance focus on our core delivery areas: minerals and energy 

by using a prudent portfolio management and capital allocation 
approach as well as operational excellence using innovation and 
technology.

3.  Empower people to create impact
  Our people are equipped with the capabilities, mindset and passion to 

achieve our purpose.

4.  Be a catalyst for economic development

Impact is intrinsic to our business investments and activities. We 
achieve diversity and inclusion, socio-economic impact as well as 
environmental stewardship in the delivery of our strategy.  

5.  Be carbon-neutral by 2050
  Actively manage our scope 1 and scope 2 carbon emissions and reduce 
the volume of potable water consumed in our operations to achieve 
carbon-neutrality by 2050.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  55

 
 
 
 
Positioning the business for growth

PERFORMANCE AGAINST OUR 2020 STRATEGY

Our 2020 strategic objectives guided our actions in a resource-
constrained environment which was exacerbated by the impacts 
of COVID-19. 

 Our trade-offs are outlined on page 60 and our material matters are on page 6 and from page 38 to 49. The following tables outline our 

strategic objectives that guided our actions and achieved performance.

OPTIMISING OUR PORTFOLIO

What this means

We remain focused on ensuring we have an optimal 
portfolio to deliver on our purpose — powering better 
lives in Africa and beyond. This requires tough calls on 
our assets to ensure we are responsibly extracting the 
maximum value from these investments. These must be 
robust and profitable against volatile market conditions 
and resilient to climate change pressure.

Related material themes

KPIs and performance

Performance in 2020

Portfolio optimisation remains a strategic objective to 
ensure a simplified business structure that will reduce 
the holding discount in our valuation. In relation to the 
coal business, we also want to keep a portfolio of assets 
that will withstand market price volatility with high-
quality reserves providing flexibility under changing 
market conditions for coal products.

Business of Tomorrow: No further investments in Business of Tomorrow. 
Current Business of Tomorrow investments are held for possible future 
divestment at an appropriate time.

Black Mountain Proprietary Limited (Black Mountain): Exxaro 
continues to evaluate its options to dispose of its shareholding in Black Mountain 
following the suspension of the sales process in December 2020.

Coal operations
As part of our sustainable growth approach, we conducted an internal review 
to evaluate and optimise our current portfolio of coal operations and 
investments. We took a strategic decision to dispose of our ECC and Leeuwpan 
operations, having identified these assets as non-core to Exxaro’s future 
objectives. Subsequent to 31 December 2020, Exxaro signed a sale and purchase 
agreement with Overlooked Colliery Proprietary Limited who will acquire ECC. 
The sale will only be effective once all conditions precedent to the sales 
agreement have been met. The disposal process for Leeuwpan continues.

 Refer to our operational performance on page 96 for more information.

Looking forward

Related SDGs

A key component of our new strategy revolves around 
optimising our strategy to ensure the viability of our 
business into the future. We will continue aligning our 
portfolio to these plans. Exxaro’s deepest roots and 
expertise lie in energy. As energy security is critical to 
food and water security, we determined that we can 
most powerfully move the needle by sharpening our 
focus on energy and gaining nearer-term traction in that 
area and ensuring water security for our current and 
future mineral operations.

  See page 54 for more information on our 

Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy.

56  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

South Africa struggled with national lockdowns to halt the spread of 
the COVID-19 virus, but our focus remained on delivering against our 
strategic objectives in a safe and sustainable manner.

ENSURING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR BUSINESS

What this means

Related material themes

We continue refining our sustainability 
strategy and sustainable development 
approach in the context of the just 
transition.

Our embedded safety and health strategies 
and stakeholder relations enabled us 
to respond timeously and effectively to 
COVID-19.

KPIs and performance

Performance in 2020

Target: top quartile FTSE Russell ESG 
Index 

FTSE Russell ESG Index – 
Exxaro’s historical 
performance

.

6
4

6
3

.

.

6
0 4
4

.

.

0
6 4
3

.

.

6
4

.

3
3

.

3
3

5
f
o
t
u
o
e
r
o
c
S

5

4

3

2

1

0

FY18

FY19

FY20

(cid:93) Environmental (cid:93) Social
(cid:93) Governance

(cid:81) Final ESG score

Health: managing lives and livelihoods 
Exxaro’s coal operations and Cennergi were declared essential services to ensure continued coal 
and wind supply for electricity generation during the national lockdown in 2020. Consequently, 
we were able to maintain 100% operating capacity for most of our operations since the start of 
the lockdowns. However, our Matla operation operated at 80% until the beginning of October 
2020. As such, employee and community safety and health were paramount to, firstly, minimise 
the spread of COVID-19 while maintaining production performance and secondly, respond 
promptly to ensure effective recovery.

  See page 14 for more COVID-19-related information.

Just transition journey — a holistic response to climate change
Our TCFD analysis highlighted the increasing risk of carbon price exposure as Global Climate 
Action is focused on meeting the Paris Agreement target of 2°C (and below) by the end of the 
century. We are confident that attaining our carbon-neutrality target for scope 1 and scope 2 
emissions by 2050, combined with making our business portfolio climate resilient in a low-carbon 
world through our Sustainable Growth and impact strategy, will mitigate the financial impact of 
carbon exposure risk. Our considered social interventions include sustainable impact strategies 
that will involve, among others, regenerative rehabilitation and repurposing relevant assets such 
as our land, to develop new industries beyond coal mining for the livelihoods of local 
communities.

We are committed to implementing the TCFD recommendations, which will support our 
communicated strategic direction. We started with an assessment process prior to the 
national lockdown and due to the setback from the pandemic, the publication of the 
recommendation report was delayed.

  Refer to page 118 for more information.

Looking forward

Related SDGs

We remain focused on improving our 
overall ESG performance with responsible 
stewardship and managing our 
sustainability. Our focus remains on health 
and safety, our social licence to operate 
and including human rights best practice, 
environmental stewardship and managing 
and responding to climate change.

 See page 54 for more information 
on our Sustainable Growth and Impact 
strategy.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  57

 
 
 
Positioning the business for growth

PERFORMANCE AGAINST OUR 2020 STRATEGY continued

DELIVERING OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

What this means

Related material themes

Operational excellence refers to the drive 
to improve how we do business. While 
our primary measure remains on our cost 
per tonne mined, this strategic objective 
stretches across all operations and reflects 
the constraints of the environment we 
operate in and our drive to maximise 
efficiency in this context.

KPIs and performance

Performance in 2020

Target: limit increase to mining inflation  
(R/tonne)

Cost per tonne — excluding 
Matla vs strip ratio*

We continue rolling out our integrated operations centres across our BUs, enabling operational 
insights and in-time decision making. These centres assist us on our journey to improving our 
safety, productivity and cost performance. Our investments in digitalisation, innovation and 
technology support these goals, and we continued to seek opportunities to ensure cost-
competitive production and improved efficiency for higher volumes. 

%
9
+

%
4
+

9
5
3

4
7
3

8
2
3

Responsible and safe operations are a key component of delivering operational excellence and 
we continue investing in programmes that support a safe and healthy working environment, 
responsible environmental stewardship and protecting our social licence to operate. 

 More information can be found in our business resilience and people sections on page 

104 and 108 respectively.

400

300

t
/
R

200

100

0

FY18**

FY19**

FY20

*  Tonne of overburden moved for each tonne of ROM
** Re-presented to exclude indicrect corporate costs
  and coal buy-in cost 

Looking forward

Related SDGs

Our goal is to ensure our coal operations 
will be best-in-class and cost-competitive. 
Supported by our companywide drive to 
achieve operational excellence, we 
continue meeting our customers’ 
expectations of volumes, quality and price. 

  See page 54 for more information on 

our Sustainable Growth and Impact 
strategy.

We are planning for a below consumer 
price index (CPI) +2% (mining inflation) 
increase in production unit costs per tonne, 
acknowledging inflation costs, with 
improving volume efficiencies. Cash cost 
performance and free cash flow generation 
(as our expansion capex comes to an end) 
will be material measures of operational 
success.

58  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

PRUDENTLY OPTIMISING CAPITAL

What this means

Related material themes

Cautiously allocating our capitals, 
particularly our financial capital, is a 
critical part of our value creation process 
and, as such, forms part of our strategic 
objectives. Our leadership teams are 
charged with prudently allocating capital to 
ensure we deliver on our current strategic 
priorities, as well as position the business 
for future growth. 

KPIs and performance

Performance in 2020

Target: return on capital employed (ROCE) 
of >20%. Dividend policy: 2.5 times to 
3.5 times group core net profit after tax 
(excluding SIOC core equity-accounted 
income) less non-controlling interests (NCI) 
of Exxaro subsidiaries (excluding NCI of 
Eyesizwe) “adjusted group earnings” and 
a pass through of the Sishen Iron Ore 
Company Proprietary Limited (SIOC) 
dividend.

Exxaro’s improved capital allocation programme continued delivering on commitments related 
to capital expenditure for its production growth through project delivery and return of cash to 
shareholders with the near conclusion of our expansion programme. Our focus remains on 
optimising and implementing our portfolio of growth and sustaining capital.

In relation to capital expenditure and project delivery, other than GG6, all projects were on 
schedule and on budget. On the GG6 expansion project, the overall schedule was impacted by 
the COVID-19 national lockdown period and contractor performance, resulting in an overall 
12-month delay from the originally approved timeline, and an estimated 10% capital overrun. 
The project and operations teams continue seeking opportunities to optimise capital 
expenditure and mitigate negative impacts on the business.

ROCE

%

35

25

20

15

10

0

Grootegeluk’s rapid load-out station project is aligned with the TFR north-west corridor 
expansion project. On 30 September 2020, it was successfully handed over to the Grootegeluk 
complex for operation. 

8
2

5
2

3
2

We are in the process of finalising our options regarding the future of the Thabametsi mine, 
given the latest announcements that the Independent power producer (IPP) is unlikely to 
continue due to the withdrawal of key stakeholders.

Debt management (balance sheet): In order to manage its capital expenditure programme, 
Exxaro sources funds in both the Debt Capital and traditional banking markets. Alternative 
sources of funding allow Exxaro to fund its obligations in terms of the capital expenditure 
programme with a blend of interest rates which results in a lower interest cost.

FY18

FY19

FY20

(cid:93) Actual

(cid:81) Target

Looking forward

Related SDGs

We continue ensuring we align with 
shareholder expectations — protecting 
returns, prudently allocating capital to our 
existing business and ensuring 
transparency regarding our future capital 
allocation plans.

 Refer to page 54 for more information 

on our Sustainable Growth and Impact 
strategy.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  59

  
Positioning the business for growth

UNDERSTANDING OUR KEY STRATEGIC TRADE-OFF 
CONSIDERATIONS

We understand that, to create sustained value for our stakeholders, 
our strategy must recognise and balance the inherent trade-offs 
we face.

In developing our strategy, we consider the potential trade-offs our strategic decisions create to ensure we fully comprehend these decisions, 
as well as work to maximise positive outcomes and curb negative impacts.

We outline two of the many strategic trade-offs we grappled with during the year below.

BALANCING THE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF COAL WITH THE NEED TO SUPPORT SOUTH AFRICA’S 
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

As a developing country, South Africa depends on reliable energy to fuel its growth. However, coal has a noticeable impact on 
environmental systems. As the frequency and scale of climate change-related events continue to grow, so has the imperative to transition 
to a low-carbon economy.

We support this imperative, but we are also mindful that structural economic transitions take time. Without adequate planning, transitions 
like these have historically had negative impacts on the most vulnerable in society.

Our purpose is to power better lives in Africa and beyond. To achieve this, we continue carefully considering the critical trade-offs of the 
economy’s immediate and affordable energy needs along with the growing and urgent need to reduce carbon emissions to sustain our 
environmental systems.

Our Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy is designed to balance these seemingly competitive needs, ensuring we participate in the just 
transition to a low-carbon economy while delivering on our early value coal strategy in a prudent and responsible manner.

 For more information, see page 118.

Related material themes

Related SDGs

BALANCING SHORT-TERM SHAREHOLDER EXPECTATIONS WITH LONG-TERM STRATEGIC INVESTMENT

Balancing short-term shareholder performance expectations while continuing to invest in future growth can be challenging. Many of our 
strategic investments are long-term initiatives that require significant time and financial investment. These include our digitalisation and 
innovation journey, investments in renewable energy and capital expansion projects. Conversely, shareholders have a reasonable 
expectation to receive returns through dividends and capital appreciation.

We are committed to navigating this challenge through transparency and communication, and ensuring our strategy aligns with 
shareholder expectations.

Our board-approved dividend policy offers shareholders clarity about dividend expectations and our growth plans. Our revised strategy, and 
focus on building our renewable energy and minerals businesses, necessitated a review of our dividend policy during the year. The board of 
directors has approved cover ratios (2.5 times to 3.5 times) to be applied to the Exxaro adjusted group earnings and not only coal earnings. 
Our current dividend policy, which has been clearly communicated to shareholders, now entails:
 • A pass through of the SIOC dividend received
 • A dividend based on a cover ratio of 2.5 to 3.5 times Exxaro adjusted group earnings, to include earnings contributions from Cennergi

Furthermore, we continue engaging with stakeholders to help them understand our strategic growth strategy and, in turn, ensure we align 
with and understand their expectations.

 For more information, see page 62.

Related material themes

Related SDGs

60  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Shirley Mnisi of our ESD beneficiary, Jehovha Jaira

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  61

Positioning the business for growth

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

In support of Exxaro’s purpose of powering better lives for all in Africa 
and beyond, we continue to work towards improving the quality of our 
relationships with stakeholders. We strive to do so by building long-
term, stable and trusting relationships that facilitate business activities 
and create shared value for all our stakeholders. 

EXXARO’S 
STAKEHOLDER 
UNIVERSE
We take a holistic approach to 
stakeholder engagement, 
believing that we are a 
participant in an 
interconnected network. As 
such, we view stakeholders in 
terms of our stakeholder 
universe framework, which 
includes stakeholders who 
have a material influence or 
have a high potential of 
forming part of a network of 
influence on the execution of 
the stakeholder excellence 
agenda. These stakeholders 
can be grouped into four main 
clusters including government 
(regulators), communities, 
value chain participants and 
the business community. 

 For more information 
about engagements with key 
stakeholders please see 
page 30 of our ESG Report.

Unions

Governmental 
departments

Local  
government

Political 
parties

Investors

Strategic  
suppliers

Partner in 
delivery

S

T

N

A

GOVERNMEN

T

AIN PARTICIP

H
 C
E
U
L
A
V

S
S
E
N
I
S
U
B

C

O

M

MUNITIES

Sponsors

Customers

Employees

Service providers

Local media

Faith-based 
organisations

Taxi association

Farmers and 
landowners

NGOs

Media

Professional 
industry bodies

Other mining 
organisations

Universities

Regulators

Financial 
community

NPOs

Other mining 
companies

Local SMMEs

Local 
schools

Local  
leadership

Communities

Exxaro’s approach to stakeholder management
Exxaro utilises a key account management (KAM) approach to stakeholder management. Our management process has foundations in 
the global best practice AccountAbility 1000 Stakeholder Engagement Standard (AA1000 SES). Our objective is to enable a responsive 
and proactive method of managing stakeholder relationships and stakeholder-driven risks in an increasingly dynamic and uncertain 
operating environment. 

Given our decentralised operating structure, interactions between head office and operations has been focused on developing and 
implementing BU stakeholder management plans in accordance with the KAM approach and use of technology systems to support 
engagement activities. Developments in this regard are encouraging. 

The board approved a new stakeholder management policy in 2020. The new policy aims to promote and embed the implementation 
of our stakeholder management practice, and application of the guidelines in Exxaro, supporting the achievement of the company’s 

strategic objectives. 

Looking ahead, the primary focus will be on ensuring an enterprise-wide application of the KAM approach and monitoring the 
culturalisation of stakeholder management. This is to ensure we mature from ad hoc and procedural engagement to the intentional, 
proactive management of stakeholder-related risks and opportunities. 

62  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Stakeholder rating scale

0  No existing relationship, or the relationship that does exist has deep challenges and problems
1  An established relationship exists, but can be improved
2  A good, quality relationship exists with the opportunity to improve further
3  A very strong relationship exists, based on mutual trust and respect

SUMMARY OF KEY STAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIPS

GOVERNMENT (REGULATORS)

Why we engage
Government and regulatory authorities are a critical stakeholder group. We operate in a highly regulated industry and strive to go beyond 
compliance, building partnerships with our regulators to ensure mutual success. Through transparent engagement, we look to identify areas 
of collaboration, share insights on policies and other plans and ensure Exxaro is working with government to be a catalyst for economic 
growth and development.

Quality of the relationship: 2/3
Basis of rating: External assessment
 • We conduct a reputation survey every two to three years (the last survey was conducted in 2018)
•  A pilot relationship quality assessment is underway, aiming to quantify the quality of key relationships in the DMRE as well as provincial 

governments of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The results will be available in the first half of 2021

 Exxaro’s response to COVID-19 and economic recovery

Hot topics
•   
•  Just (energy) transition and Exxaro’s strategic outlook
•  Social impact issues, including the economic and financial inclusion of women in South Africa’s economy, Exxaro’s contribution to the end 
of gender discrimination and GBV, Exxaro’s community benefit scheme, local community concerns, Exxaro’s land and agriculture projects 
in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape, and the best practice use of communal land

EMPLOYEES

Why we engage
Employees are the strategy execution engine for Exxaro. Therefore, it is essential that the focus, profile and development efforts of Exxaro’s 
employee base are aligned with its strategy. That’s why we engage proactively with our employees through various channels, both formal 
and informal, as well as in person and electronically.

Quality of the relationship: 2/3
Basis of rating: External assessment
 • We conduct a reputation survey every two to three years. The last survey was in 2018
•  Baseline employee engagement survey conducted in 2020

 COVID-19 and preventing the spread of the virus

Hot topics
•   
•  Fullco agreements (continuous operation with limited to no interruptions (public holidays bought out in a collective agreement))
•  Divestment from the ECC and Leeuwpan operations
•  Diversity and Inclusion

 For more information about how we are responding, please refer to the people section on page 108.

LABOUR UNIONS

Why we engage
Labour unions represent our employees and, as such, form an important part of our stakeholder universe. Proactive engagement is an 
essential part of our risk management and maintaining workplace harmony.

Quality of the relationship: 2/3
Basis of rating: Internal assessment

Hot topics
 • Wage negotiations
•   
•  Recognition thresholds

 COVID-19 and employee wellbeing

 For more information about how we are responding, please refer to the people section on page 108.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  63

 
 
Positioning the business for growth

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT continued

COMMUNITIES

Why we engage
Exxaro operates in eight local municipalities of South Africa and two provinces (Mpumalanga and Limpopo) with closed mines in another 
three municipalities, including two in KwaZulu-Natal. Stakeholder-related risks and issues among this group of stakeholders relate primarily 
to Exxaro’s material issues of social unrest and maintaining our social licence to operate.

Through our ongoing engagements, we strive to ensure there is no community unrest that can lead to production delays and stoppages, 
a proactive resolution of issues and challenges before they escalate to community unrest, improved visibility of Exxaro’s success stories, 
local job opportunities and community development initiatives, and shared value and benefit from local mining activity.

Quality of the relationship: 2/3
Basis of rating: Internal assessment informed by various external surveys
 • We conduct a reputation survey every two to three years (the last survey was conducted in 2018)
•  Perception assessment conducted by social facilitators at Belfast and Matla

Hot topics
 • Employment and procurement opportunities at Exxaro as well as skills development that enables access to employment or procurement 

opportunities at Exxaro

•  Challenges facing communities including prevailing health conditions, low literacy and low skills levels in the community are a barrier to 

community members accessing employment and procurement opportunities, which continues to drive community protests
•  Challenges regarding engaging communities including inconsistent community representation, unproductive engagement and 
participation in community forums, violent community engagement events, community demands led by individual agendas and 
community representatives unwilling to adhere to sound governance processes

•   

 The COVID-19 pandemic has grave implications for our communities, compounding unemployment and poverty. When lockdown 
regulations eased, community groups demanded to engage with BUs on prioritisation of skills development, employment and business 
opportunities. Cooperation with Exxaro contractors is being pursued to ensure local consideration in skills development, employment and 
subcontracting government engagements are also addressing challenges to the prevention of the spread of the virus. Exxaro’s areas of 
intervention included water-related infrastructure through our SLPs as well as provision of accessories to schoolchildren and food parcels 
to needy communities. Community development and engagement are guided by the implementation of the SLPs, focusing on expediting 
water and health-related infrastructure

•  Local taxi associations are key stakeholders in Exxaro’s BUs as we rely on them to transport employees and contractors. However, there 

are challenges associated with local taxi associations; they expect and demand opportunities at exorbitant rates, which affects employees’ 
ability to travel to and from work

•  Local governments frequently shy away from accountability for mandated responsibilities, leading to instances where activities and/or 
outcomes are expected and/or demanded from Exxaro. This misalignment of expectations is exacerbated by service delivery gaps and 
internal factional conflicts in local governments

•  Prevailing misalignment and tension between local government structures, community members and representation, exacerbated by 
service delivery challenges, introduced complexity in the local stakeholder landscape and challenged Exxaro’s ability to implement 
SLP initiatives

•  Climate change and sustainability: there are significant environmental impacts of mining activity on communities

 For more information about how we are responding, please refer to the social licence to operate and environment sections of this 

report on page 116 and 118. 

INVESTORS

Why we engage
Our investors are the owners of our business and have expectations regarding the value creation of their investment. Through clear 
communication of our strategy and distribution policies, we can align with their expectations and grow trust in our organisation, which 
strengthens our access to capital.

Quality of the relationship: 2/3
Basis of rating: Internal assessment informed by various external surveys
 • The results of the annual investor/analyst perception survey conducted in May 2020 showed minor changes compared with the results of 
the 2019 survey and remained positive. There was a higher level of qualitative feedback in the third report, revealing insights and making 
constructive suggestions

•  Overall, Exxaro management is still perceived as delivering well in its operational commitments. However, there was a decline in clarity of 

the overall acquisition/disposal strategy and the diversification strategy 

•  Disclosure perceptions increased slightly with the perception that Exxaro has the technical and leadership skills required to achieve its 

objectives, with capital allocation and our approach to it perceived positively

64  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Hot topics
 • The coal business’s performance, the shift to energy rationale, capital allocation and impact on the dividend policy as well as inquiries into 

the energy strategy. An emerging area of interest is shareholder climate change activism

• 

 The impact of COVID-19 on the business is still top of mind for investors who focused on management actions taken during the crisis 
to cope with and contain the virus — balance sheet, operations and employee and community safety and livelihoods were the main issues
•  Exposure to Eskom and key relationship management versus the stated legal challenge in light of the force majeure. Additionally, the risk 

Eskom’s structural breakup comprises for the future as well as its recent/current unreliable electricity supply

•  A persistent investor issue is the value unlock of “rump” (assets) and the company’s stated strategic asset focus versus selective 

diversification. The early value coal strategy and avoidance of sterilised or non-contributory assets in the Waterberg and Mpumalanga 
have played a key role in the perception of the investment case 

•  Exxaro’s renewable energy strategy and cornerstone investment of 100% ownership of Cennergi will remain top of mind for the 

foreseeable future

 For more information about how we are responding, please refer to the Chairman’s statement, CEO’s report and Financial director’s 

overview on pages 10, 52 and 84 respectively. 

CUSTOMERS

Why we engage
We aim to foster customer understanding and strategic partnerships through continuous engagement and information sharing, and actively 
listening to our partners to foster mutually beneficial relationships. Engagements are aimed at understanding the environment, trends and 
market sentiment; exploring future relationships; and improving operational and financial performance.

