Powering Africa’s Green Mining Future with Hydrogen
Africa Mining Insight, August 14, 2025
The mining industry sits at a pivotal junction in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions. While it supplies the critical minerals needed for clean technologies like wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries, mining itself contributes 4–7% of global emissions. Fortunately a transformation is underway, led by trailblazing hydrogen innovations that are reshaping mining operations for a sustainable future.
One of the most promising paths toward decarbonization is hydrogen energy, which is rapidly gaining traction in mining. Hydrogen provides a versatile, scalable clean energy option for emission-intensive processes like electricity generation, long-duration storage, and perhaps most notably, heavy-duty vehicle fueling. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) have a clear advantage over traditional battery-powered systems in the remote environments where mines operate; offering faster fueling times and longer range. Even so, for hydrogen to be viable, it must be safely compressed, stored, and delivered at very high pressures.
Enter PDC Machines, a global leader in diaphragm compression technology and a key player in enabling the global hydrogen transition. PDC’s equipment is industry renowned for its reliability and robust performance, and the preferred choice for ultra-high purity gas applications requiring contamination-free and leak-tight compression. PDC compressors are used in hydrogen fueling stations and industrial gas applications worldwide. In the mining world, their technology was at the heart of Anglo American and ENGIE’s revolutionary nuGen™ project, which debuted the world’s first hydrogen-powered mining haul truck at the Mogalakwena mine in South Africa.
PDC’s compressors installed at Mogalakwena, South Africa (left); Anglo hydrogen-powered mine truck
This groundbreaking haul truck runs entirely on hydrogen fuel cells and battery power, displacing diesel and implementing a cleaner, renewable system powered by onsite solar energy and South Africa’s largest electrolyzer. PDC’s compressors store and deliver the hydrogen needed to fuel the trucks. In the end, the Mogalakwena mine saw an 80% reduction in vehicle emissions, highlighting the culmination of a bold vision and a real-world success story for decarbonization in the mining industry.
Beyond large-scale projects, PDC is also solving the challenges of off-grid and decentralized operations. Their compact, all-in-one fueler, SimpleFuel,allow mines in remote areas to produce, compress, and dispense hydrogen on site. These systems break through the classic “chicken-and-egg” barrier of hydrogen mobility by enabling vehicle deployment without the need for major refueling infrastructure. Each SimpleFuel unit provides up to 20 kg of hydrogen/day, enough to support a small fleet of light-duty vehicles or larger vehicles and machine’s with limited capacity needs. With an eye to the future, next generation units with higher capacity are already in the pipeline for PDC.
The PDC SimpleFuel refueling a fuel cell electric passenger car (on the left), configured within a hydrogen fueling site (middle) and deployed in an industrial materials handling application (right)
Outside of hydrogen, mining also relies on a range of industrial gases that are critical to safe and efficient operations. These gases, which are used for everything from mineral processing to air quality control and fire suppression, often require high-quality compression systems to be handled safely. With decades of experience in high-purity industrial gas applications, PDC provides the reliable equipment needed to support mining’s performance and environmental goals across both upstream and downstream activities.
PDC’s commitment to Africa goes beyond equipment supply. The company is actively training local technicians and planning to begin equipment assembly in South Africa, thereby contributing to localization efforts and laying the groundwork for a homegrown hydrogen economy.
According to McKinsey, hydrogen will be essential to meeting global climate targets, and the mining sector is stepping up. Leading companies, including members of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), have pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. With partners like PDC Machines, that goal is increasingly within reach.
From high-pressure innovation to community investment, PDC is helping compress the barriers to clean energy adoption; advancing a sustainable, low-carbon future for mining in Africa and beyond.
About PDC Machines
PDC Machines is a world leader in hydrogen compression and refueling solutions. Headquartered in Souderton, Pennsylvania, USA, PDC specializes in diaphragm compressors and integrated refueling systems for both small and large-scale hydrogen infrastructure. With a global footprint and a growing presence in Africa, PDC is committed to supporting the clean energy transition through safe, reliable, and localized technology.