Anglo Platinum HEPS slips 38% on PGM sales dip

In a recent interview with CNBC Africa, Natascha Viljoen, the CEO of Anglo American Platinum, discussed the company's performance in the face of a tough market and highlighted the investments and decisions made to ensure long-term sustainability. Viljoen recognized the challenges faced by the organization in a volatile market but expressed confidence in the strategic decisions taken to address them. She emphasized the importance of contextualizing the current performance against the previous year's exceptional results, which were influenced by external factors like the unwinding of stock and supply chain disruptions. Despite a 24% decline in revenue, Viljoen believes that the groundwork laid in the past three years positions the company for future success. Viljoen attributed the lower performance to the normalization of market conditions and reiterated the commitment to making the right long-term investments to maintain a competitive edge. She acknowledged the short-term pain associated with some decisions but stressed their significance in setting up a tier-one company with world-class assets for sustained growth. Viljoen also addressed the investments made to address energy challenges, improve operational efficiency, and advance ESG goals. She highlighted the transition towards renewable energy sources and the development of technology solutions to enhance safety and environmental sustainability. Viljoen shared her aspirations for the company's continued growth and value creation, emphasizing the importance of shared value generation for all stakeholders. Looking ahead, she expressed confidence in the team's capabilities to lead Anglo American Platinum towards its next phase of development and underscored the company's commitment to responsible resource utilization and stakeholder engagement.