Quality of the relationship: 2/3
Basis of rating: Internal assessment informed by various key data measured
 • Effective and ongoing engagement with customers
•  Effectively dealing with and resolving complaints from customers

Hot topics
 • Reduced production volumes impacting supply to the market
•  Inability to consistently provide product at the correct specification
•   
•   

 Disruptions in demand as South Africa and the world are faced with the second/third waves
 Credit risk/poor payment — some customers were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and requested more lenient payment 

terms in the short term

 For more information about how we are responding, please refer to the operational review section on page 96.

SUPPLIERS

Why we engage
Our suppliers are a critical part of our value chain. Managing these relationships to create mutual benefit supports our operational, strategic 
and impact goals, and forms part of our risk management approach.

The supplier relationship management programme supports Exxaro’s strategies by leveraging value chain partner capabilities. Supply chain 
management achieves this through supplier collaboration initiatives intended to deliver cost savings, achieve sustainability mandates, 
ensure the security of supply and mitigate business risk exposure. The supplier relationship management approach positions Exxaro at an 
advantage to extract discretionary value and emerge as a “customer of choice” for selected strategic suppliers.

Quality of the relationship: 3/3
Basis of rating: Internal assessment informed by various external surveys
 • We conduct a reputation assessment every two to three years (the last assessment was conducted in 2018)

Hot topics
Exxaro’s sourcing strategies set out to concurrently optimise for:
 • Performance and supply risk
 • Financial and fraud risk
 • Supply chain sustainability

 For more information on our ESD programme, please refer to page 78 of our ESG report. 

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  65

 
Positioning the business for growth

BUSINESS RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

Exxaro drives accountability, transparency and business efficiency on 
all levels of the organisation through our integrated risk management 
approach that forms part of our strategy, governance and day-to-day 
operations.

OUR ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT (ERM) PROCESS
The Exxaro risk management process is a strategic enabler embedded in all our processes, functions and systems. Risk management, together 
with crisis management, is a board objective, which is ingrained in Exxaro’s corporate culture.

The risk management framework is based on principles embodied in the ERM framework published by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organisations of the Treadway Commission, the International Guideline on Risk Management (ISO 31000) and King IV. It also considered 
applicable codes of best practice such as:
 •  ISO 9001
•   ISO 14001 
•   ISO 18001

The group’s risk management is mature. It is performed at management level with a different scope and context in mind. The organisational 
risk layers are vertically integrated and provide input into the specific risk profiles.

Strategically 
promote 
partnership and 
set strategic 
direction

Tactically embed 
strategy, manage 
service 
performance, 
issues and 
expectations

Operationally 
render and 
manage day-to-
day service 
delivery and 
queries

 • Use risk management to test 

 • Use risk management to ensure 

robustness and 
sustainability of strategy

 • Commission risk-based 

audits

company and commodity 
strategy is achieved

 • Monitor tactical and operational 

risks

 • Monitor general controls

 • Day-to-day management of 
risks and monitoring key 
controls (operations and 
projects)

GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT OF RISK 
MANAGEMENT
Exxaro is committed to complying with and maintaining the 
principles of the code of corporate practices and conduct set out in 
King IV. In terms of this code, the board is responsible for the overall 
governance of risk management, as well as forming its own opinion 
on the effectiveness of the process. Management is accountable to 
the board for designing, implementing and monitoring the process 
of risk management and integrating it into the day-to-day activities 
of the organisation.

Exxaro’s ERM framework aims to integrate risk management 
across the organisation to support our vision, strategy and values, 
and drive the achievement of business objectives. Exxaro has 
accomplished this by:
 • Embedding risk management within its culture
•  Proactively identifying future uncertainties and planning for them
•  Exploiting opportunities presented by risk events
•  Training employees to think about risks as part of their decision-

making process

66  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

RISK APPETITE AND THRESHOLDS
Exxaro defines risk appetite as the type and level of risk the group is willing to accept to meet strategic objectives. The risk appetite is a key 
input in the strategy planning process.

We understand that, if we want to create value for all our stakeholders and remain sustainable, we need to measure and monitor our progress 
by using appropriate key performance indicators (KPIs).

The board and executive committee monitor KPIs quarterly to ensure all risks and key metrics are within Exxaro’s risk appetite. The risk 
appetite is updated, when deemed necessary, as part of the strategic planning process. 

Risk appetite methodology

Strategy and strategic objectives linked to sustainability capitals

Natural

Sustainability 
capitals

(cid:170)

Human

Financial

Intellectual

Social and 
relationship

Manufactured

Set risk  
thresholds

(cid:170)

Modify risk  
thresholds

 For details, please refer to performance against strategy on page 56. 

The Exxaro ERM framework is also an appropriate tool for the identification and realisation of opportunities — for example, early value coal 
extraction to maximise value in the short to medium term in view of the climate change risk. We believe that for Exxaro to remain sustainable 
in the near future it is important to adapt the coal business to change and to identify and pursue possible opportunities that ultimately create 
value, such as reducing stranded high-value coal reserve risk.

The opportunities we identified in 2020 are outlined in the table below and informed our Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy.

Opportunity

Strategic objective 

The early value coal strategy and our ability to maximise resource to market opportunities 
leveraging the low cost and flexibility of our coal assets and reserves

Make our minerals and energy businesses 
thrive

Accelerated expansion into renewable energy to support our low-carbon transition

The relationships and partnerships we have built and continue to build as part of our ESG 
commitments and ultimately Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy to create future 
growth for Exxaro

Enhance Exxaro’s social impact from its growth and transition to a low-carbon future

Carbon-neutral by 2050
Make our minerals and energy business thrive

Empower people to create impact

Become a catalyst for economic development
Transition at speed and scale

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  67

Positioning the business for growth

BUSINESS RISKS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH continued

2020 VERSUS 2019 RISK COMPARISON
Our risk scores are derived from the product of the likelihood and the impact of the unwanted event. We rank our risks according to residual 

risk score from highest to lowest.

Risk = f (                x            )

Likelihood  
of risk occurring 

Impact  
of the risk

% of risks linked to sustainability capitals

Natural
10%

Human
20%

Social and 
relationship
20%

Manufactured
20%

Financial
30%

Intellectual
0%

% risks from internal versus external sources

50%

50%

Matla mineral resource management team at work

68  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
 
 
 
 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

TOP 10 HEAT MAP
Exxaro’s top 10 risks are plotted inherently (before controls) and residually (after controls) on the heat maps below, followed by an outline of 
our key identified risks, the main drivers, their potential impacts and mitigating treatments. We have considered internal and external risks. 
Our mitigation strategies depend on the severity of impact and likelihood of occurrence.

Inherent risk rating

Residual risk rating

1
5

2
4
6

3
7

8 9

10

3

9

1

2

4

6

5
7

10

8

Almost certain 81% – 100%

Likely 61% – 80%

Possible 36% – 60%

Catastrophic 81 – 100

Major 61 – 80

Moderate 36 – 60

Unlikely 11% – 35%

Minor 11 – 35

Rare 1% – 10%

Insignificant 1 – 10

Likelihood

t

c

a

I m p

Almost certain 81% – 100%

Likely 61% – 80%

Possible 36% – 60%

Catastrophic 81 – 100

Major 61 – 80

Moderate 36 – 60

Unlikely 11% – 35%

Minor 11 – 35

Rare 1% – 10%

Insignificant 1 – 10

Likelihood

t

c

a

I m p

Rank Risk 

Likelihood

Impact

Residual risk

Residual risk

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

COVID-19 concerns

Eskom systemic risk

Unavailability of rail capacity

Community unrest

Employee safety and health concerns

Cost competitiveness of products

Climate change concerns

Country risk (political)

Inability to achieve financial targets

10

Low commodity price

Rank Risk

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

COVID-19 concerns

Community unrest

Eskom systemic risk 

Cost competitiveness of products

Employee safety and health concerns

Climate change concerns

Low commodity price

Country risk (political)

Unavailability of rail capacity

10

Inability to achieve financial targets

70

71

85

79

58

49

52

58

75

55

Inherent risk

Likelihood

98

97

95

95

92

95

95

95

85

85

96

91

75

72

95

95

90

80

60

81

Impact

100

95

95

95

95

90

85

80

75

60

67

65

60

57

56

47

46

46

45

44

Inherent risk

98

92

90

90

87

86

81

76

64

51

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  69

Positioning the business for growth

BUSINESS RISKS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH continued

RESPONSE TO RISKS AND TRENDS
Managing risk is a trade off between the expense of treatment plans and the impact of the risk.

 To manage the risks associated with COVID-19 and to ensure business continuity, a decision was taken to activate Exxaro’s crisis 
management plan as an integrated response that prioritised actions to ensure the stability of operations and safety of our employees, 
contractors, service providers and host communities. The crisis management team was mandated to oversee the COVID-19 response strategy to 
ensure that action plans/treatments to address risks were implemented effectively. Amid these extraordinary circumstances, the impact of the 
pandemic on the business and its financial performance was not material. 

This bears testament to the resilience of our business and the effectiveness of our response actions (page 14). As we venture along the 
transition journey to transform our business, we anticipate our risk profile will morph to reflect exposures characterising the nature of our 
business. At the same time, we will continue to harness opportunities along our journey.

 Ranking Risk name

Outlook

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

COVID-19 concerns

The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to the global economy. The effects 
of the second wave of COVID-19 will continue to be felt throughout 2021. The 
current COVID-19 preventative measures and anticipated roll-out of the vaccine 
programme in South Africa with the aim of achieving herd immunity will assist in 
arresting the spread of the disease.

Eskom systemic risk

Financial viability of Eskom remains a concern in the short to medium term. 
Eskom’s operational challenges and the slowdown in the economy will affect 
Eskom’s ability to generate revenue and address its financial challenges.

Unavailability of  
rail capacity

Exxaro currently does not have full access to our contracted export capacity due to 
various operational challenges experienced by TFR. A study is currently underway 
to identify alternative solutions to transport our product.

Community unrest

Civil unrest has been identified as one of the country’s key risks. This will impact 
our communities and has the potential to spill over into operations. The socio-
economic impacts of COVID-19 will continue to be felt as the South African 
economy struggles to recover and create job opportunities.

Employee safety and 
health concerns

With continued implementation of safety improvement plans, our safety 
performance is expected to continue improving.

Cost competitiveness
of products

Rand per tonne (impacted by production and efficiency) will remain a focus area. 
Volatile conditions and cost pressure remain. Key actions to reduce cost include: 
install renewable electricity given the expected price increases from Eskom

Climate change  
concerns

COVID-19 has increased global action against climate change. 

Country risk

Socio-political risks, policy uncertainty and the weak economy have heightened 
focus on this risk.

Inability to achieve 
financial targets

Record highs were recorded for export coal volumes at the end of December 2020. 
Good financial results are expected for 2021 due to cost-saving initiatives and 
favourable commodity prices.

Low commodity prices

The positive outlook for coal prices in 2021 will have a positive impact on revenue 
and profits.

70  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Lines of defence

1 Management of risk (risk owner)

2 Management support and oversight

3 Independent assurance

Risk trend

(cid:207) Increased
(cid:208) Reduced
(cid:206) Unchanged
(cid:173) New

1. COVID-19 concerns

Capitals impacted

Drivers
•  Low commodity prices
 • Disengaged and anxious workforce (permanent employees and 

contractors)

 • Rapid spread of the virus
 • Increased risk of cyberattacks due to remote working
 • Deterioration of employee health (mental and physical)
 • Uncontrollable cost of goods and services
 • Unavailability of critical goods and services
 • Community unrest due to loss of livelihoods impacting on Exxaro’s 

operations

 • Counterparty risk (contractors/suppliers/customers)
 • Productivity decline (operations not operating at full capacity and 
not complying with disaster management guidelines among others)

Impacts
•  Safety impacts (fatalities and incidents)
 • Health impacts
 • Financial losses
 • Unable to meet financial targets
 • Legal and regulatory non-compliance with the Disaster Management 

Act, 2002 (Act 57 of 2002)

 • Production stoppages
 • Delay in implementation of strategy
 • Inability to obtain lines of credit

Strategic performance KPIs
•  Core operating margin
 • Annualised ROCE
 • Annual core HEPS and net debt to annualised EBITDA
 • LTIFR
 • Fatalities
 • Project delivery KPIs including SLPs
 • Mining Charter III and B-BBEE targets

Treatments
•  “Hardened” security processes and tools and increased 

monitoring

 • Commissioning of testing facilities in Limpopo and 

Mpumalanga to conduct mass testing
 • Mental wellness programmes in place
 • Monitor compliance with contractual agreements (cost of 

goods and services)

 • Monitor critical goods stock levels and services required
 • Ongoing engagement with Minerals Council South Africa and 

provincial and local governments

 • Ongoing monitoring of messaging and continuous updates 

of critical information

 • Roll out and continuous updating of COVID-19 business 

continuity management plan at operations

 • Human resources guidelines in line with government’s 

lockdown regulations

 • Activation of crisis management plan

Lines of defence: 1 and 2 

Materiality theme: 

Risk trend (cid:207)

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  71

Positioning the business for growth

BUSINESS RISKS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH continued

Lines of defence

1 Management of risk (risk owner)

2 Management support and oversight

3 Independent assurance

Risk trend

(cid:207) Increased
(cid:208) Reduced
(cid:206) Unchanged
(cid:173) New

2. Eskom systemic risk

Capitals impacted

Drivers
•  Inadequate environmental financial provision at tied operations
 • Environmental rehabilitation fund shortfall at Matla
 • Realisation of approved funding for capital requirements (Matla 

capital project programme)

 • Further delays in Eskom’s Medupi power station operating at full 

capacity

 • Eskom liquidity risk: Eskom not honouring commercial rights and 

obligations as per CSAs

Strategic performance KPIs
•  B-BBEE contribution level
 • Black ownership
 • SLP project delivery
 • Capital project delivery
 • Core operating margin
•  Annualised ROCE
•  Annual core HEPS and net debt to core EBITDA

 page 13 of this report and page 20 of ESG report

Impacts
•  Cost of coal production becomes uncompetitive at Matla (lack of 

Treatments
•  Cost of coal production becomes uncompetitive at Matla 

capital)

 • Loss of revenue
 • Reputational damage
 • Cash flow constraints at Eskom resulting in late or no payment to 

Exxaro

 • Operational constraints at Grootegeluk due to pit liberation impacts 
as a result of further Medupi power station delays or inability of 
Eskom to take contracted offtake

(lack of capital)

•  Enforcement of CSA and arbitration award in terms of 

environmental funding

•  Capex funding to build siding to evacuate coal at Matla
•  Active participation by Exxaro to move coal from the 

Waterberg to Mpumalanga and deployment of temporary 
solution to load test train from Waterberg to Mpumalanga
•  Top management and political interaction with ministers 

when required

•  Ongoing discussions on the future of Matla

Lines of defence: 1 and 2

Materiality theme:  

Risk trend (cid:206)

3. Unavailability of rail capacity

Capitals impacted

Drivers
•  Cable theft and derailments.
 • Transnet’s locomotive availability.
 • Inadequate maintenance of fleet due to lack of spares at TFR

Strategic performance KPI
•  Core operating margin
 • Annualised ROCE
 • Annual core HEPS and net debt to annualised EBITDA

Impacts
•  Operational stoppages
 • Financial loss
 • Unable to meet contractual agreements
 • Unable to meet 2021 budget
 • Unable to grow and execute the value extraction strategy
 • Shareholder dissatisfaction

Treatments
•  Marketing and Logistics team exploring options to evacuate 

export bound coal

 • Continuous engagement with TFR to understand issues and 

provide assistance

Line of defence: 1

Materiality themes:  

Risk trend (cid:173)

72  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Lines of defence

1 Management of risk (risk owner)

2 Management support and oversight

3 Independent assurance

Risk trend

(cid:207) Increased
(cid:208) Reduced
(cid:206) Unchanged
(cid:173) New

4. Community unrest

Drivers
•  Dissatisfaction with local economic development initiatives
 • Political agitation
 • High unemployment rate
 • Poor/lack of service delivery by local government
 • High demand for skills development, employment and local 

procurement

 • 2021 municipal electioneering
 • Perceived slow transformation at operations
 • Conduct of contractors (employment practices) Exxaro is seen as 

endorsing

 • Fractured communities and competing interests
 • Manipulation of information/community against Exxaro
 • Lack of employment opportunities (worse since COVID-19 outbreak)
 • Economic recession resulting in job losses during the COVID-19 

pandemic

 • Lack of procurement opportunities

Impacts
•  Production interruptions
 • Negative media reports (reputation)
 • Jobs/opportunities for sale (misrepresents Exxaro)
 • Potential harm to mine employees and contractors
 • Potential damage to mine equipment and property

Capital impacted

Strategic performance KPI
•  B-BBEE contribution level
 • Black ownership
 • SLP project delivery
 • Community benefit initiatives
 • ESD performance  

 page 13 of this report and page 20 of ESG report

Treatments
•  Emergency response and crisis management plans
 • Carve out opportunities
 • Municipal capacity building
 • Impact Catalyst projects (
 • ESD (including contractors)
 • Build local, provincial and national government relationships
 • Invest in non-mining skills development programmes
 • Roll out bursaries/skills development programmes
 • Roll out community engagement plans for proactive 

 refer to ESG page 80)

engagement (

 refer to ESG page 78)
 • Transparent and ongoing communication with communities
 • Effective local procurement strategy
 • Certified COVID-19 testing facilities in Mpumalanga and 

Limpopo for community members in place

Lines of defence: 1 and 2

Materiality themes:  

Risk trend (cid:207)

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  73

 
Positioning the business for growth

BUSINESS RISKS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH continued

Lines of defence

1 Management of risk (risk owner)

2 Management support and oversight

3 Independent assurance

Risk trend

(cid:207) Increased
(cid:208) Reduced
(cid:206) Unchanged
(cid:173) New

5. Safety and health concerns

Capital impacted

Drivers
•  Rapid spread of COVID-19 infections among employees and 

contractors

 • Anxious and disengaged workforce (additional COVID-19 regulation 
and some companies impacted by COVID-19 laying off contractors)

 • High/excessive fatigue levels
 • Poor procedures for maintenance of equipment and machinery
 • Inadequate on-the-job training due to illiteracy
 • Lack of awareness of health risks
 • Lack of hazard awareness (in line of fire)
 • Non-adherence to procedures
 • Lack of communication between teams working on equipment
 • Lack of change management
 • Design or modification of equipment without sign-off
 • Inadequate supervision

Impacts
 • Unwanted health and safety incidents
 • Operational stoppages
 • High insurance premiums
 • Loss of licence to operate
 • Decrease in quality of life
 • Section 54 and 55 fines and penalties imposed by the DMRE
 • Loss of productivity (deaths, medical incapacity or sick leave)

Strategic performance KPIs
•  Fatalities
 • LTIFR
 • OHIFR
 • Number of safety and health stoppage directives in terms of 
section 54 of Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act 29 of 
1996)

 page 13 of this report and page 20 of ESG report

Treatments
•  Analyse historical incident data to identify trends and root 

causes

 • Mental wellness programmes in place
 • Ongoing safety, health, environment and community risk 

management

 • Improve safety management with innovation (including 

wearables)

 • Ensure proximity detection systems implemented and 

maintained

 • Ensure safety improvement plan is communicated and 

implemented

 • COVID-19 response plan developed and rolled out

Lines of defence: 1, 2 and 3

Materiality theme:  

Risk trend (cid:208) 

74  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Lines of defence

1 Management of risk (risk owner)

2 Management support and oversight

3 Independent assurance

Risk trend

(cid:207) Increased
(cid:208) Reduced
(cid:206) Unchanged
(cid:173) New

6. Cost competitiveness of products

Capital impacted

Drivers
•  LoM
 • Poor capital project execution
 • Not achieving productivity indices (benchmark standards)
 • Cost containment discipline not uniform
 • Inflationary pressures
 • Deteriorating mining conditions (decreasing yield and increasing 

stripping ratio)

 • Not meeting production volumes
 • Volatility of exchange rate
 • Commodity price decline
 • Inaccurate financial modelling
 • Higher fixed costs (corporate office costs charged to BUs)
 • South African geographical constraints
 • Frequent changes in legislation (cost of licence to operate)

Impacts
•  Reputational damage
 • Social impact
 • Financial loss
 • Margin squeeze
 • Premature mine closure and allocation of costs to other operations
 • Reduced earnings will impact approval of capital projects

Strategic performance KPIs
•  Core operating margin
 • Annualised ROCE
 • Annual core HEPS and net debt to annualised EBITDA

Treatments
•  Embrace technology and innovation initiatives to improve 

productivity performance

 • Ensure achievement of P75 (refers to an improved year-on-
year performance level in terms of production volumes 
across our BUs, against a base set for each operation in 
2018, to be achieved in 2020)

 • Ensure BUs comply with concurrent rehabilitation
 • Optimise operating model and avoid duplicated activities
 • Create strategic partnership to leverage economies of scale
 • Ensure balance between capital optimisation and 

prioritisation

 • Investigate and divest non-core and non-robust assets
 • Provide for post-production stoppage (rehabilitation cost)
 • Review and monitor performance of suppliers and service 

providers

 • Increased awareness of cost management
 • Focus on sustainable cost reduction programmes and 

business improvement initiatives

 • Planned reviews by coal operating company
 • Rebalancing product chains for better use of infrastructure

Lines of defence: 1, 2 and 3

Materiality theme:  

Risk trend (cid:206)

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  75

Positioning the business for growth

BUSINESS RISKS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH continued

Lines of defence

1 Management of risk (risk owner)

2 Management support and oversight

3 Independent assurance

Risk trend

(cid:207) Increased
(cid:208) Reduced
(cid:206) Unchanged
(cid:173) New

7. Climate change concerns

Drivers
•  Poor plant or operations design unable to withstand extreme weather 

conditions

 • Poor monitoring and reporting of climate change impacts
 • Infrastructure vulnerabilities
 • Lack of awareness of climate change impacts
 • Increased non-governmental organisation activism
 • International and local investor negative sentiment towards fossil 

fuels

Impacts
•  Reputational damage
 • Loss of licence to operate
 • Financial loss (increased carbon tax among others)
 • Environmental impacts (extreme heat; drought)
 • Legal claims against heavy polluters
 • Health and safety impacts on employees (increased occupational 
incident rate due to heatstroke and increase in skin cancer among 
others)

 • Energy security and supply
 • Loss of throughput
 • Natural disasters (flooding)

Capitals impacted

Strategic performance KPI
•  Water intensity
 • Carbon intensity 

 page 13 of this report and page 20 of ESG report

Treatments
•  Invest in renewable energy initiatives
•  Raise awareness about climate change impacts
•  Continuously investigate measures to reduce climate change 

impacts

•  Engagement with regulators to anticipate policy changes
•  Investigate suitable PPE for extreme weather conditions
•  Link performance reward system to climate change mitigation
•  Review conditions of work under extreme weather conditions
•  Engage with government and other role players in the 
industry to align in transition to a low-carbon future

 • Invest in appropriate technology to reduce own emissions
 • Embed climate change mitigations in design criteria for 

existing and new projects

 • Plan and embark on early value coal strategy to reduce 

stranded assets

 • Develop renewable energy strategy to transition to lower 

carbon economy

 • Adopt TCFD framework to engage with stakeholders
 • Align with Paris Agreement
 • Develop market intelligence on carbon pricing
 • Effective water management processes for water security

Lines of defence: 1, 2 and 3

Materiality themes:  

Risk trend (cid:206)

76  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Lines of defence

1 Management of risk (risk owner)

2 Management support and oversight

3 Independent assurance

Risk trend

(cid:207) Increased
(cid:208) Reduced
(cid:206) Unchanged
(cid:173) New

8. Country risk (political)

Capitals impacted

Drivers
•  Lack of investment and low employment creation
 • Uncertainty about land ownership and security of tenure
 • Limited local government capacity to deliver services
 • Potential for nationalisation sentiment
 • Continued poor economic performance will influence policy and 

