Chapter 10: Assets

10.1.1 Accounting policies relating to property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment

Land and assets under construction are stated at cost and are not depreciated. Buildings, including certain non-mining residential buildings, and all other items of property, plant and equipment are reflected at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. The cherry trees qualify as bearer plants under the definition of IAS 41 Agriculture and are therefore accounted for under the requirements of IAS16 Property, Plant and Equipment. The cherry trees are classified as immature until the produce can be commercially harvested, at which point depreciation commences. Immature cherry trees are measured at accumulated cost.

Depreciation is charged on a systematic basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets after taking into account the estimated residual values of the assets. Useful life is either the period of time over which the asset is expected to be used or the number of production or similar units expected to be obtained from the use of the asset.

Items of property, plant and equipment are capitalised in components where components have a different useful life to the main item of property, plant and equipment to which the component can be logically assigned.

An asset’s residual value and useful life is reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.

The estimated useful lives of items of property, plant and equipment are:

The carrying amount of an item of property, plant and equipment is derecognised on disposal, or when no future economic benefits are expected from its use or disposal.

Exploration costs

Exploration and evaluation costs are expensed until management (as determined per project) concludes that future economic benefits (as determined per project) are more likely than not of being realised. In evaluating if expenditure meets the criteria to be capitalised, several sources of information depending on the level of exploration, are utilised. While the criteria for determining capitalisation is based on the probability of future economic benefits, the information that management uses to make that determination depends on the level of exploration.

Development costs

Development expenditure is accumulated separately for each area in which economically recoverable resources (as determined per project) have been identified. Such expenditure comprises costs directly attributable to the construction of an asset and the related infrastructure, including the cost of material, direct labour and an appropriate proportion of production overheads. Development costs are capitalised once approval for such development is obtained from management (as determined per project). On completion of development, all assets included in assets under construction are reclassified to the appropriate asset class of property, plant and equipment to which it relates.

10.1.2 Significant judgements and assumptions made by management in applying the related accounting policies

Depreciation and useful lives

The depreciable amounts of assets are allocated on a systematic basis over their useful lives. In determining the depreciable amount, management makes assumptions in respect of the residual value of assets based on the expected estimated amount that the entity would currently obtain from disposal of the asset, after deducting the estimated costs of disposal. If an asset is expected to be abandoned the residual value is estimated at nil. In determining the useful life of assets, management considers the expected usage of assets, expected physical wear and tear, legal or similar limits of assets such as mineral rights, as well as obsolescence.

Management makes estimates of Coal Resources and Coal Reserves in accordance with the SAMREC Code (2009) for South African properties and the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Code (2012) for Australian properties. Such estimates relate to the category for the resource (measured, indicated or inferred), the quantum and the grade.

10.1.3 Property, plant and equipment composition and analysis

1 Relates to hedging gains and losses and cost of hedging.

1 Relates to hedging gains and losses and cost of hedging.

10.1.4 Capital commitments

Capital expenditure will be financed from available cash resources, funds generated from operations and available borrowing capacity.