Cerro de Pasco Resources Inc. announced the formation of a German firm, H2-SPHERE GmbH (“H2-SPHERE”), to further the conversion of mineral waste on a massive scale to green hydrogen and other valuable components other than metals.
CDPR holds 80% of the share capital and committed to funding future development directed by Prof Dr Dold.
In keeping with the company’s ongoing commitment to reprocess and permanently remediate the vast deposits of mineral waste accumulated over a century of mining at Cerro de Pasco, CDPR will fund H2-SPHERE to develop an industrial technique for producing green hydrogen from pyrite in the company’s El Metalurgista concession. The initiative will position CDPR to generate significant additional value while also eradicating one of the most serious challenges in metal mining, acid mine drainage (AMD).
When pyrite reacts with oxygen and water, acidic conditions result from the creation of sulfuric acid in an exothermic process. If this naturally occurring process is expedited in a controlled industrial process, green hydrogen and other valuable byproducts can be created, while also preventing uncontrolled environmental pollution. In comparison to other methods of hydrogen production (blue, grey, and brown), which result in significant CO2 emissions, green hydrogen utilizes solely carbon-free energy sources.
The use of green hydrogen in high-energy industries such as steel, aluminum, cement, heavy transportation, and mining is seen as a critical component of achieving a carbon-free industrial revolution and mitigating the effects of human-induced climate change. As a result, large industrial corporations in Europe and throughout the world are preparing for this transition by announcing significant expenditures over the next several decades.
Prof Dr Bernhard Dold: “our vision with this development is to add a piece to the puzzle of the future energy mix while eliminating environmental pollution and mitigating climate change, in line with the United Nations’ vision of the World Without Waste. It will be a step towards achieving resource efficiency for a sustainable green industrial revolution.”
Guy Goulet, CEO: “This is an exciting development for CDPR. We stand by our vision, to turn Cerro de Pasco from an emblematic case of environmental devastation to a showcase for green mining with tremendous economic and social upsides”.
