Every Friday, SAfm’s radio anchor Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly. Reported here is this Friday’s At the Coalface transcript:
Kamwendo: South Africa’s biggest platinum mining company this week came out in colossal support of the hydrogen economy.
Creamer: This is Anglo American Platinum. It brought out a climate change report for the first time and it is backing the hydrogen economy like you have never seen. Globally as well, and it has got advocacies all around the world, including in China, promoting the whole idea of the hydrogen economy. Climate change is now capturing so much attention, to the extent that that all of Anglo American Platinum’s capital allocation will be based on climate change considerations. Its own carbon emissions are being dramatically cut, including in the complex scope three emissions category, which is so hard to achieve.
Kamwendo: South Africa’s huge hydrogen truck this week passed with flying colours at the Mogalakwena mine in Limpopo.
Creamer: Yes, this innovative new hydrogen truck is a real workhorse. It is turning out to be a great invention. Can you believe a mining company in Limpopo has developed this 500 tonne truck, which is now going to be spread throughout the world, because of the way it protects Mother Earth while it is working? It doesn't put out any emissions, it is a huge zero-emission haulage truck, and it is doing massive job there. People are very happy with it.
Kamwendo: South Africa’s full energy independence is possible with the production of green electrons and green molecules.
Creamer: South Africa is blessed with superior sun, it has got prime wind, it has got all the ingredients for creating its own energy. Now, when we say green electrons, these are produced by the sun and the wind. When we say green molecules, that is the green hydrogen that you get as a result. So instead of going up to fill your car with what we call fuel that is not clean, we can convert to zero-emission green hydrogen. The big thing is we won't have to send money out of the country, as we do now, to import petrol and diesel. Instead, will achieve energy sovereignty and people have witnessed how such energy independence can be financially fantastic for South Africa and its people – and low-interest funds are available in huge abundance to make all this possible.
Kamwendo: Thanks very much. Martin Creamer is publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly.