Hydrogen could be platinum’s next big payoff

South Africa’s platinum industry is under pressure from weak prices, Eskom’s constraints and the rise of electric vehicles. But a new demand story is emerging. Hydrogen technologies — electrolysers and fuel cells — depend on platinum. Global projects are scaling quickly and could reshape demand by the end of the decade.

South Africa holds the world’s largest reserves and already has pilot projects from Sasol, Hive Hydrogen and others. The opportunity is to move beyond exporting ore and capture more of the value chain. That means linking our hydrogen strategy to platinum beneficiation, tying finance to local supply chains, and proving reliability to global buyers.

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BusinessLIVE — Hydrogen could be platinum’s next big payoff