Hatch breaking ground with Anglo American Platinum for the Polokwane Smelter SO2 Abatement Project
Polokwane, South Africa — On August 16 in Polokwane, South Africa, Anglo American Platinum (“Amplats”) marked another milestone on its journey to world-class standards of compliance with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Polokwane smelter for the first phase of the R2.5-billion SO2 abatement project. Hatch has been selected by Amplats to provide the engineering, project, and construction management (EPCM) services for the Polokwane project.
The SO2 Abatement Plant at the Polokwane smelter will remove SO2 from the furnace off-gas to comply with future air emission standards. Amplats selected a novel solution that will see Wet Gas Sulphuric Acid technology used for the first time in a platinum group metals electric arc furnace to capture SO2 gas.
“The successful implementation of an abatement solution at the Polokwane smelter will clearly demonstrate that the emission standards for SO2 set by the South African Department of Environmental Affair’s Air Quality Act of 2004 are attainable in large-scale industrial applications – setting a benchmark for the mining industry and beyond,” said Amplats CEO Chris Griffith.
Dignitaries from government departments, senior management from Amplats and Hatch, and the traditional leadership donned hard hats to attend the sod-turning ceremony. Speakers included Dr. Tsakani Ngomane, deputy director general of the Department of Environmental Affairs, Limpopo Premier Stanley Chupu Mathabatha and Amplats CEO Chris Griffith.
Welekazi Cele, Hatch’s regional director, iron ore, attended the ceremony to help mark this milestone. She said, “We are very pleased to be here today and support Anglo American Platinum on their journey to more sustainable operations. The SO2 abatement project helps Amplats achieve an important environmental standard and aligns with our vision of creating a better world through positive change.”
For more information, please contact:
Glenn Sakaki
Global Director, Marketing & Communication
Tel: +1 905 403 4241
Email: media@hatch.com
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