Interim Report for the six months ended 30 June 2021
27 July, 2021
KUMBA’S PERFORMANCE CREATES ENDURING VALUE FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS
Themba Mkhwanazi, Chief Executive of Kumba said, “In the first half, we have marked five years of fatality-free production, while providing comprehensive WeCare Covid-19 support. In these challenging times, we continue to prioritise the safety, health and livelihoods of our colleagues and communities.
Kumba is working with the rest of Anglo American's South African businesses, to address both the immediate and medium-term impact of the recent social unrest, building on our WeCare programme.”
“We are partnering with government, organised business and civil society to ensure the most efficient and impactful contribution. Building on our WeCare programme, this contribution will be directed to groups across civil society to aid their immediate relief efforts and to provide direct support to all our staff and contractors while working with NGOs to support mine-communities. Together with Anglo American we are making a long-term commitment to help rebuild and reset South Africa and its economy.
“With global demand for many metals and minerals driving prices and industry profits higher, mining is contributing significantly to the government fiscus, and ensuring that more resources are available to help our fellow South Africans get back on their feet. Kumba is playing its part in South Africa’s economic recovery at a national level by contributing R9.2 billion in income tax and mineral royalties in the first half of the year. At a regional level, we are helping our host communities economically and socially by employing 85% of our workforce and procuring R1.7 billion of goods and services locally.
“Amidst these challenges, Kumba has achieved five years without a fatal incident, a significant accomplishment for the Company and the South African mining industry, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to safe, responsible production through strict onsite safety protocols. Through our robust and comprehensive WeCare programme we have invested R100 million to support our colleagues and communities through the second year of the pandemic. Working with the National Department of Health and Anglo American, Kumba has started to roll-out its government licensed vaccination programme at our Sishen and Kolomela mine clinics, serving first our workforce and ultimately their families and communities when we are able to do so.
“We are pleased with our strong operational and financial performance. Despite weather related and logistical challenges, Kumba’s operational resilience and capability resulted in production volumes increasing by 12% to 20.4 Mt, surpassing production in the first half of the past two years, while increasing sales by 3% to 19.5 Mt.
“From a financial perspective, Kumba delivered earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of R44.4 billion, underpinned by higher realized iron ore prices and a focus on cost containment. Our ability to maximise returns from our strategy of producing and marketing high-quality products continues to ensure that we achieve a premium well above benchmark. Attributable free cashflow improved to R31.5 billion. This supports the Board’s decision to declare an interim dividend of R72.70 per share and represents a payout ratio of 100% of headline earnings.
“Strategies to extend the life-of-mine and deliver quality products continue to bear fruit. The last remaining residents of Dingleton were safely relocated to Siyathemba, allowing for unconstrained mining of the Sishen mine pit. The Ultra-high-dense-media-separation project, approved in February 2021, will further extend Sishen’s life-of-mine to 2039 and enhance product quality. At Kolomela, the new Kapstevel South open pit operation is mining ahead of plan and activities to advance our exploration programme in the Northern Cape continue. As the global drive towards decarbonisation gathers pace, our high-quality products, which enable cleaner, greener steelmaking, provide a sustained competitive edge.
“Kumba’s first half performance reflects operational resilience and benefit our value over volume realisation strategy. We are maximising the value of our products and positioning our business for the future, to the benefit of all our stakeholders.”
KEY FEATURES
CONTINUING TO DELIVER SHAREHOLDER VALUE
- Attributable free cash flow of R31.5 billion
- ROCE of 225%
- Interim cash dividend of R72.70 per share
SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY IS INTEGRAL TO OUR BUSINESS
- Over 5 years of fatal-free production
- R51 billion of shared value created in H1 2021
- R12 million in additional WeCare Covid-19 community support
- Zero occupational diseases
- Over six years without any level 3-5 environmental incidents
MAXIMISING RETURNS AND POSITIONING FOR THE FUTURE
- Average realised FOB export price of US$216/wmt, 32% above benchmark
- Robust EBITDA margin of 70%
- Closing net cash of R40.7 billion
- Cost savings of R370 million