Provisions for environmental rehabilitation
The Company records a liability based on the best estimate of costs for site closure and reclamation activities that the Company is legally or constructively required to remediate. The liability is recognized at the time environmental disturbance occurs and the resulting costs are capitalized to the corresponding asset. The provision for closure and reclamation liabilities is estimated using expected cash flows based on engineering and environmental reports prepared by
third
-party industry specialists and discounted at a pre-tax rate specific to the liability. The capitalized amount is depreciated on the same basis as the related asset. The liability is adjusted for the accretion of the discounted obligation and any changes in the amount or timing of the underlying future cash flows. Significant judgments and estimates are involved in forming expectations of the amounts and timing of future closure and reclamation cash flows.
Additional disturbances and changes in closure and reclamation estimates are accounted for as incurred with a change in the corresponding capitalized cost. Costs of rehabilitation projects for which a provision has been recorded are recorded directly against the provision as incurred.
