The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) states that green hydrogen has the potential to play a significant role in decarbonising the global economy and that platinum has a significant role to play in that economy.
According to the WPIC, capacity targets for the generation of green hydrogen in the European Union and China alone will cumulatively require between 300 000 oz and 600 000 oz of additional platinum by 2030.
The hydrogen fuel cell and green technology sectors, specifically, are expected to significantly drive platinum demand, and with South Africa holding about 91% of the world’s platinum group metals (PGMs) reserves, the country stands to benefit from the rapidly growing global hydrogen economy.
South Africa, with its world-leading solar and wind resources, and vast PGMs resources used in the electrolysers needed to produce green hydrogen, has the competitive advantage to produce and export green hydrogen.
It must, however, move swiftly to exploit this advantage, which could be worth $2.50-trillion by 2050.
Creamer Media’s ‘Platinum 2021/22: A market set for a deficit rather than a surplus’ report provides an overview of the platinum market in this context. Globally, the focus of the report is on supply and demand and the creation of a green economy revolving around green hydrogen; while in South Africa, the report’s focus shifts to platinum production, South Africa's role in green hydrogen production, the regulatory environment, electricity and labour relations challenges, and the main participants in the sector.
This report is a summary of information published on Engineering News and Mining Weekly websites over the past 12 months, as well as information available in the public domain, and does not purport to provide an analysis of market trends.
Published on 19 January 2022.