Despite the current low-price cycle, the critical role that platinum group metals (PGMs) play in helping to form a foundation for cleaner greener world remains indisputable, Anglo American Platinum CEO Craig Miller highlighted at the company's presentation of solid half-year results on its journey towards divesting from the Anglo American group.

"Our market development efforts help ensure that our products have a sustainable and positive impact on the world. We're leveraging capabilities through these activities and capturing value from the adjacent value chains while diversifying sources of future PGM demand," added Miller, who expects Anglo Platinum to be a separate primarily Johannesburg-listed mining and marketing company by the end of next year. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

Some key marketing progress that was made in the first half of this year includes the development by Platinum Guild International of Inoveo platinum, a proprietary platinum jewellery alloy, with the help of AI and digital technology.

Potential demand for the alloy represented more than 300 000 oz/y of platinum, it was stated during the half-year results presentation covered by Mining Weekly.

Owing to Inoveo being extremely well received in the US, a global expansion is now planned, starting in India.

In fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), Anglo Platinum is advancing the implemention of green-hydrogen taxi mobility in Europe, in partnership with Hype, the official taxi provider to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Expansion into Hamburg is now also imminent.

FCEVs offer a substantial opportunity of six-million ounces of platinum a year, if one in ten cars is an FCEV.

In batteries, extensive testing has been conducted at the Battery Innovation Center in Indiana, in the US, on Lion Batteries technology.

Early results show a 20% increase in energy density, and a 40% reduction in the cost of lithium sulphur batteries.

The next step is to explore product development, and further commercialisation pathways.

The potential yearly demand from Lion Batteries is considerable for palladium and platinum if this technology is adopted at scale.

In demand diversification in the US, Europe and China, Anglo Platinum has established three research development projects that will use PGMs and has developed technology for data centers and microchip processes to increase the speed and reduce their energy consumption.

"In a world of big data and artificial intelligence, this represents a substantial demand source for PGMs.

"We envisage many future opportunities turning risks into additional potential demands for our metals by leveraging the characteristics of PGMs and in new applications.

STANDALONE COMPANY

Regarding the demerger from Anglo American, Miller spoke of having the tools but needing to thrive as a standalone company.

"As a start, we have a credible platform, a world-leading endowment, world-class mines and strength across the value chain from technical upstream know-how, through well invested processing infrastructure to our global marketing capabilities.

"We have a fantastic team that has helped build the capabilities essential for leading PGM business in sustainability, innovation and market development," said Miller, who expressed optimism about the long-term PGM price outlook.

Although in the near-term prices are benefiting from the changing dynamics in the drive chain transitions, applications in addition to fuel cell technology batteries that can build growth over the longer term, include medical and semiconductor technologies.

LIKE FAVOURITE CHILD LEAVING HOME

Especially in the light of the challenging commodity prices, Anglo Platinum chairperson Norman Mbazima acknowledged the efforts across the company to deliver the change necessary for Anglo Platinum to achieve its full potential.

"Real change is often very hard to achieve but the benefits of that change are starting to come through in our performance and we should see the benefits continuin...