Healthy ecosystems are essential for resilience against climate change, supporting the natural resources that sustain our operations and communities. Exxaro is committed to safeguarding biodiversity through targeted initiatives, including relocating species, rehabilitating wetlands, managing invasive plants and implementing conservation programmes that protect the native flora and fauna across our operations.
Manketti team and Cheetah Outreach field employees with a satellite collared cheetah
The survival of free-roaming cheetahs in South Africa is increasingly threatened by habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and dwindling prey availability. In response, Exxaro's Manketti game reserve partnered with the Cheetah Outreach Trust and EWT to conduct a groundbreaking three-year census of the country's remaining free-roaming cheetah populations. This initiative aims to deepen our understanding of cheetah behaviour, habitat use and co-existence strategies that support the long-term conservation of these apex predators.
The project employs a multifaceted approach to gather critical data, beginning with an online questionnaire distributed to local landowners to gain insights into cheetah sightings and potential hotspots for monitoring. To track cheetah movement and activity, we deploy state-of-the-art cameras at strategic scent-marking sites in the expansive farmland surrounding Manketti. These cameras allow for non-invasive monitoring, capturing cheetah activity patterns and identifying individual animals.
Cheetahs captured as part of the project are fitted with satellite-linked collars (as seen in the picture above), allowing for real-time tracking across vast landscapes. This advanced tracking technology offers precise data on cheetah movement patterns, territory sizes and interactions between prey and human-influenced landscapes. Alongside tracking efforts, the team conducts detailed analysis of cheetah scat samples to understand their prey preferences and food sources, providing valuable insights into the ecological needs of these cheetahs.
Gathering a comprehensive dataset on free-roaming cheetah populations and their environmental needs will inform conservation strategies to promote the co-existence of cheetahs and human communities, fostering a balanced and richly biodiverse ecosystem in South Africa.
Exxaro's biodiversity management plans guide our efforts in the protection and conservation of biodiversity-rich ecosystems within mining right areas and support sustainable land use. Our biodiversity approach is implemented through:
Accountability and responsibility
Biodiversity management plans and stakeholder engagement are overseen by a team at our operations and head office, including executives and mine management, and sustainability and environmental specialists. A senior biodiversity specialist leads biodiversity prevention and mitigation measures, policies and processes.
Regulatory compliance
We comply with the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act 10 of 2004) and the requirements of mining and environmental permits.
Beyond compliance
We enhance our positive impacts on biodiversity by:
Our holistic approach to biodiversity management combines:
Nature-based solutions such as our Spekboom carbon offset projects that support climate resilience and biodiversity restoration
With the growing focus on biodiversity loss and South Africa being a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Exxaro is updating existing biodiversity management standards and plans to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, national biodiversity plans and our operational needs.
To identify and manage nature-related risks, we are conducting a baseline TNFD assessment, addressing gaps and building on the prior work we did to implement TCFD recommendations. The ESG committee has received the proposed TNFD reporting plan, with the LEAP approach set for implementation in early 2025.
CENNERGI
Cennergi manages biodiversity through an environmental management programme. This approach aligns with the Equator Principles and the IFC's Performance Standard 6 (IFC PS6) guidelines on biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of living natural resources. Cennergi's biodiversity monitoring and mitigation plan aims to achieve no net loss of biodiversity.
Since 2016, two full-time local SMMEs have successfully managed Cennergi's invasive alien plant control programme.
Each operation has a detailed biodiversity plan aligned with the group biodiversity management standard. Plans include procedures that guide how inspections, audits and biomonitoring programmes should be conducted. Biodiversity KPIs are tracked for each BU and align with safety, health and environment management systems for impact mitigation and progress monitoring.
Biomonitoring, including river health assessments, ensure our mining activities do not negatively impact nearby ecosystems. We send samples of certain parameters to independent labs for analysis, which informs management actions for improving wetland biodiversity. These actions are tracked to ensure improved compliance and ecosystems health.
