Anglo American has introduced a digital traceability solution, Valutrax, to help track metals and minerals from mine to customer.

Valutrax provides one access point to core product information, enabling greater assurance for customers about the provenance of the purchased products.

Built on blockchain technology, the solution allows for secure storage of information in a digital format.

This offers customers a “comprehensive, immutable” view of core information about their product through a user-friendly portal, stated the company.

For each delivery, participating customers are allowed to download a digital label, providing a view of key data such as provenance, carbon emissions intensity, safety and the social impact of Anglo American’s operations.

The label also provides the policies’ overview that supports the miner’s approach to sustainable and safe operations.

Anglo American said it launched a pilot version of Valutrax to selected clients late last year.

Based on feedback and input gathered during this phase, the company has further advanced the solution.

Anglo American is currently offering the solution for customers purchasing ferronickel, copper concentrates and iron ore mined products.

The company plans to integrate other products in the future.

Anglo American's base metals marketing executive head, Paul Ward, said: “The metals and minerals we provide are essential to the global energy transition and improving living standards for a growing and urbanising population – these are future-enabling products.

“Valutrax has been designed as a platform to drive greater transparency across our entire production and logistics chain. It aims to give our customers direct access to indicators that can help determine compliance with requirements in their specific industries or jurisdictions and to then make appropriate decisions to support their sustainability strategies and other value drivers.”