Covid-19 notwithstanding, diversified mining company Anglo American will this year be spending the $300-million that it forecast on the Woodsmith polyhalite project in the UK, which gives it entry into the crop nutrients business at a time when fertilising is being hailed a godsend to ease global food security fears. On entering crop-nutrient mining and exiting thermal-coal mining, Anglo CEO Mark Cutifani told analysts during a virtual conference: “I think it’s important to remember that as we transition out of thermal coal, we’re building the crop nutrients business, which probably has got double the potential contribution it can make to the business. We think that’s a pretty good swop.”