To support these efforts, Exxaro engages external service providers to conduct regular biomonitoring across key sites, including Grootegeluk, Belfast, Matla, Leeuwpan, Tshikondeni and Thabametsi. Monitoring is aimed at evaluating the physical and chemical characteristics of the impacted ecosystem through assessing aquatic, terrestrial, soil and wetland health in line with WUL requirements. Monitoring takes place during wet and dry seasons to capture seasonal variations and determine optimal project execution timeframes.
Exxaro also engages with service providers to monitor river systems connected to the KwaZulu-Natal mines in closure (Hlobane and Durnacol) to assess potential long-term impacts on aquatic biota from these sites.
We equip community members with the knowledge and skills to contribute to invasive alien plant eradication, providing training through an external service provider.
Exxaro appoints local community contractors for the eradication of invasive alien plants. We provide contractors with training, equipment and start-up capital to support local community development.
Exxaro's invasive plant management and eradication programme aims to restore ecological balance by monitoring, controlling and eradicating invasive alien species that threaten native vegetation and disrupt water availability. The initiative is aimed at supporting healthier, more resilient ecosystems that will ultimately promote biological diversity within our operational and rehabilitated land.
All BUs have invasive species management plans and have completed initial physical removal of invasive alien plants.
| Stage 1 Development of invader species management plan |
Stage 2 Physical implementation (removal of invader species) |
Stage 3 Maintenance (eradication of invaders on site) |
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| Mpumalanga | ||||
| Belfast |  |
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| Leeuwpan | |
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| Matla | |
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| Limpopo | ||||
| Grootegeluk | |
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| Tshikondeni | |
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Completed | |
To start in 2025 | |
Ongoing |
We aim to:
Our mining right areas overlap sensitive environment that is home to threatened and protected species listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. We take steps to protect these species and hold the necessary permits for any removal and relocation of vulnerable plants or animals.
CENNERGI
Amakhala Emoyeni is classified as situated within a natural habitat under IFC Performance Standard 6 (IFC PS6), requiring compliance with the no net loss biodiversity target.
Exxaro monitors and manages wetland systems located within its mining right area, focusing on habitat restoration and species diversity. These efforts improve water retention, support local biodiversity and provide sustainable water resources critical for surrounding communities and ecosystems. Ongoing wetland initiatives include:
Waterberg (Limpopo)
Grootegeluk proof-of-concept pan project
Our efforts to recreate seasonal pans at Grootegeluk continue to deliver promising results. Seasonal pans, which naturally form in low-lying areas and fill with water during the rainy season, are vital for supporting local biodiversity. To preserve these ecosystems, we created six pans using clay and biological material from natural pans located in front of the pit area, which would otherwise have been lost to mining. The pans were constructed by sealing the base with clay from the original pans and introducing a biological layer containing invertebrate eggs to seed biodiversity.
A five-year monitoring programme, initiated in January 2022, evaluates the potential for these recreated pans to be integrated into future rehabilitation or offsetting initiatives. Monitoring results have been encouraging, with biodiversity levels in the recreated pans stabilising and aligning with those of the source pans.
In 2024, we expanded our efforts to monitor the natural seasonal pans remaining in the landscape, ensuring that mining activities have minimal impact on these critical ecosystems.
Mpumalanga
Belfast wetland rehabilitation project
Following a review of phase 1 interventions, we updated our rehabilitation strategy for phase 2 of the project, targeting smaller wetland systems along the mine's boundaries to extend the restored area. We appointed a specialist consultant to oversee the implementation of new interventions. The specialist will be required to produce a wetland management and maintenance plan that will document the measures to be taken by Exxaro to ensure that rehabilitation interventions remain functional and intact in the post-rehabilitation landscape.
Leeuwpan wetland interventions
To prevent net loss of functional wetland areas around Leeuwpan mine, we developed a wetland offset strategy in 2019 to compensate for any residual operational impacts. In 2024, the strategy was updated to include revised rehabilitation recommendations for the affected wetlands, with the updated interventions scheduled for implementation in 2025.
