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In a bid to reduce its environmental footprint and enhance the sustainability of its operations, Anglo American has developed the world’s largest hydrogen-powered mine haul truck.

A prototype of the truck was unveiled at Anglo American Platinum’s Mogalakwena PGM mine near Mokopane in May last year.

The truck is designed to operate in everyday mining conditions at the Mogalakwena mine, reputedly the largest open-pit platinum mine in the world. Anglo American plans to retrofit 40 diesel haul trucks at Mogalakwena over the next several years to enable them to run on hydrogen and is ultimately hoping to roll the technology out across its global fleet of around 400 trucks.

The 2 MW hydrogen-battery hybrid truck, generating more power than its diesel predecessor and capable of carrying a 290 t payload, is part of Anglo American’s nuGen Zero Emission Haulage Solution (ZEHS). nuGen provides a fully integrated green hydrogen system, with green hydrogen to be produced at the mine site.

nuGen is part of FutureSmart Mining, Anglo American’s innovation-led approach to sustainable mining – which brings together technology and digitalisation to drive sustainability outcomes.

Learn more: Mining Review Africa