South Africa launches world's largest hydrogen truck

Anglo American on May 8 unveiled a 220-ton hydrogen-powered truck at a platinum mine in northern South Africa.

Billed as a replacement for Anglo American's diesel vehicles, the massive truck, about the size of a small house, uses a 2 MW hydrogen fuel cell and is capable of transporting up to 290 tons of ore. It is currently on display at the Mogalakwena mine, about 250 kilometers from South Africa's largest city Johannesburg.

The world's largest hydrogen truck from Anglo American company.

"What we are bringing to market is not merely an impressive piece of equipment, but the beginning of an entire ecosystem of green hydrogen energy," said Anglo American President Cyril Ramaphosa. "This is a huge leap forward for South Africa's future economy. Truly a historic moment! It gives us a clear vision of what the future will look like."

The London, UK-based multinational miner has said it wants to reach its goal of being carbon neutral by 2040.

Anglo America will use solar energy to split water into its component atoms of hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen, when burned, only releases water vapour, not CO2 that warms the Earth like fossil fuels do.

Over the next few years, Anglo America will convert or completely replace its current fleet of diesel trucks with a green hydrogen-based zero-emission transportation system, said CEO Duncan Wanblad.

"If this pilot is successful, we could eliminate up to 80% of diesel emissions at open-pit mines by applying hydrogen technology across all of Anglo America's fleet of trucks," Wanblad added. .

Last November, wealthy nations including France, Germany, the UK and the US pledged technical assistance and grants of at least $8.5 billion to help South Africa transition to a low-carbon economy.