Our conservation programmes protect threatened species in and around our mining right areas, focusing on initiatives that meet the biodiversity needs of various BUs. Ongoing projects include:
Waterberg (Limpopo)
A 22 000ha game reserve surrounds Exxaro's Grootegeluk mine, creating a unique conservation buffer that balances mining activities with environmental stewardship. This reserve generates income through sustainable practices, including commercial hunting, game trading and guest stays at Manketti Lodge, which offers game viewing and birding opportunities. A dedicated monitoring programme supports the conservation of the rare Manketti tree (South Africa's only known location for this species) alongside other protected flora like leadwood, marula and camelthorn. Manketti is home to diverse wildlife, including buffalo, sable antelope and tsessebe and supports cheetah conservation. The reserve also provides habitat for over 200 bird species, including three vulture species nurtured at an on-site vulture feeding station.
Mpumalanga
We are working with the EWT and Digby Wells to protect the African grass owl, a vulnerable species whose habitat is impacted by mining activities. Through biannual monitoring surveys conducted during wet and dry seasons, we assessed the population and nesting success of these owls within the Matla mining rights area. Our April wet-season survey confirmed the presence of an actively nesting pair, indicating that the area provides suitable habitat for breeding. However, the September dry-season survey showed a decrease in roosting owls and suitable habitat due to factors such as fire and farming activities. By preserving open grassland areas and carefully managing habitat conditions, we support the continued occupancy and breeding success of the African grass owl, which plays a critical role in controlling local vlei rat populations.
Exxaro partners with the Dullstroom Bird of Prey Centre to rehabilitate and gradually release birds of prey into a protected conservation area. This collaboration provides a controlled environment where birds acclimate to the wild in a semi-natural habitat before achieving full independence. Constructed by a local SMME, the release area offers safety and access to food, ideal for a gradual transition. The initiative also supports the release of grass owls and bats, contributing to natural pest control in surrounding agricultural areas.
Eastern Cape
CENNERGI
Bat curtailment involves adjusting turbine operations, particularly by reducing or halting activity during low wind speeds, to lower the risk of bat collisions with wind turbines. At the Amakhala Emoyeni windfarm, Cennergi's bat curtailment programme employs this technique to protect local bat and bird populations. Through regular monitoring by local carcass search teams and compliance with South African bird and bat wind energy guidelines, Cennergi ensures responsible windfarm operations. Semi-annual monitoring reports are shared with stakeholders, including BirdLife Africa and the EWT, demonstrating our commitment to biodiversity alongside renewable energy generation.
We collaborate with the EWT on the Eastern Cape vulture safe zone initiative at Amakhala Emoyeni, aiming to reduce Cape vulture fatalities near wind energy facilities. This programme establishes a protected habitat zone where threats to vultures are mitigated, creating the first vulture-safe area within a windfarm landscape. Cennergi's on-site food management programme further supports these efforts by removing livestock and wildlife carcasses to lower the risk of collisions with turbines.
Our Cape vulture offset programme leverages the EWT's innovative detection system (called the eye in the sky programme), which uses GPS tracking to monitor vultures' movements. Alerts are triggered by unusual behaviour, such as immobility, enabling rapid responses to poisoning incidents. This system prevents further fatalities, rehabilitates poisoned birds and contributes to the conservation of Cape vultures.
Cennergi has committed over R800 000 to this programme over two years, funding GPS tracking, personnel and wildlife poisoning response measures, including mobile ambulances equipped for rehabilitation. Based on current data, this initiative is projected to avert the loss of approximately seven Cape vultures annually, meeting the project's offset requirement of six vultures per year.
