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Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore's high-quality iron ore supports pioneering hydrogen-based lower-emission steelmaking pilot with Mercedes-Benz and HyIron

12 November, 2026

Kumba Iron Ore has participated in a pilot project with Mercedes-Benz and HyIron that demonstrates the potential for its high-quality iron ore products from its Sishen mine, in the Northern Cape, to use hydrogen not steelmaking coal in a pioneering new technology that delivers lower emission ironmaking and ultimately automotive component manufacturing.
The pilot brought together different stages of the steel value chain, from iron ore production through to the manufacture of a demonstrator component for the Mercedes-Benz EQS.

As part of the project, iron ore fines from Sishen were processed by HyIron into direct reduced iron (DRI) using hydrogen-based technology, without the need for prior iron ore pelletisation or the use of carbon emitting steelmaking coal. The material was subsequently used in steelmaking and formed into a demonstrator vehicle component.

Traditional steelmaking generates large amounts of CO₂ because it relies on coal to remove oxygen from iron ore. The new technique uses hydrogen instead, producing water vapour rather than CO₂ Kumba’s high-quality iron ore products are mainly used in conventional blast furnace steelmaking today. Using these products directly in DRI production could broaden the feedstock options available for lower-emission steelmaking. The pilot demonstrates the technical feasibility of this approach under pilot conditions.

"This pilot is an important demonstration of how collaboration across the steel value chain can help unlock new opportunities for Kumba’s iron ore. Seeing material from our Sishen mine transformed through hydrogen-based ironmaking into a Mercedes-Benz vehicle component is an encouraging step towards understanding how our products can support the future of lower-emission steelmaking," said Mpumi Zikalala, Chief Executive of Kumba Iron Ore.
The project also highlights the importance of responsible sourcing and independently verified mining practices in the evolving steel value chain.

Kumba's Sishen and Kolomela mines have both achieved IRMA 75 following independent assessments against the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) Standard - the only iron ore mines in Africa to have achieved this level of assurance.

The assessments provide independently verified information on mining practices across areas including human rights, worker health and safety, environmental management and community engagement.
Mercedes-Benz has been a member of IRMA since 2021 and supports greater transparency and independent verification across mining supply chains.

While the pilot has demonstrated technical feasibility under the conditions tested, further validation will be required to determine its potential for broader application. Mercedes-Benz and HyIron have subsequently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore additional technical validation and possible next steps.

For Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore, the collaboration reinforces the importance of working across the steel value chain to explore innovative applications for its high-quality iron ore products and support the industry's transition towards more sustainable steel production.

12 November 2026

Sponsor

RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)

For further information, please contact:

Company secretary
Fazila Patel Email: [email protected] Tel: +27 12 683 7060 Mobile: +27 83 297 2293

Investors	Media
Penny Himlok Email: [email protected] Mobile: +27 82 781 1888	Melangini Pillay Email: [email protected] Mobile: +27 76 959 2019

Notes to editors:

Kumba Iron Ore Limited, a member of the Anglo American plc group, is a leading value-adding supplier of high quality iron ore to the global steel industry. Kumba produces iron ore in South Africa at Sishen and Kolomela mines in the Northern Cape Province. Kumba exports iron ore to customers around the globe including in China, Japan, South Korea and a number of countries in Europe and in the Middle East and North Africa region.

www.angloamericankumba.com

Anglo American is a leading global mining company focused on the responsible production of copper, premium iron ore and crop nutrients – future-enabling products that are essential for decarbonising the global economy, improving living standards, and food security. Our portfolio of world-class operations and outstanding resource endowments offers value-accretive growth potential across all three businesses, positioning us to deliver into structurally attractive major demand growth trends.

Our integrated approach to sustainability and innovation drives our decision-making across the value chain, from how we discover new resources to how we mine, process, move and market our products to our customers – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Our Sustainable Mining Plan commits us to a series of stretching goals over different time horizons to ensure we contribute to a healthy environment, create thriving communities and build trust as a corporate leader. We work together with our business partners and diverse stakeholders to unlock enduring value from precious natural resources for our shareholders, for the benefit of the communities and countries in which we operate, and for society as a whole. Anglo American is re-imagining mining to improve people’s lives.

