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CHAPTER 10:Assets

10.1

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 
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 for plant and equipment. The cherry trees are classified as immature until the produce can be commercially harvested. At that 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:

    2020       2019    
  Coal Energy Ferrous Other   Coal Ferrous Other
Mineral properties 2.5 to 25 years or 6.7Mt to 72.7Mt N/A N/A N/A   5 to 25 years or 6.7Mt to 72.7Mt N/A N/A
Residential buildings 1 to 40 years N/A N/A N/A   1 to 40 years N/A N/A
Buildings and infrastructure 1 to 40 years 26.3 and
26.4 years
10 to
20 years
20 to
25 years
  1 to 40 years 10 to
20 years
20 to
25 years
Machinery, plant and equipment 13 000 to
50 000 hours
or 1 to 40 years
or 6.7Mt to 72.7Mt
3 to
26.4 years
5 to
25 years
1 to
20 years
  13 000 to
50 000 hours
or 1 to 40 years
or 6.7Mt to 72.7Mt
5 to
25 years
1 to
20 years
Site preparation and mining development 1 to 25 years or 6.7Mt to 72.7Mt N/A N/A N/A   1 to 25 years or 6.7Mt to 72.7Mt N/A N/A
Bearer plants (mature) N/A N/A N/A 7 years   N/A N/A 7 years

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 a mine 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). Development expenditure is net of proceeds from the sale of ore extracted during the development phase. On completion of development, all assets included in assets under construction are reclassified as either plant and equipment or other mineral assets.

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 disposing 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 lives 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 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
        Group        
At 31 December 2020 Note  Land and 
buildings 
Rm
 
Mineral 
properties 
Rm
 
Residential 
land and 
buildings 
Rm
 
Buildings 
and  
infrastructure 
Rm
 
Machinery, 
plant and 
equipment 
Rm
 
Site 
preparation 
and mining 
development 
Rm
 
Bearer 
plants 
Rm
 
Assets 
under 
construction 
Rm
 
Total 
Rm
 
Gross carrying amount 
At beginning of the year  514  2 135  786  5 709  23 144  737  2  9 762  42 789 
Additions  413  942  196  1 589  3 140 
Changes in decommissioning assets  13.3  (14) (56) 3  (21) (88)
Acquisition of subsidiaries  8.3.2.4  4  5 948  5 952 
Transfer of operation  (137) (137)
Borrowing costs capitalised  12.1.2  374  374 
Disposals  (27) (1) (34) (592) (13) (3) (670)
Reclassification to non-current assets held-for-sale  8.4  (4) (991) (150) (1 063) (393) (84) (2 685)
Transfer between classes  128  2 014  3 198  103  (5 443)
Exchange differences on translation  14  1  15 
At end of the year  524  1 108  785  7 943  31 521  633  2  6 174  48 690 
Accumulated depreciation 
At beginning of the year  (703) (164) (1 026) (7 136) (93) (9 122)
Charges for the year  6.1.3  (57) (26) (294) (1 774) (85) (1) (2 237)
Transfer of operation  137  137 
Disposals  26  1  28  480  6  541 
Reclassification to non-current assets held-for-sale  8.4  73  23  354  35  485 
Transfer between classes  1  (1)
At end of the year      (524) (189) (1 269) (8 075) (138) (1) (10 196)
Accumulated impairment 
At beginning of the year  (14) (90) (1) (105)
Impairment charges  8.5  (837) (33) (305) (154) (30) (1 359)
Reclassification to non-current assets held-for-sale  8.4  837  33  305  154  30  1 359 
Disposals  3  3  6 
At end of the year  (11) (87) (1) (99)
Net carrying amount at end of the year  524  584  596  6 663  23 359  495  1  6 173  38 395 
        Group        
At 31 December 2019  Note  Land and 
buildings 
Rm
 
Mineral 
properties 
Rm
 
Residential 
land and 
buildings 
Rm
 
Buildings 
and  
infrastructure 
Rm
 
Machinery, 
plant and 
equipment 
Rm
 
Site 
preparation 
and mining 
development 
Rm
 
Bearer 
plants 
Rm
 
Assets 
under 
construction 
Rm
 
Total 
Rm
 
Gross carrying amount 
At beginning of the year     444  2 151  661  4 933  21 417  467  2  6 669  36 744 
Transfer to right-of-use assets                 (16)          (16)
Balance at 1 January 2019     444  2 151  661  4 933  21 401  467  2  6 669  36 728 
Additions     73  1  30  462  1 472  361     3 800  6 199 
Transfer from right-of-use assets                 14           14 
Changes in decommissioning assets  13.3           (7) (21) 7     17  (4)
Borrowing costs capitalised  12.1.2                       448  448 
Loss of control of subsidiary        (17)    (9) (2)          (28)
Disposals           (36) (70) (360) (99)       (565)
Transfer between classes           131  400  640  1     (1 172)   
Exchange differences on translation     (3)                      (3)
At end of the year     514  2 135  786  5 709  23 144  737  2  9 762  42 789 
Accumulated depreciation                               
At beginning of the year        (664) (175) (907) (5 891) (154)       (7 791)
Transfer to right-of-use assets                 2           2 
Balance at 1 January 2019        (664) (175) (907) (5 889) (154)       (7 789)
Charges for the year  6.1.3     (39) (24) (193) (1 555) (38)       (1 849)
Disposals           35  68  307  99        509 
Loss of control of subsidiary              6  1           7 
At end of the year        (703) (164) (1 026) (7 136) (93)       (9 122)
Accumulated impairment                               
At beginning of the year              (18) (108)       (2) (128)
Impairment reversals              4  18        1  23 
At end of the year              (14) (90)       (1) (105)
Net carrying amount at end of the year     514  1 432  622  4 669  15 918  644  2  9 761  33 562 
Company
At 31 December 2020  Note  Buildings 
and 
infrastructure 
Rm 
Machinery, 
plant and 
equipment 
Rm
 
Assets 
under 
construction 
Rm
 
Total 
Rm
 
Gross carrying amount 
At beginning of the year  1  831  253  1 085 
Additions  9  93  102 
Disposals  (101) (101)
Transfer between classes  105  (105)
At end of the year  1  844  241  1 086 
Accumulated depreciation 
At beginning of the year  (483) (483)
Charges for the year  6.1.3  (91) (91)
Disposals  87  87 
At end of the year  (487) (487)
Net carrying amount at end of the year  1  357  241  599 
Company
At 31 December 2020  Note  Buildings 
and 
infrastructure 
Rm
 
Machinery, 
plant and 
equipment 
Rm
 
Assets 
under 
construction 
Rm
 
Total 
Rm
 
Gross carrying amount 
At beginning of the year    788  132  920 
Additions  1  93  161  255 
Disposals    (90)   (90)
Transfer between classes    40  (40)
At end of the year  1  831  253  1 085 
Accumulated depreciation       
At beginning of the year    (469)   (469)
Charges for the year    (86)   (86)
Disposals  6.1.3    72    72 
At end of the year    (483)   (483)
Net carrying amount at end of the year  1  348  253  602 
10.1.4 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
Group Company  
At 31 December 2020
Rm
  2019
Rm
2020
Rm
  2019
Rm
 
Contracted 2 339   2 225 118   42  
Contracted (owner-controlled) 1 990   1 985 118   42  
Share of capital commitments of equity-accounted investments 349   240
Authorised, but not contracted 1 484   3 119 151   134  
Authorised but not contracted (owner-controlled) 1 484   3 119 151   134  

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