BUSINESS • impact , yet often ignored forces ) said Froneman . In developing appropriate responses and protocols and building “ an anti-fragile ” business – the Group is enabled to take advantage of the opportunities arising from disruption in crisis to ultimately create greater shared value for all .
Froneman expanded , “ At Sibanye-Stillwater we have had to be strategically aware , deliberate and innovative , to optimise our sustained relevance and ensure we are appropriately positioned for continued delivery of shared value to all our stakeholders .”
On the back of the “ Big Squeeze grey elephant ”, the Group ’ s growth and diversification into the battery metals sector , for example , was conceptualised in 2019 , and was informed by a detailed analysis of the fundamentals of the metals identified as critical to the growth and development of the battery electric vehicles industry . This led to the Group ’ s strategic geographical diversification and a series of acquisitions announced in 2021 , prior to rapid increases in the prices of lithium and nickel . of the pie in both lithium and nickel , the company is aggressively expanding its exposure in copper – Sibanye-Stillwater has recently exercised the option to acquire the Mt Lyell copper mine in Tasmania ( Australia ).
So too has the company leveraged market value chain knowledge to diversify into green metals , tailings reprocessing and expand recycling ( with secondary production on course to possibly over-shadow primary production in the future ) – pivoting for ongoing delivery of future value for all stakeholders .
Moving beyond the definition of modern mining The current 3D Sibanye-Stillwater strategy is therefore structured for future relevance amid disruption to the world environment , society and economies , said Froneman . The Group has made sure that it will continue to be profitable and therefore relevant to the future of all its stakeholders . This strategy is rooted in the symbolic Umdoni Tree – already developed with foresight as a ‘ trail blazing ’ mining company in 2014 .
“ The Umdoni tree – representing the business ethos of Sibanye-Stillwater – is rooted in our iCARES values , which serve as our foundation . The trunk of the tree ( our people ) represents the
Froneman said , “ The strategic positioning of these acquisitions close to the European and North American battery ecosystems was not coincidental but informed by the increasing trend of ‘ Multipolarity in the world ’ ( the struggle between East and West ) – another of the grey elephants . He noted , “ this has enabled us to benefit from supportive legislation such as the IRA , with our Rhyolite Ridge lithium project in Nevada receiving a conditional loan of up to USD700- million from the US Department of Energy for its future development , and our US PGM operations benefiting from a tax reduction of up to 10 % of operating costs over the next 10 years .”
The Group has built a robust and sustainable business relevant to the clean energy economy by leveraging its skills for commodity diversification too . Apart from having a piece material strength of the company , with the canopy or leaves on the branches representing all our stakeholders . If we are successful – delivering operationally , safely and profitably – we will be able
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