Strategic performance KPIs
 • Enhancing social investment through ”impact at scale” 

initiatives for local and regional community development
 • Government engagements (national, provincial and local) 

through industry lobby groups and own initiatives

 • Strategic capital investment that contributes to economic 

political outcomes

development

 • Slow implementation of required reforms
 • Corrupt practices (private and public sector)
 • Rating agencies downgrade South Africa to junk status
 • South Africa’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecasted 

to be (3.1%) for 2021
 • Limited fiscal capacity

Impacts
•  Political instability
•  Possibility of community unrest for political support
 • Stakeholder dissatisfaction
 • Potential regulatory penalties/oversight
 • Increased compliance burden
 • Potential increase in royalties/taxes
 • Reduced investment opportunities (increase in cost of capital)
 • Increased cost of doing business (such as increased compliance 

burden)

Treatments
•  Aligning purpose with governance and ethics
 • Continuous monitoring of independent country risk 

assessment report

 • Engage shareholders on coal business and capital allocation 

for new strategy

 • Establish and participate in collaborative regional 
development platforms for community impact

 • Exxaro developing renewables strategy that could result in 

new investment and electricity security

 • Fewer opportunities for co-investment with government in 

 • Long-term investment perspective for growth, development 

community development

and impact

 • Breakdown in government relationships with Exxaro
 • Higher expectation from society and government for more social 

 • Municipal capacity building
 • Ongoing engagement with Minerals Council and provincial 

investment

and local governments

 • Potential for junk status rating and downgrade of Exxaro’s credit 

 • Strive for full compliance with relevant legislation for 

status due to link to Eskom

 • Pressure on revenue
 • Policy uncertainty

business continuity

 • Continued support of relevant business lobby groups to 

engage business and government

 • Increased and improved analysis of dynamic political 

landscape and impacts of stakeholders

 • Increased focus on provincial and local players and intensified 
engagement across local stakeholder networks to mitigate 
shocks ”from above”

Line of defence: 1

Materiality theme: 

Risk trend (cid:207)

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  77

Positioning the business for growth

BUSINESS RISKS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH continued

Lines of defence

1 Management of risk (risk owner)

2 Management support and oversight

3 Independent assurance

Risk trend

(cid:207) Increased
(cid:208) Reduced
(cid:206) Unchanged
(cid:173) New

9. Inability to achieve financial targets

Capitals impacted

Drivers
•  Macro-economic factors
 • Disaster Management Act directives issued
 • Critical input supplies not available
 • Counterparties not meeting contractual obligations (Eskom and 

AMSA)

 • Claims from contractors due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 

on timelines

 • Reduced rail capacity for exports in 2021

Impacts
•  Cash flow constraints
 • Increased cost of production

Strategic performance KPIs
•  Core operating margin
•  Annualised ROCE
 • Annual core HEPS and net debt to annualised EBITDA

Treatments
•  Disposal of ECC and the Leeuwpan operations (high on the 

cost curve)

 • Ability to refinance loan facilities
 • Focus on current operating excellence and digitalisation 

initiatives to reduce rand per tonne impacts

 • Proactively draw down available borrowing facilities
 • Evaluate claims from contractors in terms of process (Supply 

Chain and projects)

 • Detailed daily cash flow management 
 • Monitor supplier financial status (critical and strategic 

suppliers)

Lines of defence: 1, 2 and 3

Materiality theme:  

Risk trend (cid:208)

10. Low commodity price

Capital impacted

Drivers
 • Global and domestic economic slowdown worse after the COVID-19 

outbreak

 • Structural economic challenges in the USA and trade wars
 • Global resistance to fossil fuels
 • Cost of renewable energy technology decreases

Strategic performance KPIs
•  Core operating margin
•  Annualised return on capital employed
•  Annual core HEPS and net debt to annualised EBITDA

 page 13 of this report and page 20 of ESG report

Impacts
•  Financial losses
 • Difficult to forecast planning and budgets
 • Feasibility of new projects (capital projects not achieving expected 

returns)

 • Existing assets not achieving expected returns

Treatments
•  Impact of volatility frequently assessed in corporate model
 • Improve speed of mine planning to match price volatility
 • Negotiate long-term fixed price agreements
 • Diversify away from thermal coal
 • Adoption of resource to market model
 • Focus on market intelligence in the coal sector
 • Adjust and optimise business plan for circumstances 

(alternative markets)

 • Ensure operations are low on the cost curve

Line of defence: 1 

Materiality themes:  

Risk trend (cid:208)

78  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Digital operation centre at Matla

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  79

Positioning the business for growth

COMBINED ASSURANCE FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE

The board, supported by the audit committee, is ultimately 
responsible for Exxaro’s system of internal controls, which has been 
designed to evaluate, manage and provide reasonable assurance 
against material misstatement and loss.

We apply a combined assurance model to optimise assurance by management, as well as internal and external providers, while fostering a 
strong ethical climate and mechanisms to ensure compliance.

Using our board-approved ERM approach, management identifies key risks facing Exxaro and implements the necessary internal controls  
(

 page 102 of our ESG report) with comparable information for trend analysis where possible.

The board and audit committee assessed the effectiveness of controls for the year ended 31 December 2020 as satisfactory, principally 
through a process of management self-assessment (including formal confirmation by executive management), reports from internal audit, 
independent external audit and other assurance providers.

APPROACH, GOVERNANCE AND REPORTING
Exxaro defines assurance broadly to cover all sources, including external assurance, internal audit, management oversight and regulatory 
inspections.

Our combined assurance model includes and optimises all assurance services and functions to collectively provide an effective control 
environment and support the integrity of information used for internal decision making by management, the board and its committees, and in 
our external reports including:
 • Corporate governance disclosures in terms of King IV
 • Financial statements and other external reports, including our integrated report and ESG report

The forum’s activities and outcomes of assurance reports are presented quarterly to the audit committee.

ASSURANCE REVIEW
For the year under review, the sources, level and focus area of assurance, commissioned and performed, are summarised below.

Focus area

External/statutory audit

Selective non-audit services

Sustainable development/KPIs

Environmental liability provisioning

Mining rights and environmental legal compliance

B-BBEE dtic code compliance

Mining charter compliance

Insurance risk surveys

Major and mega capital projects

Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve statement

Governance, risk and internal controls

Employee benefits

SLP projects

ISO and OHSAS certifications

* Tier/level of assurance refers to independent external assurance.

Function assured

Assurance 
provider

Tier/level of
assurance*

Corporate

PwC

PwC

PwC

PwC

Inlexso

Empowerdex

Ngubane

IMIU

EY

EY

EY

Ngubane

Ngubane

Various

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

BU

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

80  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Outcome of assurance reports
2018 to 2020
The total number of findings raised since 2018 is 309. The split by status of the findings is depicted in the chart below. As at 31 December 2020, 
there was a total of 150 findings that had been successfully resolved from the total of 309, leaving a total of 159 open findings that require 
the attention of management and assurance providers.

Status of findings

Follow-up in progress
Ready for audit
Within timelines
Open/outstanding (overdue)

Total

Internal audit

Other 
assurance
providers

33
40
5
2

80

0
74
2
3

79

Total

33
114
7
5

159

Overdue findings have been classified by ratings assigned in the final audit report and split into audit source below.

Audit source

Internal audit
Other assurance providers

Total

Level 1
(high)

Level 2
(medium)

Level 3
(low)

Not rated

Total

0
0

0

1
0

1

1
0

1

0
3

3

2
3

5

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  81

Safety pledge at Exxaro’s 2020 Sustainability Summit which was certified 
as a green event by the Heritage Eco-Events Programme

82  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

OUR PERFORMANCE 
IN 2020

84 Finance director’s overview 

96 Operational performance

98 Macro-environment

104 Business resilience

108 Our people

114 Human rights

116 Social licence to operate: 

enabling our legitimacy

118 Our environment:  

stewardship and compliance

POWERING KHETHA UKUPHEPHA 

This year, Exxaro celebrated four years without a 
fatality across our mining operations; a remarkable 
milestone and one that highlights the importance of our 
continued and collective safety efforts. 

Safety is an ongoing focus for us as a business and our 
commitment to achieve zero harm is embodied in our 
Khetha Ukuphepha campaign, meaning “Choose Safety”. 
The campaign was designed to ensure every employee 
keeps safety and individual responsibility front and 
centre. It promotes adherence to our strict safety 
standards and ensuring we all return home each day 
unharmed. 

“We believe that zero harm is possible. We cannot sell 
coal associated with injuries and loss of life. That’s not 
our business. Four years without any fatalities marks a 
great milestone for our company and for the future of 
the South African mining industry. The leadership and 
strategic initiatives to improve safety regulations have 
ensured that all of our employees can work in an 
environment they can trust, and that they can return 
home to their loved ones unharmed,” said Dr Joseph 
Matjila, group manager: safety and health.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  83

Our performance in 2020

FINANCE DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW

Riaan Koppeschaar
Finance director

While Exxaro’s operations were 
declared an essential service 
during the lockdown period, 
and able to operate, the 
environment remained 
challenging. However, our 
managed operations were able 
to show strength and resilience 
resulting in a 25% increase in 
core EBITDA* to R7.3 billion. 
The contribution from our  
non-controlled operations 
showed a significant increase 
with core equity-accounted 
income increasing 36% to  
R6.5 billion, mainly due to the 
performance of SIOC^. 

84  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

This translated into core headline 
earnings per share rising to 
R29.73 compared to R23.54 in 
2019. We are pleased to have 
declared record ordinary 
dividends of R18.86 per share to 
our shareholders, compared to 
R14.30 for 2019.

GLOBAL ECONOMY AND COMMODITY PRICES 
Notwithstanding the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions imposed in 
2020, steam coal demand remained fairly steady in the domestic 
market. There was good offtake from Eskom at the Matimba Power 
Station, with the Medupi Power Station falling slightly short for the 
year. Eskom did not take coal from Leeuwpan and ECC as the parties 
are still in the process of concluding new CSAs. 

Demand from AMSA was impacted due to the initial lockdown 
restrictions and lower steel demand. AMSA’s offtake recovered 
somewhat with the easing of the lockdown restrictions. 

Internationally, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted global 
demand as industries ceased production under lockdown conditions. 
This was evident in the sponge iron markets on the East Coast of 
India. As restrictions eased, demand in India returned to pre-
pandemic levels in the last quarter of 2020. The import ban on 
Australian thermal coal in China resulted in China importing coal 
from South Africa. In turn, Australian coal found its way into the 
Indian and Pakistani power generation and cement markets.

The average benchmark API4 RBCT export price of US$65 per 
tonne was 10% lower (2019: US$72 per tonne) resulting in 
an 11% lower average price per tonne achieved of US$48 
(2019: US$54 per tonne). The average spot exchange rate 
was weaker at R16.45 to the US dollar (2019: R14.44).

SNAPSHOT

Revenue of

R28.9 billion,

up 12%

Core EBITDA* of

R7.3 billion,

up 25%

Core headline 
earnings of

R29.73 
per share, up 26%

Cash generated by operations at

     R7.8 billion, up 47%

*  Net operating profit before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, impairment charges 

or impairment reversals and net loss or gain on disposal of assets and investments 
(including translation differences recycled to profit or loss).

^ Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary Limited.

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND SHAREHOLDER RETURNS
In terms of our capital allocation framework, free cash flow generated will be prioritised per the diagram below: 

1

3

5

Free cash
flow

Debt service

Sustaining 
capex

Expansion 
capex

Dividends

Growth

Excess cash

2

4

6

During 2020, we received cash of R10.1 billion, comprising 
R6.8 billion from our operations (net of tax paid) and dividend 
income received from our equity-accounted investments of 
R3.3 billion.

We then utilised this cash in terms of our capital allocation 
framework, to mainly:
 • Service our debt (R1.1 billion)
•  Sustain our coal operations with capital expenditure (R2.1 billion)
•  Expand our coal operations with further capital expenditure 

(R1 billion)

•  Pay ordinary dividends of R4 billion
•  Acquire Exxaro shares in the market to the value of R270 million 

to settle vested share-based payment schemes

•  Pay the final payment for the ECC contingent consideration 

of R195 million

Our net debt increased to R11 billion at 31 December 2020 with the 
consolidation of the Cennergi project financing of R4.7 billion.

The closing net debt position at 31 December 2020 therefore 
culminated in a:
 • Net debt: equity ratio of 28%
•  Net debt: core EBITDA cover ratio of 0.96 times, excluding the 
Cennergi project financing, which was well below our target 
of 1.5 times

Given our strong balance sheet, underpinned by strong cash flow 
generation, the board of directors approved a final dividend of 
1 243 cents per share in March 2021, in line with our revised dividend 
policy, comprising:
 • A pass through of the SIOC dividend receivable
•  2.5 times adjusted group earnings

Core equity-accounted income of

       R6.5 billion, 

up 36%

Total ordinary dividend declared of 

     R18.86 per share 
      for 2020

Tronox proceeds to be returned to 
shareholders:
Special dividend of R5.43 per share
R1.5 billion share buy-back programme

Exxaro paid the following dividends during 2020:
 • A final dividend relating to the 2019 financial year of 566 cents 

per share (R1 420 million to external shareholders) paid in 
April 2020

•  An interim dividend of 643 cents per share (R1 614 million to 

external shareholders) paid in September 2020

VALUE DISTRIBUTION
The value generated by Exxaro is distributed to its various 
stakeholders as follows:
 • Employees receive salaries or wages, share-based payments as 
well as bonuses (where certain performance conditions are met)
•  The governments of the countries where Exxaro has operations 
and investments receive various taxes and royalty payments

•  Suppliers and contractors are supported through the 

procurement of consumables, services and capital goods
•  Shareholders receive a return on their investment through 

dividends and capital growth in the share price

•  Providers of finance receive a return through interest and other 

loan costs

•  Communities surrounding the operations of Exxaro benefit 

through CSI

•  All stakeholders benefit from continuous reinvestment into the 

group to ensure sustainability and expansion

Value distribution (Rm)

78

51

978

3 795

3 034

2020

1 223

Salaries, wages and benefits

Employees’ tax

Payments to government: 
taxation contribution

Cost of finance

Cash dividend paid

Dividend paid to BEE parties

Community investments 

and volunteerism

4 209

GreenShare employee scheme

(2019: Phantom employee scheme)

1 305

1 947

95

80

1 391

2019

5 812

1 315

1 690

558

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  85

Our performance in 2020

FINANCE DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW continued

CORE PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
For a better understanding of the comparability of results between the two reporting periods, we have adjusted the financial results with 
non-core items to derive our core financial results. Further details on non-core items are shown under the respective financial performance 
measures.

Group core performance — diverse portfolio delivers higher earnings

1
9
4
5
2

6
2
7
5
2

+12%

4
2
9
8
2

Revenue

30 000

20 000

10 000

m
R

0 

2018

2019

2020

Equity-accounted income

m
R

7 000
6 000
5 000
4 000
3 000
2 000
1 000
0

1
7
2
3

+36%

5
5
4
6

0
5
7
4

EBITDA

8 000

6 000

m
R

4 000

2 000

0

HEPS

s
t
n
e
C

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

1

8
2
7

+25%

1
9
2
7

2
3
8
5

2018

2019

2020

+26%

3
7
9
2

9
5
1
2

4
5
3
2

2018

2019

2020

2018

2019

2020

Group revenue 
Consolidated group revenue increased 12% to R28 924 million (2019: R25 726 million), mainly due to higher commercial coal revenue driven 
by higher domestic prices on Eskom sales, slightly offset by lower metallurgical and market coke prices in line with international prices, as 
well as record coal export volumes. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we managed to increase export volumes by 34%, mainly 
due to higher coal availability, with Belfast ramping up to full production, albeit at lower export prices realised in line with the lower 
benchmark API4 price. The 14% weaker average rand/US dollar spot rate realised also contributed to an overall increase in export revenue. 
With the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in Cennergi, renewable energy revenue was included in our consolidated financial results 
from 1 April 2020. 

Group EBITDA and core EBITDA
The higher revenue was the main driver of the 22% increase in consolidated group EBITDA of R7 246 million (2019: R5 953 million). 

For a better understanding of the comparability of results between the two reporting periods, the table below sets out the non-core 
adjustments to derive our core EBITDA.

Key items impacting on comparability (non-core items)

EBITDA
Insurance claim recovery from external parties
Losses on share of cash flow hedge reserve recycled on deemed disposal of Cennergi JV
Indemnification asset relating to the tax implications of the partial disposal of Tronox Holdings plc
Targeted voluntary packages
Loss on financial instruments revaluation recycled to profit or loss
Fair value adjustment on debt
Fair value adjustment on the ECC contingent consideration

2020
Rm

7 246

(14)
59

2019
Rm

5 953

(99)

(65)
396
1
(58)
(296)

Core EBITDA

7 291

5 832

86  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Group core EBITDA increased 25% to R7 291 million (2019: R5 832 million) for reasons shown in the graph below.

Group core EBITDA — cost supporting higher turnover

9 000

8 000

m
R

7 000

6 000

5 000

)
3
5
3
(

)
0
5
1
(

1
3
4

)
2
6
1
(

)
4
7
6
(

)
8
7
3
(

)
7
5
1
(

)
6
4
(

1

4
2
(

8
0
3

1
9
2
7

1

8
8
2

2
3
8
5

2019 Commercial

Inflation Employee

revenue

cost

Rehab-
ilitation

Operational
cost

Selling 
and
distribution

Stock
movement
and 
buy-ins

Forex

Royalties
and 
carbon tax

Cennergi
cost

General*

2020

* Total EBITDA variance for Matla included in General = R15 million. 

The positive revenue impact has already been discussed under group revenue. In respect of inflationary increases, labour inflation was 4.2%, 
electricity at mine specific rates averaging 10.1% and inflation on the rest of the costs at producer price index (PPI) of 2.5%. 

Employee cost was higher with the capitalisation of costs at Belfast ceasing in February 2020. COVID-19 allowances were also paid to 
employees at the mines during the hard lockdown period coupled with additional costs incurred to comply with sanitisation protocols. 

Adjustments to the environmental rehabilitation liability resulted in a positive variance due to the increase in the closure cost estimate at 
Durnacol and Hlobane in 2019 (not recurring in 2020), an increase in the LoM of Dorstfontein East as well as higher discount rates used in the 
calculation of the liability for the group. This was partially offset by the liability adjustment of Belfast, which was previously capitalised.

Operational cost was higher mainly due to the ceasing of capitalisation of costs at the Belfast mine, partially offset by lower production 
volumes and associated production costs at our ECC operations as well as lower contractor costs at Grootegeluk.

The negative variance in selling and distribution costs is in line with higher export sales volumes.

Higher volumes of third-party buy-ins were incurred in the first quarter of 2020 to fulfil contracts, due to some production challenges.

The net negative forex variance is a combination of realised and unrealised forex differences on export sales as a result of the fluctuation 
of the rand/US dollar exchange rate.

Higher royalties expense was in line with the higher revenue.

Cennergi costs represent operational costs for the two windfarms for the nine-month period from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020.

The positive variance under general expenses can be ascribed mainly to lower costs incurred on various projects during the lockdown period 
as well as a favourable adjustment to our expected credit losses due to outstanding payments received from debtors.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  87

 
 
 
Our performance in 2020

FINANCE DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW continued

Group core equity-accounted income
Core equity-accounted income from associates and joint ventures (after adjusting for non-core items1) increased 36% to R6 455 million 
(2019: R4 750 million), mainly as a result of SIOC. 

Refer to the table below for a full breakdown of core equity-accounted income.

Core equity-accounted income

Coal: Mafube
Coal: RBCT
Ferrous: SIOC
TiO2: Tronox SA
Energy: Cennergi2
Energy: LightApp
Other: Black Mountain
Other: Insect Technology
Other: Curapipe

Total

Core equity-accounted 
income/(loss)

2020
Rm

67
8
6 123
226
13
(18)
122
(85)
(1)

6 455

2019
Rm

127
3
4 423
236
45
(28)
51
(103)
(4)

4 750

Dividend income

2020
Rm

2019
Rm

3 119

4 051

144

95

3 263

4 146

1  Non-core items relate to headline earnings adjustments.
2 Application of the equity method ceased on 31 March 2020 after which Cennergi was consolidated.   

Group earnings and core earnings
Headline earnings were 2% lower at R7 417 million (2019: R7 599 million). The decrease in the headline earnings is mainly due to the BEE 
Parties sharing in the consolidated Eyesizwe results for 12 months in 2020 compared to the two months in 2019, partially offset by better 
profitability from controlled operations and higher equity-accounted income from non-controlled operations. This equates to basic headline 
earnings per share (HEPS) of 2 955 cents per share (2019: 3 027 cents per share). The weighted average number of shares (WANOS) for both 
financial years was 251 million.

Key items impacting on comparability (non-core items)

Description

Headline earnings
– EBITDA adjustments
– Eyesizwe preference dividend accrued (consolidated impact)
– Additional tax on non-core adjustments

Core headline earnings

2020
Rm

7 417
45

7 462

2019
Rm

7 599
(121)
25
(101)

7 402

After adjusting for non-core items, core headline earnings increased by 1% to R7 462 million (2019: R7 402 million). To ensure a consistent 
comparison on core headline earnings per share (core HEPS), the core WANOS before 1 November 2019 was 332 million, reducing to  
251 million from 1 November 2019 due to the recognition of non-controlling interests. Core HEPS increased 26% to 2 973 cents per share 
(2019: 2 354 cents per share), mainly driven by a 36% increase in core equity-accounted income, of which SIOC is the main contributor, 
as well as better performance from our own managed operations.

88  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

SUMMARISED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 

ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
Right-of-use assets 
Inventories
Equity-accounted investments
Financial assets
Deferred tax
Other assets
Current assets
Inventories
Financial assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Other assets
Non-current assets held-for-sale

Total assets

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Capital and other components of equity
Share capital
Other components of equity
Retained earnings

Equity attributable to owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests

Total equity

Non-current liabilities
Interest-bearing borrowings
Lease liabilities
Other payables
Provisions
Retirement employee obligations
Financial liabilities 
Deferred tax
Other liabilities 
Current liabilities
Interest-bearing borrowings
Lease liabilities
Trade and other payables
Provisions
Financial liabilities
Overdraft
Other liabilities
Non-current liabilities held-for-sale

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

2020
Rm

2019
Rm

 65 824 
 38 395 
 3 095 
 453 
 128 
 20 006 
 2 141 
 1 076 
 530 
 9 033 
 1 821 
 169 
 2 827 
 3 196 
 1 020 
 3 749 

 78 606 

 1 021 
 2 495 
 35 265 

 38 781 
 9 340 

 48 121 

 19 103 
 7 448 
 493 
 24 
 1 946 
 147 
 782 
 8 236 
 27 
 10 244 
 6 163 
 29 
 2 940 
 185 
 49 
 17 
 861 
 1 138 

 30 485 

 78 606 

 57 978 
 33 562 
 16 
 462 
 101 
 17 502 
 2 674 
 467 
 3 194 
 9 121 
 1 809 
 272 
 3 241 
 2 695 
 1 104 
 1 741 

 68 840 

 1 021 
 2 723 
 31 032 

 34 776 
 8 111 

 42 887 

 19 364 
 6 991 
 461 
 121 
 4 305 
 181 

 7 138 
 167 
 5 179 
 50 
 27 
 2 603 
 99 
 498 
 976 
 926 
 1 410 

 25 953 

 68 840 

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  89

Our performance in 2020

FINANCE DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW continued

Property, plant and equipment increased by R4 833 million when compared to the previous year, which includes R2 225 million spent 
on sustaining and environmental capital (stay-in-business capital) and R950 million on new capacity (expansion capital) as well as the 
consolidation of Cennergi from 1 April 2020. 

As part of the accounting for the acquisition of Cennergi on 1 April 2020, intangible assets in respect of key customer contracts of 
R2 685 million and goodwill of R521 million were recognised. 

