Merebank project commissioned

Anglo American PLC
05 December 2005



News Release


5 December 2005


                     Mondi's Merebank project commissioned


Anglo American is pleased to announce that the R1.4 billion ($175 million)
upgrade at Mondi Business Paper's Merebank paper mill in South Africa was
successfully commissioned during October.


The new paper machine ("PM31"), announced in September 2003, resulted in the
discontinuation of the production of super calendared or magazine grades and the
increase in capacity of uncoated woodfree ("UCWF") paper grades.  The Merebank
mill's annual production of UCWF paper will increase by approximately 277,000
tonnes to 536,000 tonnes by 2007.


A new 14 pocket A4 cutting line, one of the world's largest and the fastest in
operation, has also been installed. It has a daily capacity of 600 tonnes and
produces up to 210 A4 reams per minute.


The new investment at Merebank will contribute to further improvements in
environmental performance. Improvements to the new flue gas desulphurisation
plant and biomass fired multi-fuel boiler will result in a marked reduction in
emissions and waste, as well as water and energy consumption.


The capacity increase in South Africa will be partly offset by planned capacity
closures at Mondi Business Paper in Hungary. The Mondi group's UCWF paper
capacity following the rebuild will amount to 2.1 million tonnes per annum.


For further information:


Anglo American - London

Investor Relations                                      Media Relations

Charles Gordon                                          Kate Aindow


Tel:  [phone]                                  Tel:  [phone]



Anglo American - Johannesburg

Investor Relations                                      Media Relations


Anne Dunn                                               Daniel Ngwepe


Tel:  [phone]                                   Tel:  [phone]



Notes to Editors:


Anglo American plc is one of the world's largest mining and natural resource
groups. With its subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, it is a global
leader in platinum group metals, gold and diamonds, with significant interests
in coal, base and ferrous metals, industrial minerals and paper and packaging.
The group is geographically diverse, with operations in Africa, Europe, South
and North America, Australia and Asia. (www.angloamerican.co.uk)



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