Source: SAnews
FEATURE
World's first hydrogen
truck a "giant leap" for SA
P
resident Cyril Ramaphosa says the
batteries. It is a world first. “What we are launching
proof of the potential of
components in the produc-
this sector. It takes us from
tion of hydrogen.
here today is not merely
conceptualisation to real-
powered truck is a “giant
an impressive piece of
ity,” he said.
step” in the right direction for
machinery. It is the genesis
South Africa’s budding green
of an entire ecosystem,
economy has been billed
already afoot to capitalise
hydrogen economy.
powered by hydrogen.
as a new frontier for clean
on this potential.
launch of a hydrogen-
The President was speak-
“Developing the hydro-
President Ramaphosa said this could be catalytic
The green hydrogen
for the country with plans
energy as it emits low
“The proposed hydro-
ing at the launch of mining
gen economy is a strategic
carbon emissions with a
gen valley, stretching
giant Anglo American’s
priority for our country. Not
global potential of about
from Limpopo to Gauteng
clean energy powered 290
only will it be a valuable
$300 billion in exports.
to KwaZulu-Natal, will
tonne payload mine haul
driver of economic growth
truck in Limpopo.
and employment; it will
proximately 80% of the
a global centre for green
also contribute to our de-
world’s platinum group
hydrogen production.
converted from diesel to
carbonisation efforts.
metals (PGMs) and 40% of
hydrogen – is also pow-
“The nuGen project
the world’s platinum and
tion of new industries, aid
provides demonstrable
palladium supplies – key
the decarbonisation of
The truck – which was
ered in part by lithium-ion
South Africa holds ap-
position South Africa as
“It will lead to the crea-
sectors like transportation, manufacturing and construction, and create new jobs for our people in all these provinces,” he said. The President added that the green hydrogen economy is also part of the country’s critical Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan borne out of the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The National Hydro-
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Public Sector Manager • May 2022
