Sibanye partners with Johnson Matthey in net zero push

Sibanye-Stillwater and Johnson Matthey, a global leader in sustainable technologies, announced a strategic partnership to identify and develop solutions to drive decarbonisation and the more efficient use of critical metals such as PGMs (platinum group metals) and metals used in battery technology. 

The challenge of tackling climate change has resulted in nations around the world setting net zero targets to drive decarbonisation through supply chains. At the same time, customers and consumers are increasingly demanding responsibly sourced raw materials and products. 

PGMs due to their unique properties, play a vital role in low carbon technologies that will enable the path to net zero targets globally. PGMs are at the heart of electrolyser technologies for producing green hydrogen (that is hydrogen produced from renewable energy and with no greenhouse gas emissions). PGMs are also a crucial component of fuel cells, facilitating the conversion of hydrogen into electrical energy with no harmful emissions. 

The strategic partnership between the two companies will focus on developing a number of opportunities to drive technological innovation and ensure more sustainable supply chains for customers: 

1. Johnson Matthey and Sibanye-Stillwater will collaborate on the sourcing and application of PGMs and metals used in battery technology to enable the development and commercialisation of low carbon technologies, with a focus on circularity and sustainability. In addition, the companies will examine potential opportunities to apply their collective experience to support the development of more sustainable supply chains for battery materials. 

2. The companies will combine their extensive expertise in metals recycling to improve current technologies, particularly for ‘difficult to recover’ materials. 

3. The strategic partnership builds on the existing relationship between the two companies, which has ensured security of supply of crucial PGMs into many industries. Johnson Matthey and Sibanye-Stillwater have also extended their current PGM supply and refining agreement to ensure long term sustainable supply for Johnson Matthey’s products and customers. 

Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater commented: “We are delighted to enter into this world- class partnership which further advances our commitment to creating a greener future, by developing technologies for a better tomorrow, utilising the metals we produce. Fast-tracking green technology and working together to achieve ESG excellence will enable us to continue to improve lives and the environment.” 

Robert MacLeod, Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey added, “We are excited to bring together our complementary expertise to help secure a more sustainable future for tomorrow’s industry.” 

Johnson Matthey (the world’s largest fabricator and recycler - secondary refiner - of PGMs) is at the forefront of science that enables a more sustainable future – including technologies for clean hydrogen production, fuel cell products, next generation battery materials and solutions for the decarbonisation of the manufacture of chemicals. 

Sibanye-Stillwater, a leading global PGM producer and a top tier gold producer, recently entered the battery metals supply chain through an equity investment into and partnership with, Keliber Oy, a Lithium Hydroxide project in Finland. Sibanye-Stillwater is also a leading global recycler of spent catalytic converter materials containing platinum, palladium and rhodium. The company recently achieved an ‘A-’ rating by non-profit global environmental disclosure platform CDP, in recognition of its climate change action and disclosure.