Wednesday, 25th May 2005 (3233 views)

South Africa could become one of the leading manufacturers of catalytic fuel cells in the world, according to its minerals and energy deputy minister Lulu Xingwana.

The country holds the highest level of world reserves of gold, with developments in fuel cell technologies offering huge potential opportunities, according to Mining Weekly.

However Ms Xingwana highlighted the need for value to be added to South African resources.

She told delegates at the Department of Science and Technology's South African Hydrogen Economy and Fuel Cells Indaba: "Africa's mining has a future and one way of sustaining and ensuring that future is diversification through value addition."

Although the social and economic benefits of fuel cells are set to develop in several years' time, Ms Xingwana argued that it is important for South Africa to act on these opportunities.

Gold is one of the metals that can be used in fuel cell technology and Ms Xingwana argued it made sense to produce products closer to the raw material source.

 

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