Glencore Rotten Score Breakdown

Glencore's Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia has faced long-running scrutiny over alleged environmental damage and impacts on Indigenous and local communities, particularly the Wayuu people. In 2021, a coalition led by the Global Legal Action Network filed complaints under the OECD Guidelines against Glencore, BHP and Anglo American, then co-owners of Cerrejón. The complaints alleged that the mine had caused adverse human-rights and environmental impacts, failed to conduct adequate due diligence and failed to disclose material information concerning those impacts. Australian National Contact Point – official final statement: AusNCP Cerrejón complaint and findings The controversy includes displacement and resettlement of communities, access to water, pollution and the effects of mining operations on Indigenous territories. Cerrejón has previously entered agreements intended to address community impacts, including disputes involving the village of Tabaco. Glencore became 100% owner of Cerrejón in January 2022, after acquiring the interests previously held by BHP and Anglo American. Company position: Glencore and Cerrejón have disputed many allegations concerning the mine and emphasize environmental monitoring, community programs, resettlement agreements and human-rights policies. The OECD complaints themselves should therefore not be represented as court findings that every allegation was proven. Key facts: Cerrejón is one of the world's major open-pit coal mines; Indigenous and local communities have raised human-rights and environmental concerns for years; formal OECD complaints were filed concerning the mine; and Glencore has been its sole owner since 2022.

Glencore Canada Corporation was convicted of a workplace-safety offence after a worker suffered critical injuries in a fall during mining operations at the company's Nickel Rim South Mine near Sudbury, Ontario. On October 20, 2023, a worker was operating a remote-controlled scoop underground when a large rock prevented the vehicle from moving forward. According to Ontario's Ministry of Labour, the worker left the scoop and subsequently fell approximately 4.2 metres, suffering critical injuries. The Ontario government determined that Glencore Canada had failed, as an employer, to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker, contrary to Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act. Ontario Ministry of Labour – Glencore workplace conviction: https://news.ontario.ca/en/court/1006994/workplace-injuries-result-in-120000-fine-for-toronto-based-company Glencore Canada pleaded guilty. On December 8, 2025, the Sudbury Provincial Offences Court imposed a C$120,000 fine, plus the mandatory 25% victim fine surcharge. This is therefore not an unresolved worker allegation: Glencore admitted the workplace-safety offence and was convicted by the court. Key facts: Worker suffered critical injuries; incident occurred at Glencore's Nickel Rim South mining operation; Glencore failed to take every reasonable precaution required to protect the worker; company pleaded guilty; and the court imposed a C$120,000 fine.

Glencore Ltd. pleaded guilty in May 2022 to conspiracy to manipulate commodity prices after admitting that employees deliberately manipulated benchmark fuel-oil prices used in physical and derivatives markets. Between approximately 2011 and 2019, Glencore traders submitted bids and offers during daily S&P Global Platts pricing windows with the intention of artificially pushing benchmark prices up or down at the ports of Los Angeles and Houston. The DOJ said the trades were made not for legitimate economic reasons but to benefit Glencore's physical fuel-oil contracts and derivatives positions. U.S. Department of Justice – Glencore guilty plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/glencore-entered-guilty-pleas-foreign-bribery-and-market-manipulation-conspiracies For example, when Glencore was buying fuel oil, employees could submit offers designed to push the benchmark downward, reducing the price Glencore paid. Prosecutors said the manipulation created prices that did not reflect legitimate supply and demand. Glencore agreed to a $341.2 million criminal fine and $144.4 million in forfeiture in the criminal market-manipulation case. It also agreed to retain an independent compliance monitor for three years. Separately, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission found manipulative and fraudulent conduct involving Glencore and imposed a broader $1.186 billion resolution, including penalties and disgorgement covering manipulation and corruption. The CFTC said Glencore engaged in benchmark manipulation or attempted manipulation on hundreds of days. CFTC – Glencore manipulation enforcement: https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8534-22 Company response: Glencore acknowledged the historical misconduct, entered the guilty plea and said it had strengthened its compliance program, controls and corporate culture. Glencore statement: https://www.glencore.com/media-and-insights/news/glencore-reaches-coordinated-resolutions-with-us-uk-and-brazilian-authorities Key facts: Criminal guilty plea; manipulation from approximately 2011–2019; benchmarks covering major U.S. fuel-oil markets; conduct intended to increase Glencore's profits or reduce costs; and approximately $485.6 million in criminal fine and forfeiture associated with the DOJ market-manipulation resolution.

In May 2022, Glencore International AG pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act after admitting involvement in a decade-long bribery scheme used to obtain and retain business in multiple countries. U.S. prosecutors said that between 2007 and 2018, Glencore and its subsidiaries caused approximately $79.6 million in payments to intermediaries, intending that those funds be used to bribe foreign officials. The conduct involved countries including Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil, Venezuela and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prosecutors said bribes were used to secure oil contracts, obtain preferential treatment, avoid government audits and resolve disputes. U.S. Department of Justice – Glencore guilty plea: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/glencore-entered-guilty-pleas-foreign-bribery-and-market-manipulation-schemes The DOJ described the misconduct as pervasive, spanning more than a decade and involving high-level Glencore employees and agents. Glencore agreed to approximately $700 million in criminal penalties and forfeiture for the bribery case and accepted a three-year independent compliance monitor. In the UK, Glencore Energy UK Limited separately pleaded guilty to five counts of bribery and two counts of failing to prevent bribery. The Serious Fraud Office said more than $25 million in bribes had been paid for preferential access to oil. The company was ordered to pay approximately £280 million in penalties, confiscation and costs. UK Serious Fraud Office – Glencore case: https://www.gov.uk/sfo-cases/glencore-group-of-companies Glencore acknowledged the historical misconduct and subsequently said it had strengthened its ethics and compliance program, refreshed management and invested substantially in remediation. Glencore – company statement: https://www.glencore.com/media-and-insights/news/glencore-reaches-coordinated-resolutions-with-us-uk-and-brazilian-authorities Key facts: Glencore pleaded guilty; the scheme operated from 2007–2018 across multiple countries; senior employees and agents were involved; coordinated resolutions were reached with U.S., UK and Brazilian authorities; and substantial financial penalties and independent compliance monitoring followed.

Glencore Canada Corporation was convicted under Ontario's Environmental Protection Act after failing to immediately report a major sulphuric acid spill at its Sudbury operations. On May 9, 2018, workers were transferring 98% sulphuric acid from a rail car into a truck at Glencore's Falconbridge smelter when approximately 25,000 pounds — roughly 12,000 litres — of sulphuric acid spilled. Three workers were injured, one critically. Ontario's Ministry of the Environment found that Glencore did not notify the ministry until approximately 11 hours after the incident, despite being legally required to report the spill immediately. Ontario Government – environmental conviction: https://news.ontario.ca/en/court/54160/mining-company-fined-105000-for-failing-to-report-a-spill On September 13, 2019, Glencore Canada was convicted of violating Ontario's Environmental Protection Act and fined C$105,000, plus a C$26,250 victim fine surcharge. There was also a separate workplace-safety prosecution arising from the same incident. Glencore pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the rail car had been depressurized before the transfer line was disconnected and was fined another C$110,000 in March 2020. Key facts: Approximately 12,000 litres of concentrated sulphuric acid spilled; three workers were injured; Glencore waited about 11 hours before notifying environmental authorities; and the company was convicted and fined for failing to report the spill immediately.