What initiatives has Anglo American taken in China?
We have started with awareness. When we first went to local health authorities asking for help, their reaction was, “No, it’s not a problem here.” But with some coaxing, they they came to do it and got enthusiastic and even screened our awareness campaign on local television. What can you tell me about your investments in China and environmental initiatives? We are exploring for coal and platinum, among other things. The government invited us to invest to improve things. We were asked to merge five small quarries [near Shanghai] with appalling environmental conditions and safety record, where 10 to15 people [out of a workforce of a few hundred] were getting killed every year. You had people abseiling down a cliff, stuffing dynamite sticks. Since June, 2004, when we took over, there have been no deaths and only one accident where someone hurt [his] leg. In coal, the safety record varies from very good to outrageous. Fatalities in China per ton mined are 150 times the international stand
