Media releases

11 April 2008

RBCT one of the top companies to commit to the UN Global Compact

Yesterday, 10 April 2008, Richards Bay Coal Terminal became one of the 16 SA top companies that signed the United Nations Global Compact in Johannesburg.

The Global Compact, an initiative by the United Nations, asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. To date, over 5 000 companies in over 100 countries around the world have committed themselves to this set of principles. Richards Bay Coal Terminal is pleased to be one of these companies.

“It is indeed an important milestone for us at RBCT to be part of such an initiative which enables us to publicly commit ourselves to the ten principles of the UN Global Compact in respect to human rights, labour rights, the environment and anti-corruption. RBCT is proud to commit to making the Global Compact and its principles part of our strategy, culture and day-to-day operations. As the single largest coal export terminal in the world, RBCT takes seriously the issues laid out in the Global Compact. That is why we have been making tremendous improvements in our facility in terms of fighting HIV/ Aids, optimizing energy efficiency and creating opportunities for multi stakeholder engagement and encouraging collaborative action by businesses in the Zululand Region”, comments Kuseni Dlamini, Executive Chairman of Richards Bay Coal Terminal.

Some of the benefits of being part of the UN Global Compact are as follows

• exchange of experience and good practices to inspire practical solutions to challenging problems
• Global and local opportunities to dialogue and collaborate with other international businesses, NGO’s, labour and government on critical issues
• Leverage the UN’s global reach and power with governments, businesses and civil society
• Increase legitimacy and license to operate because business practices are based on universal values
• Ensuring accountability and transparency through a public communication on progress

“Participation of companies in the Global Compact is a symbol of good corporate citizenship in South Africa. The NBI is confident that the initiative will continue to grow into an important mechanism for business to improve their contribution to society and our environment,” states André Fourie, NBI’s Chief Executive Officer.

The Global Compact in South Africa is managed by the National Business Initiative (NBI), which became focal point to the initiative in 2007.

Issued by Richards Bay Coal Terminal

Zama Luthuli: 083 399 3111

Email : zluthuli@rbct.co.za