Platinum fuel cells to drive underground mine vehicles

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – From the lessons learnt at the forklift project at the Impala Platinum (Implats) base metals refinery in Springs, the roll-out of fuel cell-driven load haul dumpers at the 14 Shaft at Rustenburg Platinum mine is now envisaged.

Implats fuel cell coordinator Fahmida Smith, who addressed last week’s Junior Indaba, says detailed design has also been completed for a 1.2 MW stationary hydrogen-fed fuel cell system and an 8 MW natural gas system to demonstrate the different fuels that can be used.

The fast-tracking of a local special economic zone for the production of fuel cells in the Springs area is also on the cards.

The first prototype fuel cell forklift and hydrogen refuelling station have been operating in the nickel dispatch area of Implats' base metals refinery, in Springs, since October.

It contains a novel metal hydride material that allows the operation of the fuel cell and refuelling system at a pressure of 180 bar rather than the 350 bar required for the international system, creating huge opportunities and improvements in safety and cost.

The cost of the refuelling station from prototype was R2-million, a fraction of the €500 000 cost of an off-the-shelf 350 bar European system.

From the lessons learnt through the project at Springs as well as all of the skills developed, the plan is to roll this out for underground load haul dumpers at the 14 Shaft at Rustenburg Platinum mine.

Extrapolation of the commitment made by South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry amounts to 160 000 oz/y of new platinum demand going forward for stationary applications and a further 16 000 oz/y of new platinum demand for underground utility vehicles.

“We believe as an organisation that in the medium term we will see platinum demand from stationary plant and specialised utility vehicles, but the long term demand for fuel cells will be through electric hybrid vehicles,” Smith told the Junior Indaba.

South Africa’s hosting of 75% of the world’s platinum-group metals reserves also ties in with the revised Mining Charter, which promotes local beneficiation as a means of leveraging socioeconomic development.