Anglo American Platinum, BMW Group South Africa and Sasol take next step in collaboration with pilot fleet of BMW iX5 Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

Midrand, Johannesburg. Anglo American Platinum, BMW Group South Africa and Sasol together launched the first trial of a pilot fleet of BMW iX5 Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in South Africa. 

On the signing of the collaboration agreement in October 2023 at the South African Green Hydrogen Summit, the companies agreed to a cross-industry alliance to drive forward the green hydrogen economy by actively demonstrating value chains and projects, moving from industrial policy to real world applications. The green hydrogen economy is rapidly rising to the forefront of global sustainability and energy security initiatives.

The public road vehicle trial was announced on the sidelines of the Hydrogen Council’s Regional Meeting held for the first time in Africa, in Sandton, Johannesburg on 12 and 13 February 2024. In terms of the collaboration, the companies each provide a unique part of the value chain to demonstrate their capabilities in this rapidly emerging new economy.

With the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, the BMW Group has introduced the world’s most powerful passenger hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). The small series fleet is being used around the world to gain valuable insights into the operation of hydrogen FCEVs and customer experience.

Peter van Binsbergen, CEO of BMW Group South Africa, said at the Hydrogen Council’s Regional Meeting and at the launch of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet in South Africa that “collaboration across industries would be key to unlocking the huge potential of green hydrogen as a critical technology in the decarbonisation challenge.”

Van Binsbergen continued: “This is why we have partnered with Anglo American Platinum and Sasol to bring the BMW iX5 Hydrogen fleet to South Africa. We see Hydrogen as the ‘missing piece’ of the energy transition puzzle and, in the transport sector, it has the potential to become another pillar in the BMW Group’s drivetrain portfolio for local CO2-free mobility, alongside our established battery-electric mobility option.”

Dr. Juergen Guldner, BMW Group General Program Manager Hydrogen, said: After four years of development, the pilot fleet of BMW iX5 Hydrogen started its world tour in Antwerp, Belgium in 2023. Since then, we have showcased and tested these prototypes all over the world and see hydrogen cars as a good complement to our successful battery electric vehicles, not a competition between the two technologies. Since hydrogen cars combine the advantages of electric driving with the possibility to refuel quickly, they would be ideal for customers who travel a lot or who do not have electric charging at home or at work.”

Prakashim Moodliar, Head of Projects at Anglo American Platinum said: “As Anglo American Platinum, we believe partnerships are key to creating a local, sustainable hydrogen economy. Our Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) will play a strategic role in enabling a new industrial sector in the country and globally. In 2023 we announced our partnership with BMW Group South Africa and Sasol to bring green mobility to SA. This week’s engagements represent a clear  and continued demonstration of a green mobility ecosystem in action, which showcases the most powerful passenger fuel cell electric vehicle. The future is hydrogen.”

Dries Swanepoel, Principal Specialist Market Development at Sasol’s Low Carbon Energy Solutions business said: “Sasol is very excited about our partnership with Anglo American Platinum and BMW Group South Africa to develop a local green economy. BMW’s iX5 Hydrogen fuelled with Sasol’s hydrogen dispensed using Air Products technology is a powerful expression of thought leadership and innovation in action. Together, we are making strides towards introducing the concept of hydrogen mobility in South Africa and building the ecosystem of partners needed to do this. The central tenet to these strategic partnerships, proof-of-concept demonstrations and pilot projects is collaboration. Our joint effort is strong testament to what can be accomplished when diverse sectors come together to address one of the world's most pressing challenges.

For further information, please contact:

BMW Group South Africa

Hailey Philander

Hailey.Philander@bmw.co.za

Tel: +27 (0)71 666 2070

Anglo-American Platinum (Media)

Nomonde Ndwalaza

nomonde.ndwalaza@angloamerican.com

Tel: +27 (0)66 311 1133

Anglo American Platinum (Investors)

Theto Maake

PlatinumIR@angloamerican.com

Tel: +27 (083) 489 5215

Sasol

Matebello Motloung

Matebello.Motloung@sasol.com

Tel: +27 (0)82 773 9457

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

www.bmwgroup.com

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About Anglo-American Platinum

Anglo American Platinum Limited is a member of the Anglo American plc Group and is a leading primary producer of platinum group metals. The company is listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE). Its mining, smelting, and refining operations are based in South Africa. Elsewhere in the world, the Group owns Unki Platinum Mine and smelter in Zimbabwe. Anglo American Platinum is committed to the highest standards of safety and continues to make a meaningful and sustainable difference in the development of the communities around its operations.

www.angloamericanplatinum.com

Anglo American is a leading global mining company and our products are the essential ingredients in almost every aspect of modern life. Our portfolio of world-class competitive operations, with a broad range of future development options, provides many of the future-enabling metals and minerals for a cleaner, greener, more sustainable world and that meet the fast growing every day demands of billions of consumers. With our people at the heart of our business, we use innovative practices and the latest technologies to discover new resources and to mine, process, move and market our products to our customers – safely and sustainably.

As a responsible producer of copper, nickel, platinum group metals, diamonds (through De Beers), and premium quality iron ore and steelmaking coal – with crop nutrients in development – we are committed to being carbon neutral across our operations by 2040. More broadly, our Sustainable Mining Plan commits us to a series of stretching goals to ensure we work towards a healthy environment, creating thriving communities and building trust as a corporate leader. We work together with our business partners and diverse stakeholders to unlock enduring value from precious natural resources for the benefit of the communities and countries in which we operate, for society as a whole, and for our shareholders. Anglo American is re-imagining mining to improve people’s lives.

www.angloamerican.com

About Sasol

Sasol is a global chemicals and energy company. We harness our knowledge and expertise to integrate sophisticated technologies and processes into world-scale operating facilities. We strive to safely and sustainably source, produce and market a range of high-quality products in 22 countries, preserving and creating value for stakeholders.