The launch of South Africa’s first-ever hydrogen-powered truck is a “giant step” in the right direction for the country’s budding green hydrogen economy, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said.
Speaking during the launch of mining giant Anglo American’s clean energy-powered 290 tonne payload mine haul truck at Mogalakwena mine in Limpopo province, Ramaphosa said the vehicle was converted from diesel to hydrogen and also is powered in part by lithium-ion batteries.
“What we are launching here is not merely an impressive piece of machinery. It is the genesis of an entire ecosystem powered by hydrogen,” Ramaphosa said.
He noted that “developing the hydrogen economy is a strategic priority for our country.”
“Not only will it be a valuable driver of economic growth and employment, but it will also contribute to our de-carbonisation efforts.”
He said this could be catalytic for the country, with plans already afoot to capitalise on this potential in Limpopo, Gauteng and KwaZulu provinces.
The green hydrogen economy has been billed as a new frontier for clean energy as it produces low carbon emissions, with a global potential of about US$300 billion in exports, he said.
South Africa holds nearly 80% of the world’s platinum group metals (PGMs) and 40% of the world’s platinum and palladium supplies – key components in the production of hydrogen, he added.
Anglo American chief executive Duncan Wanblad said this is the company’s first step into replacing its fleet with zero-emission trucks.
“Over the next several years, we envisage converting or replacing our current fleet of diesel-powered trucks with this zero-emission haulage system, fueled with green hydrogen,” Wanblad said.
He revealed that if the pilot is successful, the company “could remove up to 80% of diesel emissions at our open-pit mines by rolling this technology across our global fleet.”
NM/jn/APA