Cash and cash equivalents increased 19% to R3 196 million when compared to the previous year. Cash flow generated by operations of 
R7 770 million (2019: R5 273 million) and dividends received from investments of R3 336 million (2019: R4 653 million) were sufficient 
to cover our capital expenditure and ordinary dividends paid. Total dividends received from our investment in SIOC was R3 119 million 
(2019: R4 051 million). SIOC declared a final dividend to its shareholders in February 2021, amounting to R3 663 million for Exxaro’s  
20.62% shareholding. The dividend will be accounted for in 2021.

Net debt for the year ended 31 December 2020 increased by R5 157 million to R10 967 million (2019: R5 810 million), mainly driven by the 
inclusion of the Cennergi project financing of R4 632 million. 

The graph below summarises key movements in the net debt balance for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Group results — net debt FY20

15 000

12 500

10 000

m
R

7 500

5 000

0

(2 500)

1

0
8
5

)
0
7
7
7
(

5
7
1
3

)
6
3
3
3
(

9
3
7
1

5
3
3
4

3
1
1

1

6
6
9

2
3
7
4

6
2
5

)
3
2
3
(

7
6
9
0
1

Cennergi 4 632

Exxaro 6 335

31 Dec 
2019

Cash 
generated

Net 
finance 
cost

Tax

Dividends 
paid

Capex

Dividends 
received

Cennergi 
purchase 
price

Cennergi 
net debt 
acquired

Other

Eyesizwe

31 Dec 
2020

SALE OF NON-CORE ASSETS AND INVESTMENTS
Exxaro continues to evaluate its options to dispose of its 26% shareholding in Black Mountain following the suspension of the sale process 
in December 2020. At 31 December 2020, the investment no longer met the criteria to be classified as a non-current asset held-for-sale with 
the retrospective reinstatement of the equity method from 1 November 2019.

As mentioned previously, we undertook a strategic decision to dispose of our total equity interest in ECC and Leeuwpan, having identified 
these assets as non-core to the future objectives of Exxaro. The resultant sales process is well underway and good progress has been made 
notwithstanding the COVID-19 environment. Subsequent to 31 December 2020, Exxaro signed a sale and purchase agreement with Overlooked 
Colliery Proprietary Limited, who will acquire ECC. The sale will only be effective once all conditions precedent have been met. The disposal 
process for Leeuwpan continues.

Subsequent to 31 December 2020, Exxaro concluded its stated strategy to monetise its stake in Tronox over time in the best possible manner 
taking into account prevailing market conditions.

90  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

KEY FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The achievement of our key financial performance indicators is presented in the table below. 

All internal KPIs are well within target, indicating a healthy balance sheet and strong cashflow generation. The impact of various coal 
sensitivity measures as well as the key financial risk factors can be further used to stress test our current headroom.

We have also comfortably met all our bank covenants for the year ended 31 December 2020 as well as the previous financial year.

Target

2019

2020

Performance — key indicators

Internal KPIs
EBITDA interest cover* (times)
Net debt: equity* (%)
Net debt: EBITDA* (times)
Return on capital employed (%)

Bank covenants**
Net debt: equity (%)
EBITDA interest cover (times)
Net debt: EBITDA (times)

>4
<40
<1.5
>20

<80
>4
<3

160
17
1.0
28

17
19
0.7

*   Excluding Cennergi since consolidation of 100% of results since the step-up acquisition from 1 April 2020.
** Including dividends received from associates and contingent liabilities, except DMRE guarantees and excluding Cennergi consolidated results.

COAL SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

Measure

Sensitivity

Impact on NOP*

Royalty cost

Environmental rehabilitation
discount rate

Export price per tonne

Domestic sales volumes

1%

1%

US$1

1%

(279)

(236)

(200)

(103)

103

279

234

200

Exchange rate

10 cents

(51)

51

Labour

Railage

Export sales volumes

Fuel

Electricity

* Net operating profit.

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

(32)

(31)

(23)

32

31

23

(11)

(6)

11

6

15
17
1.0
25

14
11
0.7

R
m

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  91

Our performance in 2020

FINANCE DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW continued

KEY FINANCIAL RISK FACTORS AFFECTING OUR PERFORMANCE
The group’s corporate treasury function predominantly provides financial risk management services to the business, coordinates access to 
domestic and international financial markets, and monitors and manages the financial risks relating to the operations of the group through 
internal risk reports which analyses exposure by degree and magnitude of risks. These risks include market risk (including foreign currency 
risk, commodity price risk, interest rate risk and price risk), credit risk and liquidity.

In managing its capital, the group focuses on a sound net debt position, return on shareholders’ equity (or return on capital employed) and the 
level of dividends to shareholders. The group’s policy covers its annual net funding requirements through long-term loan facilities with 
maturities spread over time. Neither the company nor any of its subsidiaries are subject to externally imposed capital requirements.
Market risk management
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates, commodity prices and equity prices, will 
affect the group’s income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and 
control market risk exposure within acceptable parameters, while optimising the return on risk. The group’s activities expose it primarily to 
the financial risks of foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, interest rates and changes in the environmental rehabilitation funds’ 
portfolio of assets’ quoted prices.

Price risk management
The group’s exposure to price risk in relation to quoted prices of the environmental rehabilitation funds is not considered a significant risk 
as the funds are invested with reputable financial institutions in accordance with a strict mandate to ensure capital preservation and growth. 
The funds are held for strategic purposes rather than trading purposes.

Foreign currency risk
Certain transactions are denominated in foreign currencies, hence exposures to exchange rate fluctuations arise. The currency in which 
transactions are entered into is mainly denominated in US dollar, euro and Australian dollar. Exchange rate exposures are managed within 
approved policy parameters utilising forward exchange contracts (FECs), currency options and currency swap agreements.

The group maintains a fully covered exchange rate position in respect of foreign loans (if any) and imported capital equipment resulting in 
these exposures being fully converted to rand. Trade-related import exposures are managed through the use of economic hedges arising from 
export revenue as well as through FECs. Trade-related export exposures are hedged using FECs and currency options with specific focus on 
short-term receivables.

Uncovered cash and cash equivalents amount to US$116.35 million (2019: US$89.81 million).

Monetary items have been translated at the closing rate on the last day of the reporting period.

The FECs which are used to hedge foreign currency exposure mostly have a maturity of less than one year from the reporting date. When 
necessary, FECs are rolled over at maturity.

The following significant exchange rates applied during the year:

US$
Euro (€)
AU$

2020

Average 
achieved 
rate

 16.43

Average 
spot rate

 16.45 
 18.76 
 11.35 

Closing 
spot rate

Average 
spot rate

 14.62 
 17.97 
 11.27 

 14.44 
 16.16 
 10.05 

2019

Average 
achieved 
rate

 14.73

Closing 
spot rate

 14.13 
 15.83 
 9.90 

Commodity price risk management
The group entered into commodity FECs to hedge certain of its export product exposure, in terms of coal prices for the period ended 
31 December 2020. The current commodity FECs on coal will mature within the next four months.

Details of the contracts at 31 December 2020 are as follows:

2020

Coal

Commodity price sensitivity

Group

Market
related 
value
Rm

 577

Contract 
value
Rm

Recognised 
fair value 
losses
Rm

 528 

 (49)

Tonnes

 450 000

An adverse change in the commodity price of 10% is demonstrated below. This analysis assumes that all other variables remains constant.

2020

Coal

Impact on
profit/(loss)
Rm

 (53)

A 10% positive move against the above commodity prices at 31 December 2020 would have had the equal but opposite effect on the amount 
shown above, on the basis that all other variables remain constant. 

92  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

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Exxaro

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Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Interest rate risk
The group is exposed to interest rate risk as it borrows and deposits funds at floating interest rates on the money market and extended bank 
borrowings. The group’s main interest rate risk arises from long-term borrowings with floating rates, which expose the group to cash flow 
interest rate risk. The risk is managed by undertaking controlled management of the interest structures of the investments and borrowings, 
maintaining an appropriate mix between fixed and floating interest rate facilities in line with the interest rate expectations. The group also 
uses interest rate swaps and interest rate forwards to manage the interest rate risk exposure. 

As part of the Cennergi business combination the group assumed Cennergi’s borrowings and interest rate swaps as financial liabilities. The 
contractual terms of these borrowings required interest rate swaps (hedging instruments) to be entered into to swap out the floating interest 
rate of the underlying project financing for a fixed interest rate. This was required to fix the future expected returns given the long-term 
nature of the project financing. The group amended its interest rate risk management strategy as follows:

 • When the contractual terms of the borrowings and covenants thereof require the use of hedging instruments to mitigate the risk of 

fluctuations of the underlying interest rate risk cash flow exposure and the impact on profit or loss of specific projects being financed, the 
group looks to apply hedge accounting where an effective hedge relationship is expected and to the extent that such exposure poses a real 
risk to the achievement of the loan covenants.

The financial institutions chosen are subject to compliance with the relevant regulatory bodies.

Liquidity risk management
Liquidity risk is the risk that the group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The group’s approach to managing 
liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under normal and stressed 
conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the group’s reputation.

The ultimate responsibility for liquidity risk management rests with the board of directors, which has built an appropriate liquidity risk 
management framework for the management of the group’s short, medium and long-term funding and liquidity management requirements.

The group manages liquidity risk by monitoring forecast cash flow in compliance with loan covenants and ensuring that adequate unutilised 
borrowing facilities are maintained.

Borrowing capacity is determined by the board of directors, from time to time.

Amount approved
Total borrowings 

Unutilised borrowing capacity

Group

2020
Rm

 48 476 
 (13 611)

 34 865 

2019
Rm

 43 470 
 (7 041)

 36 429 

The group’s capital base, the borrowing powers of the company and the group were set at 125% of shareholders’ funds for both the 2020 
and 2019 financial years.

To avoid incurring interest on late payments, financial risk management policies and procedures are entrenched to ensure the timeous 
matching of orders placed with goods received notes or services acceptances and invoices.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  93

Our performance in 2020

FINANCE DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW continued

Credit risk management
Credit risk relates to potential default by counterparties on cash and cash equivalents, loans, investments, trade receivables and other 
receivables.

The group limits its counterparty exposure arising from money market and derivative instruments by only dealing with well-established 
financial institutions of high credit standing. The group exposure and the credit ratings of its counterparties are continuously monitored and 
the aggregate value of transactions concluded is spread among approved counterparties. Credit exposure is controlled by counterparty limits 
that are reviewed and approved by the board of directors annually.

Exxaro has concentration risk as a result of its exposure to one major customer, being Eskom. To date the customer adheres to the stipulated 
payment terms.

Exxaro establishes an allowance for non-recoverability or impairment that represent its estimate of expected credit losses in respect of trade 
receivables, other receivables, loans, cash and cash equivalents and investments. The main components of these allowances are a 12-month 
expected credit loss component that results from possible default events within the 12 months after the reporting date and a lifetime expected 
credit loss component that results from all possible default events over the expected life of a financial instrument.

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. None of the financial assets were held as collateral for any 
security provided.

Detail of the trade receivables credit risk exposure:

At 31 December

By geographical area
RSA
Europe
Asia
USA

Total

By industry
Public utilities
Mining
Manufacturing
Merchants
Food and beverage
Steel
Structural metal
Cement
Other

Total

Group

2020
%

 72 
 16 
 12 

 100 

 57 
 6 
 1 
 30 
 1 
 4 

 1 

 100 

2019
%

 65 
 17 
 16 
 2 

 100 

 53 
 38 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 3 
 2 
 1 

 100 

OUTLOOK  
Economic context  
World real GDP growth in 2020 contracted by 3.9% compared to an expansion of 2.6% in 2019. In 2021, global economic growth recovery is 
anticipated to continue, however, the worldwide resurgence of COVID-19 infections together with associated restrictions and the availability 
and timeous roll out of vaccines will weigh on the extent of such economic recovery. 

The impact of COVID-19 on South Africa’s fragile public finances has been devastating. As a result, the much-anticipated Economic 
Reconstruction and Recovery Plan was released by the President of South Africa on 15 October 2020. If fully implemented, the plan is 
expected to lay a solid foundation for a higher economic growth path for the longer term. 

In South Africa, the rand depreciated to an all-time low (first half of 2020), before it significantly retracted (second half of 2020). The 
reversion to a riskier financial market environment during the second half of 2020 due to easing of global COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, 
vaccine development, approval and roll-out strategies, together with the uncertainty of the US elections, supported the rand. However, rand 
volatility is expected to continue into 2021.

Commodity markets and price
The API4 price remained stable during the third quarter of 2020 before gaining momentum during the fourth quarter of 2020 on the back of 
demand recovery from India, Japan and South Korea, a tightening in the LNG market with increased global LNG prices, and Chinese buying 
activity from South Africa. Further to the impact of COVID-19, China’s renewed ban on Australian coal imports in September 2020 disrupted 
the thermal coal market. However, going into 2021, risks to the anticipated coal demand remain as well as the reintroduction of second and 
further rounds of COVID-19 restrictions. 

94  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

As a direct result of disappointing iron ore global supply during 2020, inventory levels at both ports and mills did not adequately increase. 
Increasing concerns in China about iron ore availability, especially considering the high steel production levels recorded, supported the robust 
iron ore prices into 2021.

Operational performance
South African domestic coal stock levels are fairly high and Eskom stock levels are above average. It is however expected that the demand 
for thermal coal in the domestic market will remain fairly stable in 2021. 

We do not currently foresee a major impact of the second wave of COVID-19 in our international markets. We expect global economic growth 
to stabilise during 1H21, and thermal coal demand in our markets to remain strong. 

The political dynamics between Australia and China are expected to impact South Africa exports as Australian producers encroach on South 
Africa’s natural markets to evacuate coal. 

South African free on board export coal prices are expected to remain fairly strong in the first quarter of 2021, but to soften in the second 
quarter of 2021 as the northern hemisphere moves out of winter. 

We continue to drive productivity improvements through our operational excellence and digitalisation processes across the full value chain. 
This is all in relation to our drive to remain low on the cost curve. 

The pre-feasibility study on determining the way forward for the Moranbah South hard coking coal project is expected to commence by the 
end of the first half of 2021.

Riaan Koppeschaar
Finance director

19 April 2021

Matla workshop

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  95

Our performance in 2020

OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE

COAL

Achievements in 2020

 • Product volumes of 47.4Mt

 • Sales volumes of 46.8Mt

 • Export volumes of 12.2Mt

Despite changes in the coal portfolio, with some operations mining 
diminishing reserves, as well as delayed expansion projects, our 
optimisation initiatives are delivering value, particularly operational 
excellence and digitalisation. Our operational excellence process 
continues to focus on safety, productivity improvement and cost 
management, as well as driving the maturity of our LEAN5 initiative. 
Through our digital programme, we have made remarkable progress 
in implementing our integrated operating centres and value chain 
visualisations across our operations, aiming to improve in-time 
decision making across the entire value chain. Our digital 
programme will continue to drive value as we focus on mineral 
resource management integration, data science and selective 
automation. Our ability to implement expansion projects and deliver 
early value positions us well to launch into the next phase of value 
growth.

The average Argus/McCloskey Coal Price Index (API4) price for coal 
exported from Richards Bay was weaker in 2020 at US$65/t vs 
US$72/t in 2019. The international seaborne market was largely 

oversupplied in 2020, due to a drop in demand arising from 
COVID-19 impacts, from an oversupply of cheap liquid natural gas 
(LNG) into Europe, China’s adherence to import quotas and China’s 
clampdown on Australian imports. 

Cost per tonne
Cost per tonne was mainly affected by increased distribution cost 
resulting from higher export volumes, as well as electricity, general 
and labour inflation increases and higher cost linked to higher 
production volumes. This was partially offset by lower support costs 
and the downward adjustment of rehabilitation provisions.

Having implemented the integrated operations centres across 
all our BUs, and enabled by our value chain visualisation 
capabilities, we have enhanced our in-time decision making 
and we are now beginning to gain and quantify the benefits of 
our digital transformation journey, which we embarked upon a 
few years back.

Total coal product

Total coal sales

.

8
7
4

)
2
2
(

.

.

6
5
4

8

.
1

.

4
7
4

t

M

50

40

30

20

10

0

.

2
5
4

.

)
7
0
(

.

5
4
4

.

3
2

.

8
6
4

t

M

50

40

30

20

10

0

2018

2019

2020

2018

2019

2020

Coal exports sales

Cost per tonne

1
.
3

.

2
2
1

1
.
1

1
.
9

0
8

.

t

M

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

t
/
R

500

400

300

200

100

0

8
2
3

1
3

9
5
3

5
1

4
7
3

2018

2019

2020

2018

2019

2020

96  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

ENERGY
Cennergi
The effective date of consolidation of Cennergi into the Exxaro 
group is 1 April 2020, reporting core EBITDA of R648 million for the 
nine-month period ended 31 December 2020. Free cash flow 
generated by Cennergi for the nine-month period was R152 million. 

Total generation output at 553GWh for the nine-month period is 
marginally below planned numbers due to lower wind conditions. 
Equipment performance and Eskom grid availability remain 
according to plan. Electricity generated for the 12 months amounted 
to 727GWh, is 4% lower than 2019, which was an exceptionally good 
year for generation, especially in July 2019 where the Amakhala 
windfarm generated more than 150% of its intended target.

FERROUS
SIOC
 • Core equity-accounted income of R6.123 billion 

(2019: R4.423 billion) primarily driven by higher iron ore prices 
combined with cost-saving initiatives implemented

•  Dividend of R5.369 billion to Exxaro in 2020 (2019: R4.051 billion)

TITANIUM DIOXIDE (TiO2)
 • Core equity-accounted income of R226 million from Tronox SA 

was in line with the previous year (2019: R236 million) 

•  Subsequent to year end, Exxaro divested from its investments 

in Tronox

DIVESTMENT OF NON-CORE ASSETS AND 
INVESTMENTS
Black Mountain
Exxaro continues to evaluate its options to dispose of its 26% 
shareholding in Black Mountain following the suspension of the sale 
process in December 2020. At 31 December 2020, the investment no 
longer met the criteria to be classified as a non-current asset 
held-for-sale with the retrospective reinstatement of the equity 
method from 1 November 2019.

ECC and Leeuwpan
As mentioned previously, we undertook a strategic decision to 
dispose of our total equity interest in ECC and Leeuwpan, having 
identified these assets as non-core to the future objectives of 
Exxaro. The resultant sales process is well underway and good 
progress has been made notwithstanding the COVID-19 
environment. Subsequent to 31 December 2020, Exxaro signed a 
sale and purchase agreement with Overlooked Colliery Proprietary 
Limited, who will acquire ECC. The sale will only be effective once 
all conditions precedent have been met. The disposal process for 
Leeuwpan continues.

Rail siding at Delmas near the Leeuwpan mine

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  97

Our performance in 2020

MACRO-ENVIRONMENT

Exxaro’s macro-economic operating context and commodity markets 
include global and local influences that affect our ability to create 
value over time for all of our stakeholders.

Material 
theme

Material
matters

Capitals  
impacted and 
influenced

•  Key customer dependency
•  Financial performance and resilience
•  Prudently maximising the value of our  

coal portfolio

•  Supporting a just transition to a 

low-carbon economy

•  Cost competitiveness of our products
•  Capital allocation
•  Legal, regulatory and compliance excellence
•  Cybersecurity, technology and digitalisation

Financial

Manufactured

Social and relationship

Natural

Human

Macro- 
environment

Exxaro employees observing COVID-19 protocols

98  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

OUR BROADER OPERATING CONTEXT: TRENDS INFLUENCING OUR BUSINESS

Trend

Cause

Effect

Our response

Slowdown in 
global 
economic 
growth

Evolving 
societal and 
regulatory 
environment

 • The COVID-19 pandemic 
with associated national 
lockdown and restrictions 

•  Deep global economic 
recession — world’s 
real GDP growth rate 
contracted by 3.6% 
(2019: 2.6%)

•  Global power demand 
collapsed before it 
recovered

•  Strong global steel 

production driven by China
•  Iron ore market remained 
very tight and ended 2020 
with strong prices

•  Collapsed brent crude 
oil demand resulted in 
significant fall in prices 
•  Saudi Arabian and Russian 
price war in March 2020. 
Prices recovered second 
half of 2020  

•  Demand for sized product in the 
domestic market recovered as 
2020 progressed

•  More domestic supply was 

available due to weaker exports
•  The seaborne thermal coal market 
remained in an oversupply as API4 
price declined by 11% after trading 
at US$72 per tonne on average 
in 2019

•  China’s renewed ban on Australian 
coal imports disrupted the coal 
seaborne trade

•  Recovery of demand from India, 
Japan and South Korea during 
the second half of 2020

•  Tightening LNG market with 
increased global LNG prices
•  Chinese buying activity from 

South Africa

 For more information, refer to 
coal production and sales volumes 
on page 96.

•  We remained committed to 

monetising our remaining stake 
in Tronox Holdings plc over 
time and in the best possible 
manner considering prevailing 
market conditions. Subsequent 
to 31 December 2020, Exxaro 
divested from its investments in 
Tronox.

•  Our interests in Black Mountain 
and the Chifeng Kumba Hongye 
Corporation’s refinery remain 
non-core

•  Formal process in advanced 

stages of divestment from ECC 
and Leeuwpan operations

•  Reassessment of the Moranbah 
South coking coal project by 
Exxaro and Anglo American

 For more information, refer to 
coal production and sales volumes 
on page 96.

•  Globally, mining companies 

are facing increasing 
demands from diverse 
stakeholder groups, and 
maintaining a social licence 
to operate remains a top 
risk

•  Furthermore, across all 

stakeholder groups, there 
is, rightly so, increasing 
intolerance of poor 
business and sustainability 
practices

•  Shareholder activists are 
also placing increasing 
pressure on companies, 
particularly coal miners, 
to give voice to their long-
term ambitions

•  A breakdown in trust can bring a 
mine to its knees faster than any 
other risk. Therefore, focusing on 
mutually beneficial relationships 
with communities is a top priority 
for all mines

•  Our interests in Black Mountain 
and the Chifeng Kumba Hongye 
Corporation’s refinery remain 
non-core while we work on 
divestment plans for Black 
Mountain

•  Furthermore, in the context of 

•  The transfer of the Arnot 

greater water stress and extreme 
weather events due to global 
warming, coal producers are 
facing more intense pressure 
to reassess their portfolios 
and demonstrate how they are 
contributing to the transition to a 
low-carbon economy

 For more information, refer to 

energy transition on page 100.

operation was concluded. The 
outstanding condition was the 
cession of the current CSA 
between Eskom and Arnot OpCo, 
Proprietary Limited. Competition 
Commission and section 11 
approvals were obtained

•  Exxaro and Anglo Coal 

(Grosvenor) Proprietary Limited 
are reassessing the potential 
development plan for the 
Moranbah South coking coal 
project

 For more information, refer to 
coal production and sales volumes 
on page 96.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  99

 
Our performance in 2020

MACRO-ENVIRONMENT continued

Trend

Energy 
transition

Cause

Effect

Our response

•  We have observed 

 • Under the current trajectory, we 

expect the transitional and 
physical risks of climate change on 
our business will be medium to 
high over the next 20 to 30 years 

 For more information, refer to 
risks and opportunities on page 66.

intensified global action on 
climate change and a move 
to restrict the use of fossil 
fuel for energy generation

•  The findings of the 

Intergovernmental Panel 
on Climate Change (IPCC), 
in its special report on 
the impacts of global 
warming of 1.5ºC, paint 
a grim picture of the 
consequences of the 
current trajectory in 
greenhouse gas emissions 
and changing climate 
patterns

•  Our response has been to ensure 
a sustainable Exxaro in a carbon-
constrained environment
•  On 4 June 2019, the board 

passed a unanimous resolution 
to reassess the group’s climate 
change risks and opportunities in 
line with the recommendations of 
the FSB’s TCFD

 • An internal multifunctional task 
team is developing a strategy 
using the TCFD recommendations. 
Progress and results will be 
presented to the market when the 
review process is complete 

 For more information, refer to 

page 118.

