Platinum mining company Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) will be putting a fuel cell-powered locomotive into use in the next few months. Starting with surface tests and then eventually moving underground, the locomotive is being tried as an alternative to the much more expensive-to-operate diesel locomotives that cause problems with the mine’s air ventilation and exhaust systems.
The initial tests of the new train will be at Amplat’s Dishaba mine in Limpopo.
South Africa is in a unique position for today’s fuel cells as they are the source for 80% of the world’s platinum supply and most fuel cells in production today are using platinum as the catalyst. Although this is changing, with less costly options being found to replace platinum, the rare metal will likely remain in use for fuel cell technology for some time.
Given this, it would be obvious for South Africa to become a mecca of fuel cell development. The country, however, has not picked up the HFC ball until only recently.
With all of the research currently being done to reduce or replace the amount of platinum used in fuel cells, this may be too-little, too-late for the nation to capitalize on the possibilities.



January 29th, 2012
Aaron Turpen







