AngloPlat JV targets African fuel cell market

AngloPlatinum said it is targiron ore beneficiation plant yield calculationeting the development of a potentially significant sector of platinum demand with the creation of a new fuel cell joint venture, Clean Energy Investments. The affiliate, created in July by AngloPlat, U.S. fuel cell specialist Altergy Systems and the South African Department for Science and Technology, is aimed at developing new applications of the cells, from mobile phone batteries to back-up generators.

It will focus specifically on the sub-Saharan African market, which has run into significant power issues in recent years as demand grows faster than generating capacity. "It is potentially a very large platinum demand segment," said Anthea Bath, AngloPlat's head of market development and research. "We don't see it as a short-term demand growth driver, but over the long term it will have a role to play." "Long term, it is an important part of our business," she said, without providing financial details.