Big data and 
mining

•  Digital and technological 

 • Companies are exploring new data-

•  The Exxaro digitalisation and 

innovation opens avenues 
to improve productivity, 
safety and environmental 
management in the mining 
industry

informed methods of mining, 
assisted by technology, which 
requires an understanding of the 
potential future workforce and 
new skill sets 

 For more information, refer to 

innovation and information 
management on page 106.

innovation journey is a strategic 
initiative driven by the CEO

 • Our award-winning Digital@Exxaro 
programme is transforming our 
company culture to ensure we are 
more open and agile when we 
engage with stakeholders 
internally and externally

Wind turbines at Tsitsikamma 

100  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

MARKET OVERVIEW  
During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated measures inflicted the worst global economic downturn since the 1930s. Aggressive fiscal 
and monetary stimulus by governments and central banks, respectively, were injected into the global economy to soften the downturn and, in 
turn, support economic recovery.

Global GDP

-3.6%

(2019: 2.6%)

GDP growth rates
•  COVID-19 pandemic 
•  Global economic recession
•  South Africa’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan

The COVID-19 pandemic and imposed lockdowns resulted in 
collapsing currencies and stock prices, and disruptions to supply 
chains, global demand, international trade flows and travel, 
significantly affecting the global economy. Notwithstanding the 
unusually strong rebound in GDP activity during the third quarter of 
2020, a much deeper global recession in 2020 compared to 2008/9 
was recorded.

World real GDP growth in 2020 contracted by 3.6% compared to an 
expansion of 2.6% in 2019. Going into 2021, global economic growth 
recovery is anticipated to continue. However, the worldwide 
resurgence of COVID-19 infections, together with associated 
restrictions, the availability and timeous roll out of the vaccine will 
weigh on the extent of such economic recovery. 

Real GDP growth rate (%)

World
US

Eurozone

China

India

South Africa

Source: IHS Markit, Apr 2021

2021
forecast

2020

2019

5.2
5.7

3.9

7.8

9.8

3.3

(3.5)
(3.5)

(6.7)

2.3 

(8.2) 
(7.0) 

2.6 
2.2 

1.3 

6.0 

4.1 

0.2 

API4 coal export  
price averaged

US$65/t

(2019: US$72/t)

IMPLICATIONS FOR EXXARO
South Africa’s energy mix and demand

STRATEGIC RESPONSE
Eskom as a strategic customer

Inflation
•  Persistently low inflation
•  Extremely accommodative monetary policy

During 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and a deep 
global recession, central banks turned to aggressive monetary 
easing to support economies. These interest rate cuts were 
facilitated by subdued inflation and inflation expectations. While 
initial shortages of some healthcare goods and panic buying by 
consumers increased some prices, the overall price pressures in the 
global economy were overpoweringly on the downside, mainly due 
to the significant fall in the brent crude oil price, characterised by 
collapsed demand together with the Saudi Arabian and Russian 
price war.

South Africa’s CPI was 3.3%, within the Reserve Bank policy of 
between 3% and 6%. It is expected to edge up in 2021, barring any 
major shocks to the rand, fuel and administered prices.

IMPLICATIONS FOR EXXARO
Cost and revenue escalations

IMPLICATIONS FOR EXXARO
Global energy demand and transition

STRATEGIC RESPONSE
Ensure a sustainable Exxaro in a  
carbon-constrained environment

STRATEGIC RESPONSE
Inflation-linked escalations

Currency markets
•  US dollar
•  Negative real rates and stimulus packages (developed 

markets)

•  COVID-19 vaccine development, approval and roll-out

The impact of COVID-19 on South Africa’s fragile public finances has 
been devastating. As a result, the much anticipated Economic 
Reconstruction and Recovery Plan was released by the President of 
South Africa on 15 October 2020. If fully implemented, the plan is 
expected to lay a solid foundation for a higher economic growth 
path longer term. 

The negative US/EU interest rate differential weighed on the 
US dollar during 2020 and favoured US dollar weakness with the 
latest Federal Reserve policy announcements indicating this trend 
is expected to continue into 2021.  

In South Africa, the rand depreciated to an all-time low (1H20), 
before it significantly retracted (2H20). The reversion to a riskier 

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  101

Our performance in 2020

MACRO-ENVIRONMENT continued

financial market environment during the second half of 2020 due to 
easing global COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, vaccine development, 
approval and roll-out strategies, together with the uncertainty of the 
US elections, supported the rand. However, rand volatility is 
expected to continue into 2021.

IMPLICATIONS FOR EXXARO
Forex volatility

STRATEGIC RESPONSE
Rand-based pricing for certain products

Business sentiment
•  Cautious optimism

The reality of South Africa’s economic reconstruction and recovery 
challenges, together with much-needed economic reforms, was 
again highlighted in the latest announced economic plan, built on 
the common ground established by the social partners, namely 
government, business, labour and community organisations. 
Optimism prevailed that focus would now shift to urgently 
implement the critical economic reforms to enable a sustainable 
economic growth path for the country. However, the successful 
procurement and roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines during the first 
half of 2021 is imperative.

IMPLICATIONS FOR EXXARO
Investor sentiment

STRATEGIC RESPONSE
Stakeholder engagement

Commodity markets
•  Mixed performance
•  COVID-19 path and impact on demand, supply and price

Exxaro’s specific commodity markets recorded mixed performances 
in 2020. Key drivers in commodity markets during the year were the 
COVID-19 path worldwide, global recessionary economic 
environment, collapsing commodity demand, supply disruptions, 
China’s coal import restrictions and continued energy transition 
themes.

Commodity prices (US$/per tonne)

Commodity

Thermal coal (AP14)
Thermal coal (RB3)
Hard coking coal (prime)

Iron ore fines

Lump premium
TiO2 pigment
Chloride slag

Zircon

2021
forecast

80
62
136

131

20

2 787

765

1 450

2020

65.20
48.88
143.08

109.03

15.6

2 459

835

1 370

2019

71.56
55.76
175.08

93.63

17.2

2 480

777

1 510

Sources: Various market reports and Exxaro analysis (CRU, Wood Mackenzie, JP Morgan, 
TZMI), Apr 2021

102  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

IMPLICATIONS FOR EXXARO
Performance of commodity markets

STRATEGIC RESPONSE
Portfolio management

Coal
•  Recovery of domestic offtake
•  Resurgence of global power demand 
•  Tightening of LNG market
•  Chinese import restrictions on Australian coal
•  Chinese buying activity from South Africa
•  Decline in global seaborne thermal trade

The easing of associated COVID-19 restrictions, especially during the 
second half of 2020, resulted in an increase in offtake by most of 
our domestic customers. Although encouraging demand for sized 
products was evident overall, excess product accumulated due to 
lower demand during the first half of 2020 weighing on domestic 
demand.

Globally, the API4 price returned to some stability during the third 
quarter of 2020 before gaining significant increasing momentum 
during the fourth quarter of 2020 on the back of demand recovery 
from India, Japan and South Korea; a tightening LNG market with 
increased global LNG prices; and Chinese buying activity from South 
Africa. Further to the impact of COVID-19, China’s renewed ban on 
Australian coal imports in September 2020 disrupted the thermal 
coal market. However, going into 2021, risks to the anticipated coal 
demand remain the impact and reintroduction of second and any 
further rounds of COVID-19 restrictions. 

Coal demand and pricing for sized product in the domestic market 
remained stable throughout 2020 as weak export demand resulted 
in an oversupply in the domestic market. Uncertainty surrounding 
the implementation and duration of renewed import restrictions by 
China on Australian coal also supported South African seaborne 
market prices towards the end of 2020 and into 2021.

Global seaborne thermal coal trade levels for 2020 declined by 
about 80Mt compared to 2019. The average export sale API4 price 
dropped by 11% in 2020, having traded at US$72 per tonne 
on average in 2019.

Turning to hard coking coal, although demand from India and China 
remained supportive, China’s ban on Australian coal imports 
weighed heavily on the overall market and price performance. 

IMPLICATIONS FOR EXXARO
Fluctuating market demand and lower commodity pricing
Market demand evolving and dynamic

STRATEGIC RESPONSE
Market-to-resource optimisation

Supply-side disruptions (thermal coal)
•  High-level engagements

TFR railed 70.1Mt to RBCT from January 2020 to the end of 
December 2020. The third quarter proved to be a challenge for 
TFR and Exxaro lost 0.7Mt of export coal not being railed.  

 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Though the export rail performance from Grootegeluk improved 
from 4.8 trains per week in 2019 to 6.32 trains per week in 2020, 
the tonnage of 1.96Mt railed for Grootegeluk was well below the 
target. High-level engagements are ongoing to increase the number 
of trains to 10 per week consistently as per the Waterberg ramp-up 
plan. The total export tonnage of 11.958Mt railed in 2020 is a new 
record for Exxaro.

As a direct result of disappointing iron ore global supply during 
2020, inventory levels at both ports and mills did not adequately 
increase. Increasing concerns in China about iron ore availability, 
especially considering the high steel production levels recorded, 
supported the robust iron ore prices into 2021.

IMPLICATIONS FOR EXXARO
Performance of export potential

IMPLICATIONS FOR EXXARO
Performance of the SIOC investment

STRATEGIC RESPONSE
Transnet engagement

STRATEGIC RESPONSE
Exposure to higher-value iron ore 
lump product

Iron ore
•  Supply disruptions
•  Strong Chinese steel demand

Constrained supply due to COVID-19-related disruptions, especially 
during the first half of 2020, kept the global iron ore market balance 
constrained.

Overall, Chinese economic data remained highly supportive of 
strong steel demand — accelerating credit growth, ongoing 
improvements in fixed investment and purchasing managers’ index, 
along with strength in property and machinery activity. As a result, 
Chinese steel production remained elevated throughout the period 
under review and, despite improved global iron ore supply, the 
market concluded 2020 constrained with strong prices.

Mineral sands and TiO2
•  Subdued feedstocks and pigment markets

The TiO2 pigment market fundamentals softened during the year 
under review with high supply, most notably from China, and 
weakened global demand. The willingness to spend by a weakened 
consumer base, and behavioural changes to end-markets for which 
TiO2 is most exposed to, have negatively influenced overall demand 
levels during 2020.  

Our commitment in action

               Sunday Times Top 100

Exxaro ranked 13th in the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies in South Africa – 
23 places higher than in 2019. To qualify for the 2020 list, all JSE-listed companies 
had to hold at least R5bn market capitalisation between 1 ept 2015 and 31 Aug 
2020. Winners then ranked according to the highest returns to shareholders over 
5 years, based on a theoretical investment of R10 000. 

Exxaro’s green corporate office, the conneXXion

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  103

 
Our performance in 2020

BUSINESS RESILIENCE

Efficient management of our project portfolio and capital allocation 
enables us to withstand changes in the global economy and our 
markets.

Material 
theme

Material
matters

Capitals  
impacted and 
influenced

•  Key customer dependency
•  Financial performance and resilience
•  Prudently maximising the value of our  

coal portfolio

•  Supporting a just transition to a  

low-carbon economy

•  Cost competitiveness of our products
•  Capital allocation
•  Legal, regulatory and compliance excellence
•  Cybersecurity, technology and digitalisation

Business 
resilience

Financial

Manufactured

Social and relationship

Natural

Human

Intellectual

CAPITAL PROJECT EXECUTION
Exxaro continues to focus on the portfolio of growth and sustaining capital projects. The portfolio is impacted by current financial challenges 
faced by contractors as well as COVID-19-related restrictions affecting construction timelines.

Waterberg (Limpopo)
The COVID-19 lockdown delayed the GG6 expansion project schedule by six months and affected contractor performance. This resulted in the 
initially approved timeline shifting by 12 months. In addition, when Group Five was placed under business rescue, we had to appoint a 
replacement contractor. The current estimated capital overrun of approximately 10% for the GG6 project is still as per guidance to 
stakeholders.

On 30 September 2020, Grootegeluk’s rapid load-out station project, aligned with the TFR north-west corridor expansion project, was handed 
over to the Grootegeluk complex. Project close was completed within budget by the end of 2020. The delay in the project completion did not 
affect the TFR ramp-up schedule.

Mpumalanga
Our Belfast Implementation Project achieved first coal during the third quarter of 2019. Plant acceptance testing was complete during first 
quarter of 2020. The project was closed at the end of the second half of 2020, within budget.

A programme of infrastructure projects to support Matla to achieve a 10Mtpa production objective, once fully ramped up, is in implementation. 
Exxaro continues to engage Eskom to obtain release of the required funding to execute the full scope of the programme.

104  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Project

Classification 
(growth/
sustaining)

Location: Waterberg (Limpopo)

GG6 expansion

Growth

Product

Focus and performance

Capex

Outlook

1.7Mtpa of 
semi-soft 
coking coal

Expansion of the existing 
Grootegeluk 2 plant to enable 
the production of semi-soft 
coking coal

Grootegeluk 
rapid load-out 
station

Sustaining

Load 
capacity of 
12Mtpa

Grootegeluk’s rapid load-out 
station and rail yard upgrade 
project is aligned with TFR’s 
north-west corridor expansion 
project

Location: Mpumalanga

Belfast 
implementation 
project

Growth

2.7Mtpa of 
thermal coal

Leeuwpan life 
expansion

Growth

2.7Mtpa of 
thermal coal

Development of a new greenfield 
open-pit coal mine, including a 
coal handling and preparation 
plant, with infrastructure and 
services to support, a 12-year 
LoM

Development of the OI reserve to 
extend the LoM of the Leeuwpan 
mining complex by seven years. 
Households and graves to be 
relocated to the local township

Dorstfontein 
West 4 seam

Growth

0.8Mtpa 
of thermal 
coal

The project enables operations 
to produce coal from mid-seam 
reserves. It included a plant 
upgrade and development of 
conveyor systems

Matla LoM 
Programme

Sustaining

10Mtpa of 
thermal coal

Infrastructure development to 
support LoM production 

R3.4bn

R5.2bn

R1.3bn

R3.3bn

R0.6bn

R0.3bn

First production through small 
coal plant is expected during 
1Q2021. Construction concludes 
during 4Q2021 with project 
close by 1H2022

The station was handed over 
to operations at the end of 
3Q2020. The project closed in 
December 2020

First coal was achieved in 
3Q2019 and plant acceptance 
testing was completed in 
1Q2020. The project closed in 
December 2020

First production was achieved in 
3Q2018. Relocation of Rietkuil 
families is underway. Project 
close is expected at the end of 
1Q2021

First production was achieved 
in 3Q2019. Acceptance testing 
and ramp-up was completed in 
3Q2020. The project closed in 
October 2020

Construction work and 
fabrication of equipment on 
the programme commenced 
during 3Q2020. Completion 
of the program deliverables is 
expected to conclude 2H2024

Our commitment in action

                 Vigeo Eiris best 100 emerging 
                 markets ESG ranking

Exxaro has featured in the latest Vigeo Eiris ranking of the best emerging market 
performers. The ranking comprises the 100 best performing companies listed in 
emerging markets, in terms of their approach and ongoing dedication to social 
responsibility

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  105

Our performance in 2020

BUSINESS RESILIENCE continued

Coal sales by product tonnes (%)

2

6

26

(cid:93) Domestic 
metallurgical
(cid:93) Other domestic
(cid:93) Exports
(cid:93) Sales to Eskom

FY20
actual

2 110

1 683

411

16

950

643

306

FY20
previous
guidance

1 980

1 485

473

22

1 111

716

395

3 060

3 091

FY19
actual

2 245

1 753

475

17

3 572

1 198

2 301

73

5 817

%
change
previous
guidance

7

13

(13)

(27)

(14)

(10)

(22)

(1)

66

Coal capex

Rm

Sustaining

Waterberg
Mpumalanga

Other

Expansion

Waterberg
Mpumalanga

Other

Total

Salient features of our coal capex in 2020 include:
 • Capital expenditure decreased by 47% from 2019 to 

R3 060 million

•  R2 110 million (2019: R2 245 million) applied to sustaining and 

environmental capital (stay-in-business capital)

•  R950 million (2019: R3 572 million) invested in new capacity 

(expansion capital)

Eskom
In terms of three long-term CSAs with the Matimba, Medupi 
and Matla power stations, Eskom is a key customer. We are also 
negotiating potential CSAs with Eskom for coal supply from 
our Leeuwpan and ECC operations. When Eskom declared force 
majeure on the Matimba and Medupi CSAs in 2020, we defended 
our position. Eskom continued to offtake its contracted volume at 
both power stations. In some months, this was above the required 
volume. On 6 August 2020, Eskom lifted the force majeure on the 
CSAs.

We continue to renegotiate the Matla cost-plus agreement due to 
expire in mid-2023.

106  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

AMSA stopped production when the COVID-19 lockdown began and 
shut down its blast furnaces. When lockdown eased, operations 
resumed and production accelerated to resolve the backlog of 
almost three months. The second blast furnace at Vanderbijlpark 
restarted between December 2020 and January 2021. 

Exxaro continues to explore additional domestic and international 
markets for semi-soft coking coal.

CENNERGI
Due to the inherent variability of wind, it is important that the wind 
farm owner takes all reasonable measures to understand the past, 
current and future wind trends, and thus to build a long-term 
business case that is pragmatic and realistic. Cennergi has and 
continues to perform wind energy assessments and operational 
energy yield assessments to understand any changes in the 
performance of our assets, or potentially in the wind regime itself. 
By doing this, Cennergi can proactively manage its assets and make 
business decisions tailored to maximise benefit in the short, medium 
and/or long-term.

INNOVATION AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
To meet greater demand for digital solutions, our Innovation and 
Information Management (I&IM) team adapted processes to enable 
quicker deployment of solutions. We adopted agile delivery 
methodologies that shorten the systems development lifecycle 
while ensuring delivery of high-quality software products. We have 
also developed a benefit realisation framework with defined KPIs 
that assess technology projects and investments.

Our digital transformation strategy includes the deployment of 
artificial intelligence in the following areas:
•  Core capabilities — successful implementation of value-adding 
initiatives for mineral resource management and planning, 
plant, engineering, environmental management, marketing and 
production management

•  Supporting enterprise capabilities supported health and safety, 

supply chain, human resources and business enablement through 
an unprecedented pandemic

•  Supporting IM capabilities — ensuring data governance in 

application development and maintenance, solution architecture 
as well as deployment and release management environment

Exxaro responded quickly, and largely without disruption, when 
the COVID-19 lockdown was declared in March 2020 as a result of 
the migration of core infrastructure and applications to the cloud 
in 2019. Our investment in cloud infrastructure and tools enabled 
employees to collaborate seamlessly with internal and external 
stakeholders to ensure business continuity. 

Our internet of things programmes and platform-based solutions 
enable delivery of improvements in predictive modelling, front-
end loader integrations with weighbridges, high-precision loading, 
collision avoidance and advanced process controllers.

Comprehensive data collection and analytics-enabled visualisation 
of mining value chains at BUs. In 2021, our analytics team, in 
partnership with Digital@Exxaro, will focus on maturing data 
sciences capabilities to enable self-service analytics including:
 • Democratising big data with self-service analytics for data science 

tasks

•  Empowering business users with access to insights
•  Core model development to streamline data exploration, 

verification, visualisation and reporting so the core data science 
team can concentrate on critical and complex tasks

•  Working together to improve productivity and create value for 

Exxaro as a whole

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

CYBERSECURITY
In support of the business digital strategy, we are introducing new 
innovative technologies which potentially introduce new risks and 
threats into the environment as it becomes more automated. At 
the core of our cybersecurity strategy is the protection of Exxaro’s 
information and other digital assets, through the implementation 
of the cybersecurity programme which focuses on improving these 
three major capabilities: information security, cloud security and 
business resilience.

Through this programme, we have reduced the risk of identity 
theft by implementing a number of initiatives such as multi-
factor authentication. To improve our data loss prevention and 

data protection capabilities, we started the process of classifying 
company data in 2020, this will continue into 2021.

Cybersecurity awareness campaigns remain paramount to the 
continuous education of our people on cybersecurity threats. 
These campaigns will continue into 2021 to further reduce the 
probability of attacks. 

We are also re-evaluating the criticality of existing systems to 
understand the impact on business better in order to enable 
periodic service simulations and to verify the adequacy of existing 
service continuity capabilities. 

Data discovery, storage 
and integration

Real-time and point-in-time  
analytics

Data cleaning  
and filtering

Self-service analytics  
capabilities

Collaboration and 
communication

Easy and intuitive 
user interface

Data visualisation 
and reporting

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  107

Our performance in 2020

OUR PEOPLE

Material 
theme

Material
matters

Capitals  
impacted and 
influenced

•  Health, safety and wellness
•  Workforce: culture, capacity, diversity, 

inclusion and innovation

•  Legal, regulatory and compliance excellence
•  Transparency, ethics and integrity

Our people

Human

Intellectual

Financial

Manufactured

Social and relationship

Our people strategy, based on four strategic priorities, is the foundation of our 
approach to employee engagement: 

1

2

3

4

Establish 
workforce of 
the future

Create 
sound 
people 
partnerships

Consistent
employee 
engagement

Drive 
organisational 
transformation

The pillars are underpinned by a commitment to sustain our culture, values and behaviours to enable our core purpose: to power better lives 
in Africa and beyond.

As our Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy evolves, it is supported by embedding our organisational culture – the behaviour we expect 
from all employees. We drive adequate communication and change management relating to strategic issues through our connect2NEXT 
platform, supporting positive employee engagement.

Exxaro believes that people are at the centre of our success. 
We harness value from our workforce’s diversity of thinking.

108  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Our diversity and inclusion strategy supports our employee value 
proposition (EVP) through the co-creation of an innovative and agile 
work environment. Value-adding people solutions afford a fulfilling 
work experience with growth and development. The evolution of our 
EVP and our culture is further enhanced by a baseline culture 
survey. 

We maintain sustainable human resource governance with a 
comprehensive suite of policies that cover employment, labour 
relations, occupational health and safety, training and education, 
among others. We are mindful of the safety and wellbeing of our 
employees and host communities. We strive to achieve zero harm 
through collective responsibility, commitment and risk awareness. 

Our phased approach to meeting employee needs uses lessons 
learnt in each phase to accelerate the next.

 For more information on how we maintain legal, regulatory 

and compliance excellence as well as instil transparency, ethics and 
integrity, refer to our governance summary on page 31 and our 
full ESG report.

Snapshot of our workforce

22 466 people

(2019: 23 365) 

30% full-time employees

70% contractors

Health, safety and wellness
Safety

Safety performance

48 

months 
fatality-free
as at 2 March 2021

Three 
HPIs 
(2019: 0)

LTIFR:

0.05

(2019: 0.11)

Nine 

LTIs 
(2019: 26)

Three section 
54 (mining activity 
stopped) and two 
section 55 (mining in 
affected areas stopped) 
notices resolved 
amicably with 
the DMRE

High-risk  
task audit of all 
operations

We review our safety target every year, based on prior performance, 
and apply stringent management protocols, programmes and 
systems. Our BU management team investigates every occurrence 
of a safety incident and in terms of LTI and a skilled committee, 
headed by an independent chairperson, investigates fatalities and 
high-potential incidents (HPIs). Exxaro reports investigation findings 
to the executive committee and the sustainability, risk and 
compliance committee, and escalates these to our board.

The leading causes of incidents and sources of safety risk remain 
trackless mobile machinery, fall of ground, energy and machine 
isolation, lifting and material handling, as well as poor risk 
awareness and discipline. We provide on-the-job training to ensure 
well-trained people are in suitable positions. Each BU tracks 
adherence to standards and legislation through a safety 
improvement plan of self-assessments and corporate audits.

