Implats invests in fuel cells to power refinery
Implats has already introduced fuel-cell forklifts at the refinery precint.
Photo by Duane Daws
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Platinum group metals producer Impala Platinum (Implats) has, through the installation of an 8 MW Doosan fuel cell plant, moved one step closer to taking its refinery, near Johannesburg, off-grid.
The first phase of the project comprises 20 Doosan fuel cells, which use combined heat and power to capture energy. It will be operational by mid-year, with the long-term goal to generate between 22 MW and 30 MW of power.
“Doosan is excited to be a part of the clean energy evolution in South Africa with its PureCell Model 400 combined heat and power solution,” said Doosan international sales VP Eric Strayer.
He added that deploying fuel cells is a decentralised power generation, clean energy solution.
Implats fuel cell coordinator Fahmida Smith highlighted that the development was an “exciting” step in Implats’ move towards a carbon-neutral fuel source for its refinery.
This initiative is also a stepping stone in Implats’ strategic objective to fast-track local manufacturing of fuel cells and its componentry within a proposed 16 ha tributary of the special economic zone in the Springs region.
The project is being carried out in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone and supported by the Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality, and the aim is to facilitate platinum beneficiation within South Africa.
“The Impala Roadmap represents critical steps in support of the fuel cell industry, specifically for development of manufacturing capacity in South Africa, where the predominant supply of the critical platinum componentry is mined.
“The opportunities identified through local manufacturing are entrenched in the roadmap through extensive collaboration between industry, government and academia in South Africa,” added Smith.
Over the long term, Implats will maintain a strong emphasis on the deployment of fuel cell technology and energy efficiency projects. The company has invested over R100-million in energy conservation programmes and will continue to work with Eskom.
Implats has already introduced fuel cell forklifts at the refinery precinct.
The miner is currently also in talks with Springs Light Gas to supply natural gas to the facility.
Comments
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation