ArcelorMittal South Africa 2007 Sustainability Report Page 2
We are committed to our vision to being a key player in the steel market in
sub-Saharan Africa, while engaging with every stakeholder as a responsible
corporate citizen
Foreword by Dr Khotso Mokhele
Chairman of the board of directors
Our primary duty to South Africa
Our South African economy is at a critical juncture on its road
to successful transformation from a dual economy dividing
rich from poor to an integrated nation that offers equal
opportunities for all.
While this report deals with our impacts on society and the
environment for 2007, we need also to look forward. The year
2008 began with instability on world markets following the
stress placed on financial institutions by over-extension in the
US sub-prime lending market. There is a worldwide energy
crisis that has hit not only South Africa, but other countries
as well, such as caused by unseasonal weather in China this
past winter. And the potential impacts of global warming
have brought home to every corner of the supply chain, from
extractor to consumer, the need to reduce our emissions of
greenhouse gases.
In this uncertain environment, our country needs every industry
component to pull its weight to steady the ship. Steel is a
fundamental input to our economy. It is the core material in the
structures that carry our power and the cladding that protects
the homes of so many of our people. It is our primary duty
to continue growing our production for the benefit of all the
downstream industries that depend on us. And it is a challenge
that we intend to rise to as we continue with our capital
expansion programme going forward.
Strengthening the leadership team
Recently, we announced the appointment of Nku Nyembezi-
Heita, formerly Chief Officer: Mergers and Acquisitions at the
Vodacom Group, as Chief Executive Officer and member of the
Board of ArcelorMittal South Africa with effect from 1 March
2008. Nku Nyembezi-Heita has succeeded Rick Reato, who
has been appointed as Vice President: Operational Excellence in
the ArcelorMittal Group based in London, where he will focus
on the groups steel businesses in South Africa, Ukraine and
Kazakhstan.
An agreement has been reached with Rick Reato to avail himself
to assist with the transition to the new leadership.
The departure of Rick Reato has provided an opportunity for
the board to restructure the management of the company
to maximise success in achieving the very robust plan to
increase output from 7 million tonnes of liquid steel per annum
to 9,5 million tonnes by 2011. In this regard, the board was
successful in getting the ArcelorMittal Group to release Luc
Bonte, formerly the CEO of ArcelorMittal Gent, a business
unit of ArcelorMittal based in Belgium, to join the company
in the position of President and member of the board to take
responsibility for operational management of the business.
Luc Bonte reports directly to the CEO, and assumed his duties
on 1 March 2008.
This strengthened leadership team not only has the
responsibility to increase the companys output whilst
improving production efficiencies, but also to improve our
performance in the areas of social, ethical and environmental
impact. Transformation, for example, is one of our most
important issues, and I, personally, chair the companys
transformation committee. Our responses to this and other
material issues facing the company are dealt with in detail in this
report. We are deeply engaged with our key stakeholders and
remain committed to manage these challenges to the benefit of
all parties affected by our dealings and our operations.
Khotso Mokhele
Chairman of the board of directors