Net revenues: US$ 2 bn
Adjusted EBITDA: US$ 403 mm
Social investment¹: R$ 37.9 mm
___Company resources: R$ 36.6 mm
___Votorantim Institute: R$ 1.3 mm
1Amount managed by the Votorantim Institute. It does not include additional resources for initiatives to combat COVID-19.
Uncertainties resulting from the coronavirus pandemic caused significant volatility in the prices of base metals, which fell in the first half of the year due to reduced global economic activity, and recovered in the second half as a result of government stimuli, the recovery of the Chinese economy and advances in vaccine development.
The operations of Nexa Resources, one of the largest zinc producers in the world, were also impacted: in Peru, where approximately 70% of its zinc production is concentrated, mining operations were halted for two months due to a declaration of a national emergency. In Brazil, the impact was less severe, which allowed activities to continue at a normal pace, with the exception of the Juiz de Fora unit in Minas Gerais, which also had its production reduced for two months due to a drop in demand for metallic zinc. With the adoption of safety protocols and the gradual recovery of the economy, Nexa resumed its operations at full capacity in the second half of the year. The agility to adopt safety protocols in the midst of the crisis made the company the first in the mining sector in Peru to have government authorization to restart operations.
In this challenging environment, Nexa recorded net revenues of US$ 2 billion, a decrease of 16% compared to 2019, mainly due to lower volumes and prices. The adjusted EBITDA was US$ 403 million, an increase of 16% that is mainly explained by the reduction in operating costs and expenses. The company’s leverage, measured by the net debt/adjusted EBITDA ratio, was 2.29x at the end of the year, compared to 2.26x in 2019. During the year, a series of measures were taken to ensure liquidity, including debt rescheduling and the use of a revolving credit line, which was subsequently paid off with funds from the issuance of bonds in the amount of US$ 500 million.
The execution of the Aripuanã project also continued as a priority. The project’s schedule was reviewed as a result of the impact of restrictions imposed by the pandemic, greater volume of rain than forecasted and the delay of engineering studies. The facilities are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021, with commercial start-up in 2022. With a total investment of approximately US$ 547 million, Aripuanã is. Is forecasted to produce an average of 119,000 tons of zinc equivalent per year. It aims to have processes within its facilities become benchmarks in sustainability, with emphasis on: (i) the goal of reusing 100% of water; (ii) the construction of a dry tailings deposit (as an alternative to conventional dams); and (iii) a focus on co-creating a legacy for the local community. Aripuanã considers an effort to train and hire local labor and to ensure gender equity. It will also be a worldwide benchmark in the industry for the number of women who make up its workforce.
In a time of so many challenges, the Nexa Way (Jeito Nexa) came to the forefront. This is a project to transform the organizational culture that led the company to look at different ways of managing its operations. The program had a positive impact estimated at US$ 98 million in 2020 EBITDA, resulting from cost reduction initiatives and improvements in plant recovery that were implemented in 2019 and translated into performance gains. Part of the project, the Plurality Program (Programa Pluralidade) facilitated the creation of affinity groups and involved the entire company on diversity issues, including gender equity, race, ethnicity and age. In addition, it fostered discussions on the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ populations and People with Disabilities (PWD).
Other progress during the year was the readjustment of the Sustainability and Capital Projects Committee, whose name was changed to include strategic projects in progress, e.g., monitoring the progress of the Aripuanã project. Also on ESG, for the first time Nexa responded to the CDP questionnaire in the climate category, receiving a score of “C”. In addition, it conducted its first pilot project on emissions inventory following the GHG Protocol guidelines. In the scope of corporate governance, Jaime Ardilla was appointed chairman of the Board of Directors.
Nexa remains committed to innovation and works for the development of new technologies in the sectors in which it operates. In partnership with the Votorantim Institute and BP – A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo, the company held a special edition of the Mining Lab, which seeks innovative solutions in the areas of mining and metallurgy to benefit the company’s operations, named COVID-19 Challenge. It received a total of 132 projects and initiatives to help address the pandemic, with a focus on data intelligence for public management and the protection of hospital workers. Through initiatives like these, Nexa continues to work on the construction of a positive legacy for society, while seeking greater competitiveness.