We revised our group safety strategy in 2017 and leadership 
identified five specific focus areas namely, leadership, 
communication, consequence management, training, and risk 

management. Additional interventions to address safety risks in 
2020 included:
 • Global Minerals Industry Risk Management course for top and 
senior management informed our safety improvement plans
 • Visible felt leadership improved management’s presence and 

communication in the workplace

 • Safety communication (safety indabas at BUs, the group Safety 

Leadership Day and the Sustainability Summit)

 • Managing high-risk and non-routine tasks as well as working over 

weekends and holidays

 • Innovation and technology application for safety in work conduct

Our new safety campaign, Khetha Ukuphepha (“choose to be safe”) 
was also launched to communicate that zero harm is possible, to 
achieve safety targets, and to reach the three-year and beyond 
fatality-free milestone. The campaign was introduced in the BU 
safety indabas and the executive committee’s group-wide Safety 
Leadership Day. 

There were no fatalities or LTIs at either of Cennergi’s two 
windfarms.

Health and wellness
Our health and wellness strategy is supported by three pillars that ensure an integrated approach to occupational and lifestyle diseases 
throughout our BUs.

DIAGNOSE

MANAGE

PREVENT

Improve medical surveillance by 
extending clinical tests (heart disease 
and risk-based cancer screening) and 
ensuring our employees receive 
once-off DNA analysis assessments. 
Diagnosis was recently extended to 
include COVID-19 screenings

Improve healthcare management 
by ensuring all employees with 
health risks (occupational, and 
non-occupational) are included 
in a disease management 
programme 

Improve preventive programmes with 
mandatory comprehensive wellness 
awareness campaigns and healthy 
lifestyle coaching (integrated with a 
certificate of fitness)

Our executive committee and board approved the strategy in November 2019 and it aims to:
 • Shift our healthcare approach from curative and employer-driven to preventive and employee-driven efforts
 • Align our health and wellness portfolios for a holistic and integrated management programme

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  109

 Developing our human resources

Human resource development initiatives reduce core skills 
shortages in the South African mining industry. Our learning 
programmes accelerate technical and functional skills development 
as well as leadership competence, especially for black people, 
women and people living with disabilities. At the same time, we 
comply with skills targets and goals set by regulators. In some 
instances, we exceed the requirements of the Mining Charter and 
the dtic B-BBEE codes.

We invest a portion of annual salaries and wages in developing our 
people. In 2020, we spent R227 million or 5.04% (2019: R298 million 
or 6.52%) of our payroll on training and development including:
 • R114 million on job-related operational and technical training 

(operator training and mobile equipment licences)

 • R93 million on bursaries, training professionals, internships, 

learnerships and skills programmes to secure our talent pipeline
 • R7.4 million on developing targeted employees in management 

programmes, leadership roles, postgraduate studies and support 
functions

To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our internship, learnership 
and skills development programmes, some training offerings were 
made available using digital platforms. More than 17 000 compliance 
training interventions were completed in our online cloud-based 
learning management system. The creative content improved 
learner retention and saved time.

Strategic workforce planning
Our strategic workforce planning initiatives support our 
business in identifying and developing capabilities required to 
deliver our Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy.

We translate capabilities into learning journeys to reskill and 
upskill our workforce. The process supports digital 
transformation as our operations adopt new technology and 
equipment. Our minerals growth strategy informs the transition 
of roles for effective delivery of our business strategy.

Updated competency profiles, assessment tools and learning 
interventions will support future roles. We train young people in 
our talent pipeline to expose them to our working environment 
with our new business strategy in mind. Our smart workforce 
training programmes ensure digital skills are fit for the 
advancing digital economy.

Our strategy aims to build a multi-core and supportive 
organisation. Our talent management team partnered with 
service providers to develop capability framework proof-of-
concept training programmes (including strategic development, 
market orientation and business acumen). Our plans include 
additional internal capability development programmes to be 
rolled out in 2021.

 For more information, refer to our ESG report. 

Our performance in 2020

OUR PEOPLE continued

Our strategy identifies occupational and non-occupational health 
risks and their causes, solutions to mitigate these risks, impacts of 
the risks on the business, and the best approach to ensure an 
environment that empowers employees to manage and protect their 
health. We need seamless integration of health and wellness 
management with clearly defined employer and employee 
responsibilities for our strategy to deliver a comprehensive health 
solution.

Diagnostic programmes are advanced with integrated health and 
wellness solutions. Wellness management is moving beyond services 
currently offered (general and psychosocial counselling) to healthy 
lifestyle coaching with physical and mental health management in a 
single certificate of fitness awarded after routine tests.

 For more information on our approach, as well as how we 
performed with regard to occupational and non-occupational 
disease management, refer to people in the ESG report. 

COVID-19 response
In line with our health and wellness strategy, Exxaro’s strategic 
response to COVID-19 is based on three pillars:
 • Avoid infection
 • Reduce infection
 • Manage risks as they arise

Our health and wellness strategy seeks to provide a solution 
that diagnoses, manages and prevents COVID-19 cases. 

Exxaro’s response to COVID-19 during 2020 included amplified 
awareness campaigns, business process amendments, 
establishing COVID-19 technical teams, individual and 
workplace hygiene measures, driving compliance and 
behaviour change, two testing stations, mass screening and a 
24-hour call centre, among others.

 For more information, refer to page 14. 

Managing our talent
Exxaro’s talent management strategy guides our sourcing and 
development of leaders, specialists and professionals. Our strategic 
workforce pipeline, talent planning and learning and development 
processes maintain our status as “employer of choice”. These 
processes also contribute to our EVP, and diversity and inclusion 
strategy.

Our talent management initiatives build leadership, management 
and technical competencies, and broaden knowledge. We facilitate 
leadership training, formal studies, mentoring, coaching, internships, 
learnerships, skills development, adult education and training and 
short courses. The strategy has evolved over the past three years to 
focus on several initiatives that enhance learner experiences as well 
as reskill and upskill employees. Initiatives include smart workforce 
programmes, capability development, a new learning platform, 
diversity and inclusion programmes, new digital platforms and 
fourth industrial revolution training.

To meet our skills requirements, we invest in current and potential 
employees as well as members of communities in our labour 
sending areas (99% in South Africa). Our bursary, graduate, 
learnership and skills development initiatives empower local 
communities to compete for positions. Learning programmes 
optimise individual potential for growth and meaningful 
contribution.

We examine key areas across the value chain to ensure the right 
skills are available at the right time. More than half of our talent 
pipeline spend is dedicated to artisan and miner learnership 
development.

110  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Employee engagement and culture
Our adaptable culture reflects willingness to learn and improve as we strive to achieve our Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy. We 
continue intensifying our employee engagement efforts to share critical information and changes. This includes feedback from our employees 
through our culture and engagement survey.

Our connect2NEXT process continued to empower the organisation (including BUs) on the management and communication of the changes, 
through communities of practice, and alignment with the strategy and culture evolution. This also involved the review of the major shifts 
required.

RESPONSIBLE

OWNERSHIP

DIVERSE

Make Exxaro a 
positive place to be

Success lies with 
each of us

Our potential is in 
our differences

Acting ethically, with 
accountability and 
against misconduct, 
while treating others 
with dignity, fosters a 
safe and healthy work 
environment.

Contributing to 
performance and 
innovation every day, 
building together, we 
can drive Exxaro to 
new heights.

Harnessing our 
unique individual 
skills and opinions 
enables us to achieve 
exceptional 
outcomes.

N AN
OPEN AND  
EN AND
EN AND
PEN AND
PEN AND
CONNECTED

Working together 
will bring out the 
best in us all

Achieving 
organisational 
excellence in an open 
and evolving 
ecosystem requires 
collaboration and 
teamwork.

ADAPTABLE

We cannot move 
forward by standing 
still

Succeeding in the 
ever-changing world 
around us requires 
agility as well as 
willingness to learn 
and improve.

Diversity and inclusion
Our diversity and inclusion strategy is a key strategic enabler and 
aims to create value from our people’s diverse talent and mindsets. 
Diversity and inclusion is key component in ensuring that Exxaro 
achieves its Sustainable Growth and Impact strategic objectives by 
enabling an inclusive culture that empowers its people, irrespective 
of gender, race and background, to successfully contribute to 
delivering on our vision to “power better lives in Africa and beyond”.

The implementation of the diversity and inclusion strategy is 
managed through the diversity and inclusion framework which 
adopts a phased approach aimed at increasing alignment and 
promoting a diverse and inclusive culture that delivers business and 
stakeholder value. The key objectives of the diversity and inclusion 
framework are:
 • Promoting an aspirational vision for the Exxaro brand on both 

national and international platforms through strategic 
partnerships in terms of the promotion of diversity and inclusion 
to stakeholders

 • Promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce through our actions, 
practices, leadership and culture by enhancing our employees’ 
experience by creating a compelling EVP to become the 
“employer of choice”

 • Achieving our regulatory compliance targets by 2022 and 50% of 

women on management levels by 2025

 • Being a catalyst in accelerating our focus to enhance Exxaro’s 

business purpose and stakeholder value creation

Diversity and inclusion implementation framework
In 2020, we defined diversity and inclusion for Exxaro with the 
following focus areas:
 • Women empowerment and gender equality
 • Strategic partnerships
 • Leadership and culture
 • Persons with disabilities
 • Governance and policies
 • Compliance

Work streams were identified for each of the above areas, where 
we considered defined principles, and current and future outcomes. 
Leadership commitment and drive for diversity and inclusion in 
Exxaro supported early successes in 2020, which included:
 • Formulating a diversity and inclusion policy
 • Adopting a gender equality charter
 • Forging strategic partnerships of particular significance that align 

with UN Women and its women empowerment principles
 • Conducting anti-GBV campaigns across the organisation

Employment equity
Employment equity policies and skills development enable us to 
meet our transformation objectives to support and drive the 
national imperative towards a non-racial and transformed society. 
Appropriate affirmative action measures and human resource 
development programmes support our transformation processes as 
well as cultural engagements. Exxaro achieved its employment 
equity targets over the past five years. Our targets for 2019 to 2022 
align with the Mining Charter III promulgated in September 2018. 
Though we have shown positive progress in achieving our annual 
targets, key challenges exist with the representation of women at 
senior management level and persons with disabilities across the 
organisation. Our aspiration is to measure our organisational 
transformation profile against the national economically active 
population statistics.

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  111

Our performance in 2020

OUR PEOPLE continued

Women in mining
We empower female employees, who make up 24% (2019: 22%) of our workforce. We grow this talent pipeline through our professionals 
in training (PIT) programme, which enrolled 38% (2019: 43%) female candidates in 2020.

In 2020, 39% (2019: 33%) of bursaries were awarded to full-time female students in engineering and mining disciplines at universities in 
South Africa.

Our learnership and internship feeder schemes in 2020 comprised 40% (2019: 35%) women. Exxaro is recognised as a leader in gender 
empowerment as we understand the barriers women face in the mining industry. Our initiatives include:
 • Fast tracking and executive mentorship programmes
 • Gender mainstreaming and sexual harassment awareness at all levels
 • Encouraging and mentoring young women and girls in our communities to plan their careers and acquire skills to become independent 

and empowered

 • Our gender equality policy

The mining industry has significantly increased efforts to create a conducive environment for women since 2004. We celebrate their 
growing influence and respect their aspirations. 

Exxaro prides itself in active women in mining structures across all our operations. These structures collaborate with transformation 
structures to highlight and resolve issues affecting women in the workplace.

Exxaro also signed up to the UN Women Empowerment Principles, which offer guidance on how we can further empower women in our 
workplace and communities. Furthermore, Exxaro was recognised in the Bloomberg GEI. This announcement is testament to the gender-
related practices, policies and purpose-led programmes to advance the role of women in Exxaro.

Our commitment in action

Top Employer

South African winner

GradStar Students’ Choice 
Awards of 2020

Second most sought-after mining company to work for in the Mining and Metals 
category by thousands of tertiary students

                     Bloomberg 2021 Gender Equity  
                     Index (GEI) participation

The Bloomberg GEI tracks the performance of public companies committed to 
disclosing their efforts to supporting gender equality through policy development, 
representation, and transparency

112  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Water sampling at Belfast mine

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  113

Our performance in 2020

HUMAN RIGHTS

Since its formation in 2006, Exxaro has aimed to power better lives for 
all. Through our values and culture, we recognise that our success lies 
in the strength of our relationships, embracing our unique differences 
and treating each other with respect. 

Exxaro has long upheld the rights of its employees with regard to, 
among other things, workplace safety. 
 • We comply with labour legislation in South Africa and 

International Labour Organization guidelines. As a UNGC 
signatory, we encourage freedom of association and collective 
bargaining, and we do not tolerate or condone child labour and 
forced or compulsory labour. Our compliance with legislation and 
international conventions was audited by our internal auditors 
and confirmed in the prior period.

•  Exxaro’s induction programmes educate employees about human 
rights. Our policies and structures that prevent discrimination, 
harassment and racism protect employees’ human rights. We train 
our security personnel in human rights aspects relevant to each 
operation. Exxaro also conducts refresher courses that include 
human rights issues.

•  Our diversity and inclusion strategy aligns Exxaro with the South 
African Constitution and other legislation, the National Gender 
Policy Framework and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All 
Forms of Discrimination against Women.

•  We also observe our employees’ right to freedom of association. 

Six unions are recognised as a collective bargaining agent for our 
employees. Of our 6 739 employees, 5 119 are unionised (75.96% 
of the workforce).

•  We encourage open and honest communication between 

employees and supervisors. Exxaro’s employment contracts 
advise employees of their rights to lodge a grievance if they are 
dissatisfied. 

•  Our induction training informs newly appointed employees of our 
position against discrimination. We are all equal at Exxaro and we 
must respect everyone, regardless of differences. 

Exxaro respects the rights of its community (see resettlement 
project case studies below). To date however, Exxaro has not 
formally and publicly articulated a commitment to human rights. We 
understand that we must go beyond unspoken intent, to 
intentionally communicate our commitment to human rights 
to support our efforts to build trusting relationships with 
stakeholders, manage risks, enhance our citizenship and reputation. 

Exxaro has initiated a process to develop a framework for the 
organisation that will give guidance on human rights issues. We are 

guided by the industry framework proposed by the Minerals Council 
of South Africa (MCSA), itself drawn mainly from the United Nation’s 
Guiding Principles on Human Rights. However, in consideration of 
potential impacts during mining operations, the MCSA has identified 
eight human rights priority areas for the South African industry. 
These are: 
 • Environmental management and conservation, including climate 

change

•  Health and safety
•  Governance and ethics
•  Security and human rights
•  Transformation
•  Human rights at the workplace
•  Land-use and resettlements (see case studies for this principle in 

action)

•  Development of grievance mechanisms

The next steps for Exxaro will be to conduct a human rights due 
diligence exercise to identify potential issues, develop and issue a 
leadership commitment statement, resolve policy gaps identified in 
the due diligence phase and implement a grievance mechanism for 
all stakeholders to supplement our existing Ethics hotline. All 
relevant information will be publicly disclosed.

The Ethics Hotline aims to enhance an honest work ethic and 
simultaneously provide employees and other third parties with a 
mechanism to bring any unethical business practices to the 
attention of management. It’s an essential line of defence, providing 
a flow of information that promotes business sustainability by 
helping to identify and rectify problems before they become larger, 
more costly or damage hard-earned reputation. The hotline 
operates 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Our independent forensic 
department receives a regular analysis of the calls and objective 
investigations are launched. All investigations are then tabled at the 
Management Ethics Committee on a regular basis.

CASE STUDIES
The following case studies demonstrate Exxaro’s ongoing 
commitment to the human rights of community members needing 
to be relocated due to the development of mining projects. 

CASE STUDY: HUMAN RIGHTS IN PRACTICE
RIETKUIL COMMUNITY RESETTLEMENT (LEEUWPAN MINE)
Following the resettlement action plan (RAP) methodology tested at Belfast, Exxaro engaged 
promptly with the Rietkuil community when the expansion of the Leeuwpan mine near Delmas in 
Mpumalanga was approved by the DMRE in 2017. Resettlement terms were agreed to by community 
members in 2018 and on 4 December 2020, 29 new homes were handed over for occupation with a 
further 20 to be completed in 2021. 

The residents had a choice with regards to their relocation, with most choosing to move into the nearby Botleng township in Delmas. The 
initial number of houses to be constructed by Exxaro was 20 but in order to accommodate different family structures, households were 
sub-divided into smaller family units and an additional 29 houses were constructed. In line with Exxaro’s commitment to local procurement, 
we outsourced the building of the 49 homes to 5 local contractors and 49 subcontractors. A total of 495 job opportunities were created for 
the duration of the RAP project. A total of 42 households had resettled in Botleng by the end of Q1 2021. Seven households are seeking 
additional assistance outside of the project scope and have sought advice from external counsel. Negotiations continue. A livelihood 
restoration programme is still in planning it includes the provision of pre-paid electricity and municipal services vouchers over five years 
and once-off training and skills development for each member of the household. 

The total cost of the project to date is R57 million.

114  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

CASE STUDY: HUMAN RIGHTS IN PRACTICE
PHUMULANI AGRI-VILLAGE COMMUNITY RESETTLEMENT (BELFAST MINE)

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EXXARO’S BELFAST 
PROJECT BETWEEN 2017 AND 2019 IN THE 
EMAKHAZENI MUNICIPALITY IN MPUMALANGA 
PROVINCE NECESSITATED THE RELOCATION OF 
32 NON-LANDOWNING HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH 
COMPRISED MAINLY OF FARMWORKERS EMPLOYED OR 
PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED ON SURROUNDING 
COMMERCIAL FARMING OPERATIONS. 

The process kicked off in 2014 when Exxaro appointed consultants to 
develop a resettlement action plan to guide the organisation on the 
steps to be undertaken during the relocation of the affected 
households and restoration of livelihoods. 

Methodology 
Activities undertaken during development of the RAP included: 
 • Establishment of a resettlement working group (RWG), which 
constituted the primary forum for involving the resettlement 
community in decisions that would affect them; 

•  Consultation with other relevant stakeholders; 
•  A census, socio-economic and asset survey of the effected 

community; 

•  Additional data collection (including a survey of communal assets 

belonging to the resettlement community); 
•  Identification of a suitable resettlement site; 
•  Development and sign-off of resettlement agreements; and 
•  Identification of viable livelihood restoration options. 

Resettlement-related project impacts 
 • Number of households affected: 32
•  Number of individuals needing to be relocated: 185
•  Number of residential structures: 95
•  Number of other structures (livestock pens, storage sheds etc): 36
•  Crops: 13 households had vegetables gardens, two cultivated 

maize and three others grew fruit trees. 

•  Livestock: Animals needing to be accommodated included 
358 poultry, 102 head of cattle, 32 pigs, and six sheep. 

the establishment of new households in the resettlement 
community; and the sign-off of individual resettlement agreements 
by each of the affected households. 

Agreement framework 
The agreement framework defined who would be eligible for 
compensation, what type of compensation would be provided for 
which affected or displaced assets, and how this compensation 
would be effected (eg whether it would be in cash or through 
replacement of the assets). The agreement framework was based on 
the Relocation Policy of Exxaro which is based on the IFC’s 
PS5 guidelines on Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement, as 
well as relevant South African legislation.  
The agreement framework was formally accepted by the RWG, and 
formed the basis of individual agreements with each household. 

Resettlement site 
Seven potential resettlement sites were identified, of which two were 
selected by the community — the first for homes and the second for 
potential agricultural projects. A total of 34 plots of land, each 2 
500m2 in extent, were established with 500m2 reserved for a 
residence and other buildings and the remainder for various 
agricultural activities including poultry and small livestock, fruit 
trees and vegetable gardens. Services supplied to the site included 
roads, stormwater drainage, potable water, sanitation, fencing and 
electricity. 

Livelihood restoration 
Through its Relocation Policy, Exxaro has committed itself to 
the principle that no households should be worse off after 
resettlement than what they were before. The inclusion of a 
livelihood restoration programme in all Exxaro resettlement 
processes is a means of giving effect to this commitment. A number 
of potential livelihood restoration projects were identified for the 
Belfast resettlement project. 

Grievance redress and dispute resolution 
The RAP included a resettlement-related grievance procedure aimed 
at resolving issues around resettlement, compensation and 
livelihood restoration

Consultation and participation 
The process kickstarted with extensive consultations with the 
affected parties and engagements continued until completion of the 
project. The most significant milestones in the process were the 
development and adoption of a formal terms of reference to guide 
the proceedings of the RWG; the announcement of a moratorium on 

Outcome
Of the 32 households identified for relocation, 31 were moved 
successfully in 2019 at the cost of R35 million. Following the death 
of the head of one of the households in 2019, his heirs have declined 
to move. The situation has required legal intervention and 
negotiations continue. 

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  115

Our performance in 2020

SOCIAL LICENCE TO OPERATE — ENABLING OUR LEGITIMACY

We have moved beyond compliance towards outcomes that maximise 
the social value we create. We support the just transition to a low-
carbon future by delivering interventions with meaningful impact.

 Our 2020 materiality determination process (page 6) identified certain material matters relevant to our social licence to operate.

Material 
theme

Material
matters

Capitals  
impacted and 
influenced

•  Social unrest
•  Supporting job and business creation

Social licence 
to operate

Financial

Manufactured

Social and relationship

Natural

Human

“Impact at scale” drives our approach to community development. We introduced this approach in 2020 and will reinforce it into the future. 

 Our community development initiatives are successful but not far-reaching as they are constrained by localised impact and lack of local 
government capacity. The socio-economic and environmental challenges are exacerbated by rising unemployment (aggravated by COVID-19) 
and poverty. Exxaro and government cannot resolve these challenges on their own. 

Our impact at scale approach recognises the opportunity to reference legislative requirements such as the Broad-based Mining Charter III 
and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition codes of good practice as the foundation for our work with government. We also see 
opportunity to lead better and bigger development initiatives that will arrest and reverse the scourge on our communities. 

These initiatives are implemented through various vehicles:
 • Government’s district development model
•  The collaborative Impact Catalyst platform
•  Our municipal capacity building programme in partnership with the National Business Initiative’s technical assistance, mentorship and 

development (TAMDEV) programme

•  Exxaro’s Matla Setshabeng community benefit scheme
•  SLPs 

Our impact at scale approach includes:

116  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

Collaboration with 
diverse partners who 
complement Exxaro’s 
capabilities

A common goal for 
all partners 

Focused resources to 
ensure dedication to 
the vision, skills 
development and 
quality results

Diversity and 
inclusion to maintain 
the momentum of 
transformation 
(focusing on women, 
youth and physically 
impaired people)

Market-driven 
migration of 
enterprises from 
subsistence to 
commercial 
operations

 Please refer to our ESG report for more information.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The year 2020 gave Exxaro an opportunity to move aggressively 
towards an outcomes-based approach with the objective of 
maximising the social value created by our interventions. 
The outcomes approach places community beneficiaries’ interests 
first and at the core of the interventions we implement. 

Our outcomes are shared between Exxaro and communities, 
leveraging the capabilities of different partners and stakeholder 
perspectives. Our future outlook is determined by Exxaro’s ability 
to deliver impact at scale in communities. This strengthens the 
company on its transition to a lower-carbon world, and reinforces 
our purpose to power better lives in Africa and beyond.

  Collaborative response to the COVID-19 

pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic demanded collaborative approaches to 
ensure the safety and livelihoods of employees and communities in 
the face of the devastating economic impact. The course of the 
pandemic could aggravate the conditions of vulnerable communities 
that are already impacted by climate change effects.

Although the delivery of our SLPs was disrupted by the national 
lockdown during the first wave of COVID-19 infections, significant 
expenditure in response to the COVID-19 amounted to R51.7 million, 
including R20 million donated to the Solidarity Fund, to support the 
country’s healthcare system, humanitarian efforts and campaign for 
behaviour change. Through our partnerships, we identified urgent 
areas of collaboration such as improving water and sanitation 
infrastructure, and procuring PPE for local and provincial healthcare 
facilities, police stations and schools while supporting indigent 
families with food parcels.

