Several countries have pledged $8.5 billion in assistance and technology to help South Africa become a low-carbon economy.
Mining giant Anglo American has unveiled the world’s largest hydrogen-powered truck, a 220-ton monster, at a platinum mine in northern South Africa.
Billed as the first in a fleet that will replace the company’s diesel trucks, the vehicle uses a 2 megawatt hydrogen fuel cell to transport up to 290 tons of ore.
“What we are launching is not merely an impressive piece of machinery, it is the source of an entire ecosystem powered by hydrogen,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the launch today. Friday.
About the size of a small house, the enormous wealth is on display at the Mogalakwena mine, about 250 kilometers (150 miles) from Johannesburg.
“This is a huge leap forward for South Africa’s hydrogen future economy,” said Ramaphosa.
“This is truly a historic moment. It gives us a clear vision of what the future will look like.”
Anglo American says it aims to be carbon neutral by 2040.
It will use solar energy for fuel, using the energy to split water into the component atoms of hydrogen and oxygen.
When hydrogen is burned, only water vapor is released, not the heat-trapping carbon dioxide as in the case of fossil fuels.
“Over the next few years, we expect to convert or replace our current fleet of diesel-powered trucks with this zero-emissions transportation system, which is designed to be a zero-emissions delivery system,” said Chief Executive Officer Duncan Wanblad. fueling with green hydrogen.
“If this pilot is successful, we could eliminate up to 80% of diesel emissions at open pit mines by deploying this technology across our global fleet.”
Last November, wealthy nations, including France, Germany, the UK and the US, pledged technical assistance and at least $8.5 billion to help South Africa transition to a low-carbon economy.
