After multiple years of study, design, development, and integration work in Seattle, London, and South Africa by the First Mode team in partnership with global mining giant Anglo American, the 2MW hydrogen fuel cell and battery powerplant built to power the world’s largest zero-emission vehicle will be launched officially at Anglo American’s Mogalakwena mine site in South Africa on May 6, 2022.

Article excerpt:

The final achievement of first public movement of the truck, a converted 291 t class Komatsu 930E, will be a huge moment for Anglo’s low carbon transition and Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction plans as it works towards its stated interim target of 30% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, including eight sites carbon neutral by that date. …

A lot is riding on nuGen™ – Anglo American’s Tony O’Neill, Technical Director, has stated that while the total-cost-to-operate will be comparable to diesel the system will achieve direct parity by 2030 adding that the FCEV trucks will allow for 50- 70% reduction in emissions (Scope 1 and 2 for open-pit mines). Anglo said in 2019 that it has seven sites in planning for rollout completion by 2030, including the Los Bronces and El Soldado copper mines in Chile. At Mogalakwena, a full 40 truck rollout was planned to start in 2024. Hydrogen-powered trucks are also on the cards for its Kumba Iron Ore operations in South Africa, which include both the Sishen and Kolomela mines. … nuGen™ remains a world-first innovation with its size and scale – designed to operate fully laden with a payload of 291 t in real mine conditions. The launch, both locally attended as well as virtual, will include a working demonstration of the nuGen™ truck and a guided tour of the on-site hydrogen production, storage and refuelling complex.

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