The challenges presented by the COVID-19 required consolidation of 
our efforts in previous years. Impact at scale was an underlying 
driver of our approach to community development in 2020. This 
gave rise to collaboration with diverse partners such as the Minerals 
Council South Africa, government departments, non-governmental 
organisations, contractors, the National Business Initiative and the 
municipal infrastructure agency (MISA). We leveraged each one’s 
strengths and capabilities for impact beyond the scale of individual 
participants and locations. 

Further, to ensure that the enterprises supported by our 
ESD programme survive the operational challenges brought 
about by COVID-19, 15 beneficiaries were granted loan repayment 
holidays (ranging from two to six months), totalling R18.1 million to 

continue employing 690 people. In addition, three companies with 
272 employees received funding of R4.3 million. In total, 962 jobs 
were saved and the enterprises continue to operate successfully.

Exxaro also invested R7 million in establishing two COVID-19 testing 
laboratories in Lephalale (Limpopo), and Kriel (Mpumalanga). The 
facilities support local public health departments.

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 was highly 
stigmatised in our communities, which affected our employees, 
creating barriers to integration after recovery. This inspired our 
educational awareness and anti-stigma campaigns within the 
company and host communities in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga 
priorities. 

Our investment in free community WiFi for Siyathuthuka township in 
Belfast, Mpumalanga, ensured a seamless information flow. This 
project will extend to other host communities.

 For more information on our performance against our SLP 

as well as our ESD initiatives, please refer to our ESG report.

Cennergi donation of PPE to Adelaide hospital

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  117

Our performance in 2020

OUR ENVIRONMENT: STEWARDSHIP AND COMPLIANCE

We recognise that climate change is one of the biggest threats facing 
humanity today. As a responsible corporate citizen, we are determined 
to transition our business and make our portfolio resilient in the 1.5˚C 
world. We aim to be carbon-neutral by 2050 and partner with our 
suppliers and customers to reduce emissions associated with the use 
of our products.

Our transition to a low-carbon and resilient portfolio is intentional and anchored on the just transition principle which seeks to balance our 
business financial performance, South Africa’s economic development needs, ecosystem protection and societal adaptive capacity in the face 
of the changing climate. Our business has been in transition as early as 2010 with the establishment of Cennergi, a 50/50 joint venture with 
Tata Power. Today, Cennergi is wholly owned by Exxaro and operates two windfarms in the Eastern Cape that feeds 239 megawatts of 
renewable energy into the national grid. In 2019 the board of directors approved the adoption of the TCFD recommendations as a strategic 
framework for guiding our Climate Change Response strategy. We have published our Climate Change Response Strategy and assessment on 
how aligned we are with the TCFD recommendation (for more information see our CCRS report available online 

). 

TRANSITIONING OUR PORTFOLIO TO A LOW-CARBON WORLD 

Material 
theme

Material
matters

Capitals  
impacted and 
influenced

Climate  
change

•   Responsible environmental stewardship
•  Climate change resilience
•   Supporting a just transition to the 

low-carbon economy

Financial

Manufactured

Social and relationship

Natural

Human

To us climate change is not just a business risk issue, it also provides 
opportunities to sustainably diversify and transform our portfolio to 
low-carbon technologies. We understand that the use of coal in the 
South African economy will continue in the foreseeable future. As a 
major supplier of coal to Eskom has long understood the need to 
balance the country’s socio-economic development, which relies on 
coal-generated power to support the transition towards a low-
carbon economy in response to the negative impacts of climate 
change. This transition, which will change life as we know it today, 
is impacting energy and capital markets, business models, value 
chains and the overall context for conducting business. The 
transition to a low-carbon world is growing external risk for those 
who do not adapt at speed and presents considerable opportunities 

for those who are agile in their response. We are committed to 
responsibly balancing these competing needs and delivering on 
our purpose both now and into the future.

The transition to a low-carbon economy aligned to the Paris 
Agreement objectives of 1.5°C to 2°C world will be challenging, 
but not impossible. As we shift our business from an extractive to 
a regenerative portfolio there are inherent risks to the livelihoods 
of many, particularly in communities that are adjacent to our coal 
operations. The just transition framework will mitigate these risks 
by providing a range of social interventions and the opportunities 
presented by the expanded renewable energy programme will 
secure jobs and the livelihoods of broader society when economies 
are shifting to sustainable production.

118  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance  
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

OUR STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO CLIMATE 
CHANGE 
Coal will remain a valuable source of energy in the foreseeable 
future. Our early value coal strategy has adapted and responded 
to support our overarching Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy 
by optimising our coal reserves, minimising stranded high-value 
reserves and moving operations lower in the cost curve, such that 
we land coal competitively across all markets. The performance of 
our coal business this past financial year has demonstrated the 
benefits of this early value strategy, while continuing to meet the 
requirements of our long-term supply contracts and delivering 
value for our stakeholders.

Our new Sustainable Growth and Impact strategy integrates 
business sustainability, growth and impact because we understand 
that these elements of our business and operating environment 
are deeply connected. We cannot grow sustainably without 
deliberately creating a positive impact on the environment and 
communities we serve. 

Going forward, our business portfolio will shift to more climate 
resilient businesses, with a focus on renewable energy and a 
continued review of minerals contributing to a low-carbon world. 
This shift will establish the base for our new multi-core business. 
This multi-core business will be built on the platform of skills and 
technology that is driving our coal business. Our Climate Change 
Response strategy supports our overarching Sustainable Growth 
and Impact strategy specifically through two of the five objectives:
 • Transition at speed and scale
 • Be carbon-neutral by 2050

Total carbon dioxide, equivalent CO2e emissions in 2020 were 
70 255 kilotonnes (kt) compared to 72 029kt in 2019. The decrease 
of 2.5% reflects the impact of our energy intensity reduction 
projects. Our short-term carbon intensity target is -5% on the 
prior-year level across the group, which is ambitious as some 
projects take time before their impact is evident, particularly from 
a carbon intensity perspective. We performed below the target 
with a carbon intensity of 4.9t CO2 emission per total tonnes mined 
compared to 5.4kt in 2019. The decline is due to energy efficiency 
projects and a decrease in rehabilitation activities in our operations.

Diesel and electricity remain the biggest components of our GHG 
footprint. We are currently addressing energy security, economic 
productivity and environmental impacts in our drive to become 
carbon-neutral and thrive in a low-carbon economy.

Exxaro performed well on both the CDP climate change and water 
disclosures in 2020, indicating leadership and the group’s 
commitment to climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well 
as addressing and managing water risks.

South Africa is a water-scarce country and we recognise that 
water-reduction initiatives are crucial to sustainable operations, 
particularly under prevailing drought conditions. Our group water 
strategy was approved in 2017. It is informed by our risk 
assessments and identifies five strategic focus areas of excellence:
 • Compliance
 • Operational water efficiency
 • Policies, standards and processes
 • Water technologies
 • Stakeholder partnerships.

We aim to support these objectives by creating partnerships driving 
climate action and raising employee awareness on climate change 
mitigation and adaptation

Group water intensity deteriorated by 39% due to the ramp up 
of our Belfast operation and changes to in-pit conditions at 
Grootegeluk that influence our recycling efforts.

The diversification of our portfolio into renewable energy by 
acquiring 100% of Cennergi, will support our carbon-neutrality 
strategy. We will continue to invest in the development of low-
carbon energy sources to enable access to clean, affordable and 
reliable sources of energy.

ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION COMPLIANCE
We measure compliance to environmental authorisations on two 
levels: approved, and compliance to conditions.

Our analysis shows that our approved environmental authorisations 
are within acceptable levels (100%).

We implemented a new integrated monitoring and compliance 
system to help us improve the score achieved in 2018. A compliance 
score of 96% in environmental authorisation conditions was 
achieved throughout our operations. As part of this process, 
detailed checklists per site are being drafted to drive improved 
compliance to conditions.

LICENCE TO OPERATE
Delays and appeals against integrated water use licences granted 
by the Department of Water and Sanitation have become a risk for 
new projects and part of their critical paths. To mitigate the long 
lead times in securing the necessary permits and licences, we 
engage early with the respective regulators, and proactively with 
every interested and affected stakeholder group.

We refined our water intensity targets in 2020 and developed a 
new five-year target in line with industry norms and site-specific 
conditions. We lowered our previous aggregated target of 200L/t to 
180L/t. This target is well below the coal industry average of 380L/t. 
It supports our strategy to reduce water intake in line with the 
Department of Water and Sanitation’s drive to increase water 
conservation and reclamation.

Our two wind facilities have Operational Environmental Management 
programmes (OEMPs) in place and maintain the ESMS in accordance 
with the requirements of the ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, the 
Equator Principles, the IFC Performance Standards, the World 
Bank EHS Guidelines and the IFC ESMS Implementation Handbook. 
In addition, the two facilities have water use licences and other 
operational licences. Based on the Social Action prepared by 
Lenders, and the OEMPr, the following environmental monitoring 
programmes have been identified to be relevant for the operational 
phase of the two wind farms and are being implemented at both 
sites:
 • Bird and Bat fatality monitoring
 • Alien Plant control Management
 • Hazardous Waste Management
 • Water quality Management

Our commitment in action

Transition Pathway Initiative  
(TPI) score

4/4 — an excellent indicator of Exxaro’s management of our GHG emissions and 
risks and opportunities related to a low-carbon transition

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  119

Matla Mine 1 life-of-mine project

120  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020
120  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020
120  Exxaro Resources Integrateddd rereepopopororororrporp t 2t 2t 2t 22t 20202020002002022
120  Exxaro Resources Integrated Report 2020
120  Exxaro Resources Integrated Report 2020

OUR MINERAL 
RESOURCES AND 
MINERAL RESERVES 
REPORT

POWERING SOCIETIES 

MATLA RELOCATION PROJECT: MAXIMISING OUR 
LOCAL COMMUNITY PROCUREMENT 

At Exxaro, we are committed to ensuring we leverage 
every opportunity to work with our local communities to 
create mutual benefit. The Matla mine 1 relocation 
project is one such example, with the project creating 
direct and indirect procurement opportunities worth 
R300 million for local black entrepreneurs who were 
invited to participate in tender and quotation processes.

The relocation project involves the construction of a 
new decline shaft and various ventilation shafts and the 
introduction of five suites of underground continuous 
mining equipment. Mine owner, Eskom, is funding the 
R3.3 billion project while Exxaro is responsible for 
project management and mining. The operation will 
supply coal to Eskom’s Matla power station near Kriel in 
Mpumalanga. First production of 4Mtpa of coal is 
expected in the second half of 2023. Total production 
from Matla will be 10Mtpa during its mine life to 2042.

“Exxaro continuously investigates ways to maximise 
local procurement as well as skills and general socio-
economic development,” says Johan Meyer, Exxaro’s 
executive head: projects and technology. “Many of our 
specialised contractors also procure goods and services 
from local communities.”

Adapted from an article written by Marleny Arnoldi for Mining Weekly 
on 21 August 2020

Exxxxxxxxararo Resources Integrated report 2020  121
Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  121

Our Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves report

OUR MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESERVES

We focused on sustaining, developing and growing the mineral asset 
base through the employment of responsible and innovative technical 
management. The value extracted from the mineral assets is 
continuously challenged through mine planning, considering the 
evolving knowledge of the mineral asset geological complexities and 
its opportunities.

DORSTFONTEIN EAST, A TRADITIONAL 
OPENCAST COAL MINE, IS DEVELOPING AN 
UNDERGROUND OPERATION TO EXPLOIT 
THE SIGNIFICANT UNDERGROUND COAL 
RESOURCES. DORSTFONTEIN EAST MINE HAS 
BEEN OPERATING, AS AN OPENCAST MINE, 
SINCE 2011, EXPLOITING MAINLY COAL SEAMS 
S4 (S4U AND S4L) AND S2 (S2U AND S2L) OF 
THE WITBANK COALFIELD. 

In the ensuing period, evaluation work identified 
underground Coal Reserves of both S4L and S2L. Seam 
4L, with an average seam thickness of 3.8 metres (m), will 
produce an estimated Coal Reserve of 19.6 million tonnes 
(Mt) ROM delivering approximately 12 years of LoM. Seam 
2L, affected by dolerite activity, will only produce 7.2Mt of 
ROM, unlocking an additional eight years of mine life. Both 
S4L and S2L can be exploited profitably using the board 
and pillar extraction method. To expedite the underground 
exploitation, we investigated access via an adit from an 
existing highwall of one of the existing open pits. The study 
started in early 2019 with preparatory work and was initiated 
in early 2020, establishing two benches and removing 
material immediately in front of the highwall. Highwall design 
is such that only the portal face is supported to ensure 
highwall stability, and safety of personnel and machinery. 
First coal of S4L was accessed on 19 November 2020 and 
mining of S2L is scheduled to start around 2029. This 
initiative reflects both the innovative and exceptional 
technical abilities of our people. 

EXXARO EXECUTED A PROCESS OVER 
ALL ITS OPERATIONS IN 2019 TO EXTRACT 
HIGHER VALUE EARLIER DURING THE LIFE OF 
OPERATIONS. 

To contribute our efforts towards our greater Sustainable 
Growth and Impact strategy, we have prioritised responsible 
mining through our early coal value strategy. The focus 
was to ensure that the exploitation strategies maximised 
value without compromising on the longer-term viability 
of the assets. At the beginning of 2020, the strategies 
were finalised and approved for the various BUs in Exxaro. 
To ensure accurate execution and control, the plans 
were embedded in Exxaro’s business processes through 
incorporation in the LoM plans, the business plans and 
budgets. The strategies have been included in the LoM plans 
for Grootegeluk and Belfast during the reporting year. The 
strategy for Grootegeluk entailed a pit-shell redesign to 
exclude high stripping and low-quality areas, and to target 
high-value areas in the LoM plan. For Belfast, the strategy 
entailed a revision of the pit sequence, targeting the high-
value areas earlier in the LoM plan.

 The information presented here is a summarised extract from the CMRR report that encapsulates reporting governance, competence, 
tenure, risk, liabilities, exploration and assurance as well as comprehensive descriptions of applicable projects, operations and exploration 
activities in compliance with the JSE Listings Requirements (section 12). The reported Coal Resources and Coal Reserves in this report are 
therefore summarised versions. The CMRR report is available on Exxaro’s website.

122  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

OUR STRATEGY
The Coal Resource and Coal Reserve strategy focuses on sustaining, 
developing and growing the mineral asset base by employing 
responsible and innovative technical management. Value extracted 
from the mineral assets is continuously reviewed with mine 
planning, considering evolving knowledge of the mineral asset’s 
geological complexities and its opportunities. 

Our competent persons are the custodians of the mineral assets 
and therefore accountable for ensuring its integrity and applying 
pioneering technology in combination with trusted knowledge to 
optimise its exploitation thereof. 

Our projects, operations and expansion initiatives are built on 
trusted and assured Coal Resources and Coal Reserves, creating a 
platform for the LoM from which annual business plans are derived. 
The Mineral Resource managers of each operation are the 
custodians of the LoM and ensure professional execution of the 
business plans, stimulating profitability and return on investment 
while guarding against irresponsible exploitation.

Exxaro reviews macro-economic and other factors that may affect 
the Reserves on an annual basis. In 2019, we initiated an early value 
process, aligned with the Exxaro strategy, to contribute our effort 
towards our greater sustainable growth. The strategy entailed 
reviewing current practice and then compiling optimised 
exploitation plans, focusing on extracting higher value earlier in the 
life of operations. The optimised plans seek to unlock earlier value, 
importantly, without compromising the worth of the underlying Coal 
Resource. The optimum product mix for the operations was 
subsequently reviewed, calculating the margin based on the yield 
curve, mining cost and revenue per block to produce an optimum pit 
shell followed by consideration of the mining sequence. The 
maximum value sequence was approximated from high to low 
margin, allowing for mining practicalities and costs. The process 
ensured that all profitable blocks would be mined while the current 
value of future cash flows is maximised. It also ensured maximum 
value for our stakeholders by yielding early value without 
compromising future sustainability. 

In early 2020, the new strategy was approved. Our 2020 and 
five-year exploration plans at the various operations were 
subsequently aligned with the new strategy. This was done to 
support the changes in mine layouts, ensuring that the Coal 
Resources and geotechnical parameters, which underpin the mining 
areas brought forward in the mine schedules, are of an acceptable 
level of confidence. A good example of this is at Grootegeluk where 
large-diameter resource drilling in the latter part of the LoM was 
changed to core and open-hole drilling in the much earlier 
introduced open-pit turnaround box-cut position. The newly 
introduced operational mine plans were subsequently embedded in 

Exxaro’s business processes through incorporation into the LoM, 
business and budget plans. This process was completed during the 
reporting year for the Grootegeluk and Belfast operations. 

In 2020, we continued with our strategic drive towards the use of 
innovation and technology in the execution of our exploration 
activities as well as Resource and Reserve estimation processes. In 
2019, we indicated that a number of initiatives were implemented, 
including the centrally managed acQuire database and the EQuIS 
groundwater database system. We reaped the benefits during 2020, 
increasing the ease and speed of core logging and sampling, and 
improving our data validation and accessibility of our geological and 
hydrogeological information to the rest of the business. 
Implementation of the EQuIS groundwater database and installation 
of telemetry systems for real-time data acquisition at Grootegeluk 
and Belfast ensure fast and effective decision making regarding 
water management as well as empowering us to take proactive 
steps in compliance with our water use licence requirements. 

For the development of LoM plans, the mining department is 
transitioning from Runge’s Xpac to the new Runge Xpac software 
solutions, namely opencast coal solution (OCCS) and underground 
coal solution (UGCS), for development of mine layouts and mine 
schedules. These tools shorten development time and reduce the 
need to convert information from one software package to another. 
This enables the department to develop more scenarios than 
possible in the past, improving the selection process when finalising 
the LoM plans. In 2019, OCCS software was implemented at Belfast 
and implementation was subsequently rolled out in 2020 at 
Grootegeluk. The change will empower us with more integrated and 
time-effective work flow, creating value-adding mine plans for faster 
and accurate decision making. 

The execution of our exploration plans were significantly impacted 
by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak coincided 
with the dry season, typically the period when we conduct drilling, 
surface geophysics and other field exploration activities at our 
operations. Drilling programmes were, as would be expected, 
postponed at the first lockdown and we only started with limited 
exploration activities later in the year when access to the sites was 
allowed under very strict health regulations. The operational 
exploration teams have however reacted very well to the challenge, 
completing around 60% of our planned drill holes after revising the 
plans in May/June and prioritising activities to support the most 
pertinent objectives of the original 2020 exploration plans.

At Grootegeluk we updated the resource model with available 
drilling results. Our improved structural interpretation of the 
position and orientation of the interpreted fault positions in the 
northern pit will require additional drilling to ensure we outline the 
position of the faults more accurately. Most of the faulting could be 

Leeuwpan operation

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  123

Our Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves report

OUR MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESERVES continued

managed through selective mining in the past. However, we have 
observed, in the past number of years, that the position and 
orientation of geological faulting increasingly impacts on the 
management of our geological bench horizons, disrupting our strict 
ROM quality control to the various coal processing plants. We plan 
to drill 54 holes in 2021, targeting resource, overburden, geological 
faulting, geotechnical and hydrogeological aspects of the coal 

deposit primarily within the northern pit.

programmes for 2021 to 2023 will focus primarily on the new Mine 1, 
Mine 2 (decline) and Mine 3 (incline) project areas. 

The ramp-up of production at Belfast mine is progressing well. 
The box-cut strategy was re-examined to ensure that the maximum 
value is unlocked for stakeholders. The opencast plan was 
reaffirmed as the best solution and actual operational performance 
data was captured as to update future LoM fact packs. Detail 
box-cut infill drilling at Belfast in 2019, at pits 1 and 7, underpinned 
the importance of adequate investigations during box-cut 
positioning and design. Exploration in 2020 mainly focused on infill 
drilling in and in front of these two pits as well as the newly 
introduced pits 4 and 4B on the western side of the Coal Reserve, 
which forms part of the updated mine plan. The objective, as in 
2019, was to derisk the box-cut areas regarding seam thinning, 
weathering and overburden characteristics. A number of holes were 
also drilled in the northern Belfast expansion area where 
environmental approvals and access have been secured. Additional 
drilling in the expansion area will continue in 2021. 

Grootegeluk Mine Outline

Belfast Mine Outline

A number of exploration activities were conducted at our Moranbah 
South joint venture project in Australia’s Bowen Basin. A large 
three-dimensional (3D) seismic geophysical survey was completed 
during the reporting year, improving our understanding of the 
geological faulting within the project area. We also conducted a 
review of the 2012 3D seismic survey results, applying improved 
technology and innovative techniques to optimise the data sets. 
The integrated, optimised 2012 and new 2020 survey results will be 
used in updating the geological structural and resource models in 
2021. In addition a number of large as well as thin-size cored holes 
were drilled, investigating a suite of coal qualities, metallurgical and 
coking characteristics. We will continue with exploration activities 
during 2021.

We continuously strive to enhance the level of estimation and 
reporting of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, committed to 
our governance structures and associated assurance processes. In 
2020, we conducted strict internal reviews during the update of the 
geological and structural models at our Grootegeluk, Matla, 
Dorstfontein and Forzando operations. Peer review findings on data 
validation were addressed before the compilation of geological 
models was initiated. Our geological models were scrutinised by a 
review team consisting of geoscience, geotechnical, structural and 
mining specialists before sign-off and handover to mining were 
concluded. Reserve fact packs of all our operations were reviewed 
during the reporting period, and updated mine plans for 
Grootegeluk and Belfast were peer reviewed. We also conducted a 
number of technical reviews of development projects with specific 
focus on the estimation that underpins the fundamentals of these 
projects. Reviews of the alternative mining solution and backfill 
phase 3 projects at Grootegeluk, the Belfast expansion project, 
Leeuwpan’s heavy mobile equipment strategy as well as the Mine 1 

Matla Mine Outline

The approvals at Matla, an Eskom-tied underground mine, have been 
received to execute three expansion projects, namely Matla Mine 1 
access shaft, Mine 2 incline and Mine 3 decline to access the large 
remaining S4 and S2 underground Coal Reserves. The decline at 
Matla 3 is in progress and Matla Mine 1 relocation was initiated with 
first coal expected in the fourth quarter of 2022. The strategic 
intent of the exploitation strategy at Matla is to supply Eskom in 
accordance with the CSA regarding volumes and quality at the 
lowest possible cost. Our exploration activities were interrupted by 
the lockdown and only approximately 30% of the planned holes 
could be completed. Drilling was primarily focused at Mine 3 low 
seam where derisking of geological challenges like faulting, 
presence of sills and dykes as well as basement highs disrupting 
seam thickness continuity, and occasionally impacts coal qualities 
were targeted. A major achievement in 2020 was the successful 
execution of surface-to-seam directional drilling at the Mine 2 
north-west access project. The targeted S4 Resource in this area 
presents challenging geological structural conditions and a number 
of long directional traces drilled from surface assisted tremendously 
in outlining geological structures, refining mine access design and 
optimising mine panel layouts. This drilling methodology proved to 
be vital for future Matla mine development areas. The drilling 

124  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

and north-west development projects at Matla were concluded. 
A number of technical findings as well significant value-unlocking 
opportunities were documented and subsequently included in the 
various project development processes. EY conducted an external 
estimation process audit at the Belfast operation. No critical 
findings were reported but a number of minor findings regarding 
housekeeping were highlighted. Correction measures were 
subsequently developed and implemented. Recommendations were 
also received to enhance the efficiency of our estimation and we 
welcome these valuable inputs to improve our current 
methodologies. Exxaro is currently transitioning towards the 
methodologies proposed in the updated SANS 10320:2020 edition 2. 
We will seek partnership with industry experts to ensure concepts 
are correctly understood within the context of our operations and 
implemented. 

