Johnson Matthey and Sibanye-Stillwater have formed a strategic partnership to identify and develop solutions to drive decarbonization and the more efficient use of critical metals such as platinum group metals (pgms) and metals used in battery technology.

The collaboration will support development of science and technologies for new products and markets which will underpin sustainable supply chains for a low carbon future, including clean hydrogen production and fuel cells.

The challenge of tackling climate change has resulted in nations around the world setting net zero targets to drive decarbonization 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 electrolyzer technologies for producing green hydrogen. 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:

• 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 commercialization 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.
• The companies will combine their extensive expertise in metals recycling to improve current technologies, particularly for ‘difficult to recover’ materials.
• 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 agreements to ensure long term sustainable supply for Johnson Matthey’s products and customers.