Anglo Platinum invests $4m in fuel cells
4 March 2013
Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) is to
plough $4 million in to fuel cell technology as part of its
PGM Development Fund.
The world's largest primary platinum producer will invest the
money in Ballard Power Systems to support continued development of
the company's fuel cell products.
Amplats says its involvement in fuel cell market adoption
extends beyond the implications for platinum utilisation to the
potential transformational impact fuel cells could have on the
economy in South Africa.
Godfrey Oliphant, South Africa's deputy minister of mineral
resources, hailed the miner's commitment to beneficiation of
platinum in South Africa.
"Fuel cell-based product deployments will be a positive catalyst
for growth in global platinum demand," he said.
The two companies are already working on a prototype Home
Generator, which is intended to address the need of many households
in remote rural communities in South Africa for economical electric
power.
It will be built with Ballard fuel cells and run on readily
available methanol fuel, utilising an integrated fuel reformer.
This will also benefit Ballard's ElectraGen methanol-fuelled
systems, which provide power solutions to the telecommunications
industry.
"South Africa is the leading producer of platinum and
innovations such as the Home Generator project move our country in
a positive direction towards participating actively in the
application of Platinum Group Metals in new technologies which will
create important jobs for our economy," added Oliphant.
John Sheridan, president and chief executive officer of Ballard
Power Systems, believes the Home Generator power system could have
"profound impacts in South Africa and elsewhere".
He added: "This strategic investment from Anglo American
Platinum is a tremendous demonstration of Anglo's commitment to
fuel cells."
Andrew Hinkly, executive head - commercial for Amplats, says the
programme will enable the miner's beneficiation strategy in Africa
to create jobs in a key growth sector for the economy.
"Once Ballard has completed development of a prototype Home
Generator system meeting commercial product requirements, the
companies will undertake further field trials, potentially leading
to the manufacture, distribution and support of a commercial
product for the African market," he added.
Source:
Ballard Receives $4M Strategic Investment From South Africa's Anglo
American Platinum Limited (03/03/13)