Anglo American has launched Valutrax, a proprietary digital traceability solution designed to increase value chain transparency.
The diversified mining group said Valutrax offers a single point of access to core information about products, helping to trace metals and minerals from source to customer through a tailored selection of key provenance and sustainability indicators.
“Valutrax has been designed as a platform to drive greater transparency across our entire production and logistics chain,” said Anglo executive head of base metals marketing Paul Ward.
“It aims to give our customers direct access to indicators that can help determine compliance with requirements in their specific industries or jurisdictions and to then make appropriate decisions to support their sustainability strategies and other value drivers.”
The group said a digital label can be downloaded for each delivery, offering an at-a-glance view of key data, from provenance and carbon emissions intensity to safety and the social impact of its operations, along with an overview of the policies that underpin Anglo American’s approach to driving safe and sustainable operations.
Anglo American’s digital traceability journey began in 2018 with De Beers’ investment in Tracr, the world’s first fully distributed diamond traceability platform with the ability to explore the provenance and authenticity of a diamond.
A pilot version of Valutrax was rolled out to a selection of Anglo American’s customers in late 2022.
It said the feedback and input gathered during this phase have informed ongoing development.
Valutrax is built on blockchain technology, a distributed database that allows for information to be securely stored in a digital format and gives participating customers access to a comprehensive, immutable view of a product’s core information through a user-friendly portal.
It is currently available to customers purchasing ferronickel, copper concentrates and iron ore-mined products.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
