We are committed to rehabilitation beyond compliance. We believe it is our moral responsibility to conduct concurrent rehabilitation in a changing regulatory, economic and operating landscape.

At 31 December 2020, total land disturbed was 9 889ha and total rehabilitated 1 981ha. Exxaro's Environmental Rehabilitation Fund (EERF) and additional bank guarantees provide for new developments and cover shortfalls in financial provisions.

The EERF's assets are managed in terms of asset and liability modelling aligned with risk, return and liability on each site. The objective is to maximise investment growth in the cost of liability provisions. An external specialist supports EERF trustees with technical skills required to profile and identify suitable structures for assessment by the trustees.

Five Exxaro operations were in active closure in 2020: Tshikondeni, Durnacol, Hlobane, Strathrae and Gravelotte.

We understand that operational closure, concurrent rehabilitation and land management activities directly connect employees, communities, the environment, government and infrastructure.

We are committed to:

• Ensuring operational closure is inclusive and within legal framework parameters
• Proactively managing environmental impacts to minimise residual liabilities
• Leaving a positive legacy of alternative sustainable land use for employees and local communities
• Allocating financial resources required to ensure process concludes
• Managing Exxaro land according to agreed strategy

The social aspects of mine closure are among our engineering and associated financial planning considerations:

• Equip employees with portable skills to pursue alternative employment and participation in meaningful economic activity
• Develop and implement a communication plan for employees
• Employee training to implement and manage mine closure plans
• Address health and safety issues as well as employment opportunities for communities
• Socio-economic activities that must continue after mine closure
• Identify the needs and expectations of stakeholders and socio-economic impacts
• Assist host communities to acquire skills for commercial activities and infrastructure use after mine closure
• Ensure opportunities are available to improve quality of life
• Align closure with community expectations to honour SLPs commitments
• Develop and implement plans for engagement with communities, government and NGOs among others
• Help mine owners and operators achieve liability-free closure within a reasonable timeframe
• Management committed to implementing the closure plan