This is believed to be the largest production milestone in the history of Australia and has been achieved through dedication, commitment to safety and setting in place effective systems to consistently meet 100 operating hours per week of the longwall mine.

Anglo American’s Head of Underground Operations Glen Britton said the achievement is a testament to the commitment and caliber of the team at Grasstree.

“Firstly, congratulations go to every member of the Grasstree team for the effort they have contributed this year which has resulted in this outstanding milestone,” Mr Britton said.

“This is a world-class operating team and results like this start with the vision and belief that we can achieve something no one else has done before.

“From there, we were able to set out a plan for key improvements at Grasstree, starting with improved operational discipline, which demanded clear communication and planning.

“It has been a consistent effort, every shift, every day over the past 12 months with teamwork and safety at the core”.

Earlier this year, Grasstree produced 1,200,537 ROM tonnes in one month, beating the previous monthly record set by Oaky Creek North in 2009 by 8000 tonnes.

Ensuring equipment reliability has been critical to the consistent production milestones of up to 250 kilotonne a week, enabling the longwall team to do their jobs effectively and with faith that systems were in place to ensure the equipment was 100% reliable.

In spite of the current difficult market conditions and the pressures which come with this environment, Grasstree mine has put their best foot forward to deliver this achievement and a new bench-mark for Australian underground coal operations.

END

Media contact: Vanessa Davies – 0400 927 185

Notes to editors:

Anglo American is a global and diversified mining business that provides the raw materials essential for economic development and modern life. Our people are at the heart of our business. It is our people who use the latest technologies to find new resources, plan and build our mines and who mine, process and move and market our products – from bulk commodities and base metals to precious metals and diamonds (through De Beers) – to our customers around the world. Our diversified portfolio of products spans the economic development cycle and, as a responsible miner, we are the custodians of precious resources. We work together with our key partners and stakeholders to unlock the long-term value that those resources represent for our shareholders, but also for the communities and countries in which we operate – creating sustainable value and making a real difference. Our mining operations, growth projects and exploration and marketing activities extend across southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America, Asia and Europe.

www.angloamerican.com