Anglo American is currently implementing a number of major structural changes to unlock the inherent value in its portfolio and thereby accelerate delivery of its strategic priorities of Operational excellence, Portfolio simplification, and Growth. The sale of our steelmaking coal and nickel businesses, the separation of our iconic diamond business (De Beers) continue to progress and, once completed, will focus Anglo American on its world-class resource asset base in copper, premium iron ore and crop nutrients.

www.angloamerican.com

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Forward looking statements

This document includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this document may be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those regarding Kumba’s financial position, business, acquisition and divestment strategy, dividend policy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, prospects and projects (including development plans and objectives relating to Kumba’s products, production forecasts and Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource positions), the anticipated benefits of mergers and acquisitions (including any assessment or quantification of potential synergies) and sustainability performance related (including environmental, social and governance) goals, ambitions, targets, visions, milestones and aspirations. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “aim”, “project”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “plan”, “may”, “should”, “will”, “target” and words of similar meaning. By their nature, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Kumba's or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Kumba’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which Kumba will operate in the future. Important factors that could cause Kumba’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of actual production during any period, levels of global demand and product prices, unanticipated downturns in business relationships with customers or their purchases from Kumba, mineral resource exploration and project development capabilities and delivery, recovery rates and other operational capabilities, safety, health or environmental incidents, the ability to identify, consummate and integrate pending or potential acquisitions, disposals, investments, mergers, demergers, syndications, joint ventures or other transactions, the effects of global pandemics and outbreaks of infectious diseases, the impact of attacks from third parties on our information systems, natural catastrophes or adverse geological conditions, climate change and extreme weather events, the outcome of litigation or regulatory proceedings, the availability of mining and processing equipment, the ability to obtain key inputs in a timely manner, the ability to produce and transport products profitably, the availability of necessary infrastructure (including transportation) services, the development, efficacy and adoption of new or competing technology, challenges in realising resource estimates or discovering new economic mineralisation, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, the availability of sufficient credit, liquidity and counterparty risks, the effects of inflation, terrorism, war, conflict, political or civil unrest, uncertainty, tensions and disputes and economic and financial conditions around the world, evolving societal and stakeholder requirements and expectations, shortages of skilled employees, unexpected difficulties relating to acquisitions or divestitures, competitive pressures and the actions of competitors, activities by courts, regulators and governmental authorities such as in relation to permitting or forcing closure of mines and ceasing of operations or maintenance of Kumba’s assets and changes in taxation or safety, health, environmental or other types of regulation in the countries where Kumba operates, conflicts over land and resource ownership rights and such other risk factors identified in Kumba’s most recent Annual Report. Forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such risk factors, and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Kumba expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, rules or regulations) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Kumba’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Nothing in this document should be interpreted to mean that future earnings per share of Kumba will necessarily match or exceed its historical published earnings per share. Certain statistical and other information included in this document is sourced from third party sources (including, but not limited to, externally conducted studies and trials). As such it has not been independently verified and presents the views of those third parties, but may not necessarily correspond to the views held by Kumba and Kumba expressly disclaims any responsibility for, or liability in respect of, such information.

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This document has been prepared without reference to your particular investment objectives, financial situation, taxation position and particular needs. It is important that you view this document in its entirety. If you are in any doubt in relation to these matters, you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, taxation adviser or other independent financial adviser (where applicable, as authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 in the UK, or in South Africa, under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 37 of 2002 or under any other applicable legislation).

Alternative Performance Measures

Throughout this document a range of financial and non-financial measures are used to assess our performance, including a number of financial measures that are not defined or specified under IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards), which are termed ‘Alternative Performance Measures’ (APMs). Management uses these measures to monitor the Company's financial performance alongside IFRS measures to improve the comparability of information between reporting periods and businesses. These APMs should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or as superior to, measures of financial performance, financial position or cash flows reported in accordance with IFRS. APMs are not uniformly defined by all companies, including those in the Company’s industry. Accordingly, it may not be comparable with similarly titled measures and disclosures by other companies.

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