Diversified miner Anglo American has launched a digital traceability solution called Valutrax, which is designed to provide customers with greater assurance about the provenance of the products they buy.

Valutrax offers a single point of access to core information about products, helping to trace metals and minerals from source to customer using key sustainability indicators.

Anglo base metals marketing head Paul Ward explains that the metals and minerals produced by the group are essential to the global energy transition and improving living standards for a growing and urbanising population, hence the importance of greater transparency across the entire production and logistics chain.

He adds that the Valutrax solution aims to give Anglo’s 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.

Valutrax is based on blockchain technology, which allows for information to be securely stored in a digital format. The information can be accessed through a user-friendly portal.

A digital label can be downloaded for each delivery, offering an at-a-glance view of key data – from provenance and carbon emissions intensity to safety and the social impact of Anglo’s operations, along with an overview of the policies that underpin the group’s approach to driving safe and sustainable operations.

Anglo American’s digital traceability journey began in 2018, with diamond mining subsidiary De Beers’ investment in Tracr, the world’s first fully distributed diamond traceability platform with the ability to explore the provenance and authenticity of a diamond.

A pilot version of Valutrax was then rolled out to a selection of Anglo’s customers in late 2022.

The feedback and input gathered during this phase has informed ongoing development.

Valutrax is currently available to customers purchasing ferronickel, copper concentrates and iron-ore mined products, with plans underway to integrate other products in the future.