New tech boost for platinum

Enviromine

Publishing Date: 05 Nov 2009 10:49am GMT
Author: Mining Environmental Management

Sustainability

New fuel cell technology might not only be a welcome boost for the platinum-mining industry but also provide a new clean power source in South Africa to alleviate the struggling national coal utility.

Anglo Platinum Ltd is one company that is investing in the new technology, and has launched a new fuel cell demonstration plant in South Africa’s Limpopo province.

“Fuel cells are a unique opportunity for Africa,” Anthea Bath, head of market development and research told newswires.
Fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen from a number of fuel sources to create energy, and could be used to replace coal-generated electricity across Africa.

Fuel cell technology has been developed for the automotive industry but has yet to take-off commercially.

Crucially for Angloplat and other platinum producers, fuel cells require more platinum that the current catalytic converters that they will replace.

In the meantime, Angloplat hopes its demonstration plant, which aims to produce 200kW of electricity from coal-bed methane, will demonstrate the viability of the technology to provide vital energy for Africa.