#HybridCars 'must have #PGM to combat #ClimateChange'

The EU has been warned it will be “impossible” to combat climate change unless hybrid cars equipped with platinum group metals (PGM) are used “extensively” in the coming years.

Brussels is currently trying win backing for its stated goal of being “carbon neutral” by 2050. An EU summit earlier this month failed to win EU-wide support but its biggest member states, such as France and Germany, strongly support the objective.

However, a new report by Nornickel, a leading metals and mining company, cautions that cutting air pollution in urban areas or combating climate change as set out in the Paris Agreement will not be possible without the roll out of hybrid cars with PGM catalysts.

In the long term,it is predicted that Europe’s roads could be dominated by fully electric vehicles using lithium-ion batteries with high nickel and cobalt content.

If this proves correct, electric vehicles could transform the global nickel and PGM industries.

One of those hoping to take advantage of such a scenario is Nornickel, a leading supplier of both metals.

In order to meeting the growing demand for battery materials used in electric vehicles, the company has entered into partnership with German chemical firm BASF which both hope will go someway towards meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in supporting a “green” economy.

As part of the long-term agreement,Nornickel will supply nickel and cobalt feedstock, or unprocessed material, for battery production in Europe. By 2020, it is forecast that around 300,000 electric vehicles per year will be using batteries with components manufactured as part of the Nornickel/BASF tie up.

As well as being used in electric vehicles, PGMs are also used as catalysts for the production of key chemicals, including agricultural fertilisers, that are essential for providing the world's growing population with foods.

Other metals such as platinum and palladium are widely used in medicine, particularly in areas such as oncology and production of pacemakers and other implants. The most common electronic healthcare products use metals produced by the company.

In 2015, the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, setting 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Nornickel 2018 Sustainability Report points out that, since the SDGs cannot be achieved by the efforts of only governments or public organisations, the UN has encouraged businesses to focus on the SDGs in their operations.

Ban Ki-moon, the former UN  secretary general, declared: “Business is a vital partner in achieving the SDGs and companies can contribute through their core activities.We ask companies everywhere to assess their impact, set ambitious goals and communicate transparently about the results.”

Nornickel, the world’s largest producer of palladium and refined nickel, points out that it is doing its bit by currently pilot-testing performance indicators quantifying companies’ contribution to achieving the SDGs.

The Russian company is committed to an ambitious environmental programme. For example, it is implementing its 'Sulphur Project', which will help capture 1.5 to 1.7 million tonnes of sulphur dioxide per year and recycle those emissions into marketable products.

Company president Vladimir Potanin said: “Nornickel fully supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN SDGs and is consistently integrating them into our strategy and everyday operations.”

It has chosen to focus on 12 SDGs on the basis of a survey conducted among its stakeholders. This, it says, will help “concentrate efforts” on priority SDGs.

Further comment comes from Roger Munnings, chairman of the company’s Sustainable Development Committee, who said: “Sustainability is the core of our business  and ensures our footprint leaves a positive impact.”

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