Launched by Tsitsikamma, Jeffrey's Bay, Oyster Bay and Gibson Bay windfarms in partnership with the Kromme Enviro-Trust, this initiative addresses the ecological impacts of wind energy in these regions. This programme fosters biodiversity stewardship by encouraging landowners to legally protect valuable ecosystems on private land, whether across entire properties or only ecologically sensitive areas. Since its establishment seven years ago, the initiative has facilitated the declaration of seven new nature reserves (2023: four), with five more nearing completion (2023: two). The initiative has been widely recognised for securing more priority land for conservation in the Kouga region than any other independent conservation body in the last 50 years.
We did not record any biodiversity-related grievances in 2024 (2023: none). We experienced minor challenges arising from seasonal variations, which may have impacted biodiversity assessments and optimal timeframes for the execution of some projects.
The data in the table alongside shows that we actively maintain sites cleared of invasive plants. We finalised the appointment of a local community service provider in 2024 to eradicate invasive alien plants at Grootegeluk and Tshikondeni, with eradication scheduled for early 2025.
| Land cleared of invader plants (ha) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Mpumalanga | ||||
| Belfast | 52 | 29 | 19 | |
| Leeuwpan | 94 | 77 | 86 | |
| Matla | 32 | 102 | 0 | |
| Limpopo | ||||
| Grootegeluk | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tshikondeni | 0 | 1 430 | 132 | |
| Total | 178 | 1 638 | 236 |
CENNERGI
Amakhala Emoyeni is classified according to IFC Performance Standard 6 (IFC PS6) (IFC 2012) as situated within a natural habitat. Since operations began in 2016, 41 priority bird species fatalities (due to wind turbines) have been recorded.
| Species | Regional classification | Global classification | Wind turbine fatalities | Overhead line fatalities | Total fatalities |
| Cape vulture | Endangered | Vulnerable | 13 | 2 | 15 |
| Blue crane | Near threatened | Vulnerable | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| Denham’s bustard | Near threatened | Near threatened | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Secretarybird | Endangered | Vulnerable | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Black harrier | Endangered | Vulnerable | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tawny eagle | Endangered | Vulnerable | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Burchell’s courser | Vulnerable | Least concern | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Martial eagle | Endangered | Vulnerable | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Amur falcon* | Least concern | Least concern | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| * | The Amur falcon is classified as a priority species due to its gregarious, flocking behaviour and the potential for fatality events involving multiple birds. |
Cape vulture fatalities have exceeded the annual average threshold in the project's first eight years of operation. To address these impacts, Cennergi collaborates with the EWT and the IFC to improve existing mitigation measures by implementing the Cape vulture offset programme.
During 2024, six Cape vultures and one blue crane wind turbine fatalities were recorded, along with one Denham's bustard fatality. No secretarybird fatalities were recorded (2023: one). The bat fatality threshold was not exceeded for the monitoring period and, as a result, no bat curtailment was conducted during the year.
No Red List bird species mortalities were recorded in 2024 (2023: none). However, four priority bird species fatalities occurred. We are collaborating with an Avifauna specialist to conduct flight and collision risk modelling to determine which turbines should be prioritised for mitigation measures.
One fruit bat fatality was recorded, triggering the need for mitigation under the South African Bat Fatality Threshold Guidelines. To address this, Cennergi appointed an external service provider to conduct a 12-month live bat monitoring programme aimed at assessing mitigation needs and proposing additional measures if required. We also engaged an international bat specialist to establish biologically meaningful fatality thresholds for fruit bats at the neighbouring Jeffrey's Bay windfarm.
As part of our sustainability efforts, 16 000 Spekboom trees were planted at Grootegeluk mine and Leeuwpan mine on rehabilitated land in 2024. These pilot projects are helping to control and eradicate invasive alien species that previously encroached on these sites, while preventing soil erosion due to the Spekboom's soil-binding properties. Likewise, an indigenous forest planted at Matla's new Mine 1 shaft area enhances local biodiversity while serving as a wind break that improves air quality.
At Tshikondeni, natural indigenous vegetation has regrown post-closure. We are assessing soil and plant conditions in the area to identify further opportunities for growth enhancement.
Our primary focus in 2025 will be:
IR