The hydrogen powered mine haul truck is a key part of the proof of concept of our nuGenTM project - an end-to-end integrated green hydrogen production, fuelling and haulage system for mine sites.
The proof of concept for this project, a 290-tonne capacity hydrogen-powered mine haul truck and a hydrogen production, storage and refuelling complex, will shortly be up-and-running at our Mogalakwena platinum mine in South Africa, an important milestone in our efforts to decarbonise our mining operations with renewable energy ecosystems.
In pursuit of carbon neutrality across our operations (our Scope 1 and 2 emissions) by 2040, we are exploring multiple avenues with decarbonisation potential – aligning our portfolio with the needs of a low carbon world, pushing for decarbonisation across our value chains and restructuring our operations.
Our large trucks currently account for 80% of diesel consumption on-site and it was clear that, in order to meet our ambitious carbon neutrality target, we would have to find a zero-emission solution – the nuGenTM project.
This project is ambitious and marks the first time that a truck of this size, weighing in at 220 tonnes unladen, and load capacity of 290 tonnes has been converted to run on green hydrogen, produced on-site using renewable power. Click here to hear more.
Alongside re-equipping the truck with a hydrogen system, the hydrogen production, storage and refuelling complex incorporates the largest electrolyser in Africa and a solar photovoltaic (PV) field. providing renewable power, creating our Zero Emission Haulage Solution.
By rolling out this technology across our global haul truck fleet, we will be taking the equivalent of half a million diesel cars off the road.
Julian Soles, Head of Technology Development, Anglo American said: “Increasingly, our stakeholders expect the highest of environmental, social and governance standards from us – whether that be our communities, or the customers and consumers who buy the products that our metals and minerals make possible.
“When we look at hydrogen specifically, there are significant opportunities, particularly in bringing the costs of electrolysis down to produce ‘green’ hydrogen. Achieving this will require large-scale, multi-sector partnerships across the world to invest more significantly in research and development.
“We hope that, by demonstrating the success of this technology, we can further inspire and encourage our stakeholders, and other industry players, to support the development of the broader ecosystem needed to scale up the hydrogen economy in South Africa, and beyond.”
This project demonstrates what is possible when the right partners work together, with Anglo American collaborating with various companies on the proof of concept – including ENGIE, NPROXX, First Mode, Williams Advanced Engineering, Ballard, ABB, Nel and Plug Power.
The PGMs we mine in Limpopo play a crucial enabling role in hydrogen technologies, as an essential catalyst in both the production and use of hydrogen. The truck is also part of the project aimed at developing a Hydrogen Valley’ in South Africa, a concept that will help advance and drive the commercial viability of emerging green technologies and their ability to reduce emissions.