WORLD-CLASS ASSETS
Exxaro has a world-class Coal Resource portfolio, comprising fully 
owned operations and projects, and a number of jointly owned 
operations and projects in South Africa and Australia. The fully 
owned operations and projects in South Africa are located in the 
large and highly prospective Waterberg coalfield in Limpopo, and 
the more mature Highveld and Witbank coalfields in Mpumalanga. 

Exxaro’s total attributable Coal Resource and Coal Reserve figures 
have been stable over the past number of years, only showing a 
significant decrease in Coal Resources in 2019 as a result of the 
relinquishment of the large Waterberg North and South exploration 
projects. This stable trend can primarily be ascribed to the relatively 
large Grootegeluk complex. Estimated to contain 40% to 50% of 
South Africa’s remaining Coal Resources, the Waterberg is viewed as 
the future of South African coal mining. Exxaro holds an estimated 
three billion tonnes of Measured and around approximately 
2.1 billion tonnes of Indicated Coal Resources in the Waterberg, 
primarily at Grootegeluk and the adjacent Thabametsi mining right. 
The Grootegeluk complex provides thermal Coal Reserves to 
Eskom’s Matimba and the new Medupi power stations, and produces 
semi-soft coking and metallurgical coal through eight beneficiation 
plants.

The Grootegeluk complex is continuously evolving, illustrated by 
several large value-unlocking projects. While these projects 
underline the resourcefulness of our people, they also demonstrate 
the successful implementation of innovative breakthrough 
technology. To an extent, the size of the Grootegeluk complex 
obscures changes in Coal Resource and Coal Reserve figures from 
events in the smaller Witbank and Highveld coalfields.

Locations of our coal operations and projects

SOUTH AFRICA

9

Thabametsi

4

Grootegeluk

LIMPOPO

MPUMALANGA

Mafube

6

1

Belfast

AUSTRALIA

Dorstfontein

2

8

Tumelo

3

Forzando

Moranbah

GAUTENG

5

Leeuwpan

7

Matla

Mining right

Mine

 Refer to page 20 for more information about our coal asset base and page 22 for our renewable energy operations. 
Refer to page 20 for more information about our coal asset base and page 22 for our renewable energy operations. 

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  125

Our Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves report

OUR MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESERVES continued

The significant change in Coal Reserves from 2019 to 2020 is primarily 
the result of the implementation of the new early value exploitation 
strategy at particularly our Grootegeluk operation, the largest 
operation. The Grootegeluk pit was adjusted to higher value areas with 
lower value coal towards the latter part of the LoM excluded. As 
Grootegeluk has a significant remaining life, reinclusion could be 
considered at a later stage.

Exxaro’s attributable Coal Resources and Coal Reserves

3 876

2 819

7 656

7 478

2 669

6 841

6 582

6 584

6 532

6 502

6 210

7 078

7 124

6 991

6 970

4 000

2 703

4 065

5 094

4 824

5 083

4 790

4 733

4 546

3 937

3 467

2 582

2 300

2 351

2 227

2 211

2 555

3 625

3 625

3 308

3 624

3 684

5 264

5 009

4 843

4 805 4 720

4 573

4 172

2 131

1 555

2006

2007 2008 2009 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014 2015 2016 2017

2018 2019 2020

(cid:93) Measured

(cid:93) Indicated

(cid:93) Inferred

(cid:81) Proved (cid:81) Probable

Mpumalanga attributable: Witbank and Highveld coalfields (excluding Matla)

36
12

46
60

34
27

46
82

62
79

65
82

55
91

388

381

365

342

346

207

223

36
78

374

437
197

984

439
371

396
343

543

491

120

205

613

111

189

101

106

100

164

150

435

514

432

50

0

2006

2007

2008 2009 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014 2015 2016 2017

2018 2019 2020

(cid:93) Measured

(cid:93) Indicated

(cid:93) Inferred

(cid:81) Proved (cid:81) Probable

• Resource estimations are based on the latest available geological models, which incorporate new validated geological information and, if applicable, revised seam, Resource definitions and 
Resource classifications. For the 2020 reporting cycle, estimates reported are derived from actual mining up to the end of October, incorporating the planned estimates for November and 
December. 

• Resource and Reserve estimates in our statements are quoted in full, irrespective of Exxaro shareholding. Exxaro attributable tonnage is clearly presented in Table 4 and, when used in our 

report, always clearly defined as such.

• Rounding off of figures quoted may result in minor computational discrepancies although it is not deemed significant.

126  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

s
e
n
n
o
t
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
e
c
r
u
o
s
e
R

18 000

16 000

14 000

12 000

10 000

8 000

 6 000

2 000

0

s
e
n
n
o
t
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
e
c
r
u
o
s
e
R

1 800

1 600

 1 200

1 00

800 

600 

400 

200 

0

Notes:

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

250

200

150

s
e
n
n
o
t
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
e
v
r
e
s
e
R

s
e
n
n
o
t
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
e
v
r
e
s
e
R

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

For all operations other than normal mining, no material changes to 
total Coal Resources are reported. New exploration information 
used to update geological and structural models at the Grootegeluk, 
Matla, Dorstfontein and Forzando operations increased geological 
confidence within the Coal Resource classification categories. At 
Grootegeluk, improved understanding of the geology and geological 
structure within the future mining areas resulted in Inferred 
Resources being upgraded to Indicated Resources. In addition an 
amount of Measured Coal Resources within the northern pit area 
was reclassified as Indicated. Our improved structural interpretation 
of the position and orientation of the interpreted fault positions in 
the northern pit changed meaningfully enough to warrant this 
reclassification. When reviewing the supporting borehole 
information in this area, it was evident that the boreholes within 
each of the newly interpreted faulted blocks occur in single lines. 
This is not optimal to access the orientation and extent of seam 
development as well as the boundaries of the faulted Resource 
blocks. We do not consider this change material and focused drilling 
in 2021 and 2022 will be conducted to reconfirm the fault 
orientations. Within the middle pit, where mining is conducted, 
closely spaced open-hole drilling is implemented in front of the pit’s 
progression to better delineate geological structures. These 
additional points of observation assist greatly in understanding the 
orientation of smaller scale faults and the impacts they have on coal 
exploitation. This drilling methodology will also be implemented in 
the northern pit to further increase the level of geological 
confidence. 

Material movements within the Reserve categories at the 
Dorstfontein complex are primarily due to implementing a new 
underground mine layout at the Dorstfontein East mine. The 
underground Coal Reserves were accessed through an adit in the 
existing highwall of one of the open pits. Studies commenced in 
2019 with structural groundwork starting in early 2020 and first 
coal from the new S4L underground workings extracted on 19 
November 2020. The S4L underground Coal Reserves will provide 
an estimated 12 years to LoM. Mining of S2L underground is 
scheduled to start in 2029, adding eight years to LoM. 

The Proved Coal Reserves at the Thabametsi mining right, an area 
adjacent to Grootegeluk, are reclassified as Probable as a result of 
the lapse of the IPP project development agreement.

Material changes in total Coal Reserves are reported at two of our 
operations. At ECC’s Forzando mine, a decrease of approximately 
60% (34.6Mt to 13.7Mt) ROM Coal Reserves is due to economic 
factors rendering Reserve blocks currently unprofitable. 
Implementing a high-value exploitation strategy at Grootegeluk 
resulted in an optimised mine layout prioritising high-value Reserve 
blocks for earlier mining and scheduling lower value Coal Reserves 
blocks to the latter part of the mine life. This change resulted in an 
approximately 17% (3 165Mt to 2 628Mt) decrease in the total 
Grootegeluk ROM Coal Reserve without compromising the total 
Coal Resource. 

New shaft under construction at Matla Mine 1 

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  127

Our Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves report

OUR MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESERVES continued

UNLOCKING VALUE
In 2020, we continued to focus on unlocking value at our operations. We reviewed our operations’ 
exploitation strategies through a lens of unlocking early value without compromising the Resource. We are 
however acutely aware that our success as a mining company is built on the integrity of our Coal Resources 
and the effectiveness with which we convert these Resources to Coal Reserves, and then the exploitation 
and extraction of the Reserves. Below is a snapshot our reporting year. 

Considering mining, metallurgical, processing, infrastructural, economic, marketing, 
legal, ESG modifying factors

COAL RESOURCES

UNLOCKING VALUE

COAL RESERVES

Continuously improving our level of 
geoscientific understanding, 
minimising risk and unlocking 
opportunities

Modifying factors and our ability to 
extract our Mineral Resources 
Increasing extraction through 
innovation and knowledge

Implementation of updated 
exploitation plans at Grootegeluk 
and Belfast

Optimising our plans to create the 
best for market use

Updated LoM plans for Matla, Belfast, 
Leeuwpan, Dorstfontein, Forzando and 
Grootegeluk mines

Initiation of Dorstfontein East 
underground expansion

C
I
F
I
T
N
E
I
C
S
O
E
G
F
O
L
E
V
E
L
G
N
I
S
A
E
R
C
N

I

E
C
N
E
D
I
F
N
O
C
D
N
A
E
G
D
E
L
W
O
N
K

Executing integrated exploration plans 
at the Dorstfontein, Forzando, Matla, 
Belfast, Grootegeluk and Leeuwpan 
mines

Update of geological and structural 
models at the Matla, Grootegeluk, 
Dorstfontein and Forzando mines 
Consideration of geological risk and 
opportunity domain analysis (RODA) in 
conditional-based mine planning at 
Matla and implementation of risk 
domains at Leeuwpan mine

Implementation of digital 
communication for functional 
meetings, training and workshops 
during lockdown

Optimising our centrally managed 
geological and hydrogeological 
databases

Initiating first-time surface-to-seam 
directional drilling to outline 
geological challenges for improving 
mine planning

INNOVATION

Continuous radar scanning for slope 
stability monitoring

Terrestrial lidar scanning of pit faces 
to enhance reconciliation and 
Resource use

Implementation of OCCS and UGCS for 
the development of mine layouts and 
mine schedules at the Belfast and 
Grootegeluk mines

GOVERNANCE

We align our reporting with the SAMREC Code and JSE Listings Requirements (section 12:13) amendments for minimum 
contents of annual reports and annually review our LoM mineral assets policies and estimation procedures to incorporate 
learnings and/or improvements. We update our internal competent persons reports annually to accommodate the SAMREC 
Code “if not, why not” principle. We are currently transitioning to align with the guidelines of the newly introduced SANS 
10320:2020 edition 2. The planning and execution of our exploration and estimation activities have been impacted by 
COVID-19. We have however successfully adapted through prioritisation of activities, implementation of innovative technology 
and slight changes in role accountabilities. 

ASSURANCE

We have conducted tier 1 concurrent Resource reviews at Grootegeluk, Matla, Dorstfontein and Forzando, resulting in updated 
geological models and LoM plans for these operations. On tier 2, technical reviews were conducted on Grootegeluk’s 
alternative mining solution and backfill phase 3, the Belfast expansion, Leeuwpan mine heavy mining equipment and 
Matla’s Mine 1 and north-west access projects. We have conducted a tier 3 (third-party) review at Belfast mine.  
The external Matla 2019 audit findings were resolved and corrective measurements of findings received at 

Belfast in 2020 are in progress (

 see assurance section on page 80). The CMRR 2020 report was 

externally peer reviewed for reporting compliance.

128  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

CASE STUDY
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GROOTEGELUK SHORT-TERM GEO MODEL

THE GROOTEGELUK MINE CONTAINS 
THE THICK INTERBEDDED COAL SEAM 
DEPOSIT, NAMELY THE OVERLYING 
VOLKSRUST FORMATION, AS WELL AS 
A MULTIPLE-SEAM COAL DEPOSIT 
WITHIN THE UNDERLYING VRYHEID 
FORMATION. 

The Volksrust formation comprising of 
intercalated mudstone or carbonaceous shale and 
bright coal layers requires detail coal sample and 
mining horizon management to ensure correct 
ROM coal quality feed to the various coal 
processing plants. Grootegeluk implemented a 
short-term geological model to assist in optimising 
its day-to-day resource exploitation and short-
term mine planning activities. Unlike the long-term 
geological model used for resource estimation and 
reporting, the short-term model is coal sample-
based and updated weekly with new information 
obtained from geophysically logged blast holes as well as surveyed floor surfaces in the pit. Blast holes are closely spaced (approximately 
7.5m), which allows for densely spaced geological points of observation resulting in greater estimation accuracy than the long-term model, 
which typically uses exploration cored boreholes approximately 350m apart. The integrated model is applied to account for day-to-day 
material losses and/or gains as a result of under or over mining of the benches. By ensuring that these mining deviations are accounted for in 
the tonnage and quality compositing of the mining blocks, block estimates are greatly improved in the short term. The short-term model has 
proved to be a valuable tool, assisting the operation in ensuring timely and accurate as-mined block estimates as well as identification of 
geological risks within the mining blocks. 

Comparison of interpretation before (above) and after (below) of the short-term model

CASE STUDY
SURFACE-TO-SEAM DIRECTIONAL DRILLING AT MATLA

MATLA HAS THREE MAJOR LOM DEVELOPMENT 
PROJECTS UNDERWAY. THE PROJECTS WILL 
ENSURE EXTENDED MINE LIFE BY CREATING 
ACCESS TO COAL RESOURCES CURRENTLY NOT 
AVAILABLE THROUGH EXISTING WORKINGS AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE. 

One of the projects is the north-west access project, which entails 
the development of an incline from the existing S2 workings up to 
the S4 Resource area. The S4 area is structurally challenging with 
multiple sets of igneous intrusives, including cross-cutting sills and 
dykes identified through aeromagnetic surveys and mining 
intersections. It is vital that the mine is designed to mitigate risks, 
to ensure maximum coal extraction and to ensure a safe working 
environment. A surface-to-seam directional drilling programme 
was initiated during the reporting year, completing 13 500m of 
drilling, probing and derisking the mine layout for future mining 
development. Drilling results successfully outlined dyke 
intersections, thicknesses and displacements as well as outlining 
areas of poor ground conditions (burnt or fractured coal). The results were considered during the review of the mine plan, impacting on 
the access design as well as mine layouts. The crucial information captured that will not only be used for mine design but will cater for 
mine scheduling and future production planning. In addition, inclusion of dyke thickness and displacement will allow for more informed 
decisions during mine scheduling and planning for stonework section deployment. The drilling has proved to be a vital quantitative tool 
that allows for the identification of various unknown factors well ahead of mining.

Project area showing directional drill traces, target and confirmed 
structures

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  129

OUR MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESERVES continued

ENDORSEMENT
Exxaro’s lead competent persons are appointed by the executive 
management team.

The Exxaro lead Coal Resource competent person is 
Henk Lingenfelder, a member of the Geological Society of South 
Africa and registered (400038/11) with the South African Council for 
Natural Scientific Professions. He has a BSc (Hons) in geology and 
25 years of experience as a geologist in coal, iron ore and industrial 
minerals.

The person in Exxaro designated to take corporate responsibility for 
Coal Resources, Henk Lingenfelder, the undersigned, has reviewed 
and endorsed the reported estimates.

The Exxaro lead Coal Reserve competent person is Chris Ballot, 
a mining engineer registered (20060040) with the Engineering 
Council of South Africa. He has 24 years of experience in iron 
ore, mineral sands and coal in various technical and 
management roles. His qualifications include BEng (mining), GDE 
and MBA.

The person in Exxaro designated to take corporate responsibility 
for Coal Reserves, Chris Ballot, the undersigned, has reviewed 
and endorsed the reported estimates.

Henk Lingenfelder

BSc geology (Hons)
Pr Sci Nat (400038/11) 
Group manager: geoscience 

263 West Avenue, Die Hoewes
Centurion 0163

South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions
Private Bag X540
Silverton 0127
Gauteng
South Africa

Chris Ballot 

BEng (mining)
ECSA 20060040
Group manager: mining processes 

263 West Avenue, Die Hoewes 
Centurion 0163

Engineering Council of South Africa
Private Bag X691
Bruma 2026
Gauteng
South Africa

Both parties are in the full-time employment of Exxaro, Henk Lingenfelder as the group manager: geosciences and Chris Ballot as the group 
manager: mining processes. Both parties have consented to the inclusion of Resources and Reserves estimates in the integrated report 2020. 
Exxaro has written confirmation from the competent persons that the reporting is compliant with the SAMREC Code, the relevant portions of 
Table 1 and the JSE Listings Requirements (section 12), in the form and context in which it was intended per JSE LR 12.13(i)(6) and they 
consent to the publication of the report.

130  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

 
GLOSSARY

About
Exxaro

Understanding
our business

Positioning  
the business  
for growth

Our performance 
in 2020

Our Mineral 
Resources and 
Mineral Reserves 
report

Administration

AET

AGM

AMCU

Adult education and training

Annual general meeting

Association of Mineworkers and Construction 
Union

B-BBEE

Broad-based black economic empowerment

BEE

Black economic empowerment

Bloomberg GEI

Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index

BU

CAF

Business unit

Combined assurance forum

CAGR

Compound annual growth rate

ECF

EERF

EF

EME

EMPR

EPDI

ESD

ESG

ESOP

EVP

Exxaro Chairman’s Fund

Exxaro’s Environmental Rehabilitation Fund

Exxaro Foundation

Exempt micro-enterprises

Environmental Management Programme

Exxaro People Development Initiative

Enterprise and supplier development

Environmental, social and governance

Employee share option plan

Employee value proposition

Cennergi

Cennergi Proprietary Limited or Cennergi 
group of companies

Exxaro

Exxaro Resources Limited

CEO

Chief executive officer

Eyesizwe

Companies Act

Companies Act, 2008 (Act 71 of 2008), as 
amended

Eyesizwe (RF) Proprietary Limited, special 
purpose private company which has a 30% 
shareholding in Exxaro

COAD

COGTA

CoP

cps

CSA

CSI 

CSIR

DBP

DHS

DMRE

dtic

DoL

Chronic obstructive airway disease

Department of Cooperative Governance and 
Traditional Affairs

FD

Finance director

Ferroland

Ferroland Grondtrust Proprietary Limited

FUWA

Food and Allied Workers’ Union

Conference of the Parties

Cents per share

Control self-assessment

Corporate social investment

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

Deferred bonus plan

Department of Human Settlements

Department of Mineral Resources and 
Energy

Department of Trade, Industry and 
Competition

Department of Labour

GBV

GHG

GG

HDPE

HEPS

HPI

ICT

IFRIC

IFRS

IIRC

Gender-based violence

Greenhouse gas

Grootegeluk

high density polyethylene

Headline earnings per share

High-potential incidents

Information and communications technology

IFRS Interpretations Committee

International Financial Reporting Standards

International Integrated Reporting Council

 Framework

International Integrated Reporting 
Framework 

Dorstfontein

Dorstfontein Coal Mines Proprietary Limited

DWS

EAP

EBITDA

Department of Water and Sanitation

Employee assistance programme

Net operating profit before interest, tax, 
depreciation, amortisation, impairment 
charges or impairment reversals and net loss 
or gain on disposal of assets and investments 
(including translation differences recycled to 
profit or loss)

ECC

ECD

Exxaro Coal Central Proprietary Limited

Early childhood development

IT

IWUL

JSE

KAM

King IV

KPI

LoM

Information technology

Integrated water use licence

JSE Limited

Key account management

King IV Report on Corporate Governance for 
South Africa, 2016

Key performance indicator

Life of mine

Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020  131

Our Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves report

GLOSSARY continued

LTI*

LTI*

LTIFR

LTIP

Long-term incentive

Lost-time injury

Lost-time injury frequency rate

Long-term incentive plan

Mafube

Mafube Coal Proprietary Limited

Mining Charter 
III

Broad-based Socio-economic Empowerment 
Charter for the Mining and Minerals Industry 
2018 

Minerals Council of South Africa

Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent

Memorandum of incorporation

Mineral and Petroleum Resources 
Development Act, 2002 (Act 28 of 2002)

Minimum shareholding requirements

RoM

RWG

SDGs

SIOC

SLP

SME

Run of mine

Resettlement working group

Sustainable Development Goals

Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary 
Limited

Social and labour plan

Small to medium-sized enterprise

SMME

Small, medium and micro-enterprise

SPR

SPV

STI

Tata 

TCFD

Special performance award

Special purpose vehicle

Short-term incentive

Tata Power Company Limited

Task Force on Climate-related Financial 
Disclosures

National Business Initiative

TPI

Transition Pathway Initiative

Notional cost of employment

Non-governmental organisation

National Development Plan

National Environmental Management 
Act,1998 (Act 107 of 1998)

Noise-induced hearing loss

Non-profit company

Non-profit organisation

National Union of Mineworkers

TRAC SA 2020

Transparency and Corporate Reporting: 
South Africa 2020

Tronox

Exxaro’s investment in Tronox entities

Tronox SA

Tronox UK

Tronox KZN Sands Proprietary Limited and 
Tronox Mineral Sands Proprietary Limited

Tronox Sands Limited Liability Partnership in 
the United Kingdom

Tsitsikamma 
SPV

Tsitsikamma Community Wind Farm 
Proprietary Limited

TSR

Total shareholder return

Tumelo

Tumelo Coal Mines Proprietary Limited

Minerals 
Council

MISA

MoI

MPRDA

MSR

NBI

NCOE

NGO

NDP

NEMA

NIHL

NPC

NPO

NUM 

NUMSA

National Union of Metalworkers of South 
Africa

UK

United Kingdom

OHIFR

Occupational health incident frequency rate

UNGC

United Nations Global Compact

PIT

PM

PPE

PwC

QSE

RAP

Professionals in training

Particulate matter 

USA

WUL

United States of America

Water use licence

Personal protective equipment

* The abbreviation is context-specific.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Incorporated

Qualifying small enterprise

Resettlement action plan

ROCE

Return on capital employed

132  Exxaro Resources Integrated report 2020

ADMINISTRATION

ACTING GROUP COMPANY SECRETARY 
AND REGISTERED OFFICE
Karen Maré (Inlexso Proprietary Limited)
Exxaro Resources Limited 
the conneXXion
263 West Avenue
Die Hoewes 
Centurion 
0163
(PO Box 9229, Pretoria 0001) 
South Africa 
Telephone: +27 12 307 5000

SPONSOR
Absa Bank Limited (corporate and investment bank division) 
15 Alice Lane
Sandton 
2196
Telephone: +27 11 895 6000

JOINT EQUITY SPONSOR
Tamela Holdings Proprietary Limited
Ground Floor 
Golden Oak House 
Ballyoaks Office Park, 
35 Ballyclare Drive
Bryanston
2021
Telephone: +27 11 783 5027/4907

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER
2000/011076/06
JSE share code: EXX 
ISIN code: ZAE000084992
ADR code: EXXAY

INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDITOR
PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc
4 Lisbon Lane
Waterfall City 
Jukskei View 
Midrand
2090

COMMERCIAL BANKER
Absa Bank Limited

CORPORATE LAW ADVISER
Inlexso Proprietary Limited 
Building 3 Summit Place
221 Garsfontein Road
Menlyn
Pretoria
0181
Telephone: +27 12 942 5555

REGISTRAR
Computershare Investor Services Proprietary Limited  
Rosebank Towers
15 Biermann Avenue
Rosebank
2196
(Private Bag X9000, Saxonwold, 2132)
Telephone: +27 11 370 5000

Disclaimer 
Opinions expressed herein are, by nature, subjective to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Changing information or 
circumstances may cause the actual results, plans and objectives of Exxaro Resources Limited (the company) to differ materially 
from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Financial forecasts and data given herein are estimates based on 
the reports prepared by experts who, in turn, relied on management estimates. Undue reliance should not be placed on such 
opinions, forecasts or data. No representation is made as to the completeness or correctness of the opinions, forecasts or data 
contained herein. Neither the company, nor any of its affiliates, advisers or representatives accepts any responsibility for any loss 
arising from the use of any opinion expressed or forecast or data herein. Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date on 
which they are made, and the company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of its opinions or 
forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new data or future events or circumstances. Any forward-looking information has not 
been audited, reviewed or otherwise reported on by the external auditors.

www.exxaro.com