Valterra Platinum Limited

Platinum Group Metals Ltd. reports that its majority-owned subsidiary, Lion Battery Technologies Inc., has completed the first phase of independent testing and scale-up of its platinum- and palladium-based lithium-sulfur battery technology. Independent testing by the Battery Innovation Center in Newberry, Indiana, validated Lion's proprietary electrode technology in prototype lithium-sulfur cells, with platinum group metal catalysts improving capacity and rate capability compared with non-catalysed cells and palladium-rich formulations delivering the strongest overall performance. Following completion of this phase, Platinum Group and Valterra Platinum Limited have approved funding for the next stage of Lion's development programme, which will focus on manufacturing and testing pouch-cell prototypes in several performance configurations, optimising catalyst formulations and evaluating performance in target applications including drones. Lion was established by Platinum Group and Valterra Platinum in 2019 to develop next-generation battery technologies using platinum and palladium, and under a sponsored research agreement with Florida International University it holds exclusive rights to the intellectual property developed through the programme. To date, the US Patent and Trademark Office has granted eight patents related to the technology, with additional applications pending.

GameChange Energy has completed commissioning of its Genius Tracker 1P system for the 283 MWp Mooi Plaats Solar PV Plant in South Africa, one of the country's largest single-site solar power projects. The plant, located near Noupoort in the Northern Cape, forms part of the Koruson 2 renewable energy cluster and was developed and constructed by Envusa Energy, the renewable energy joint venture between EDF Power Solutions and Anglo American, with CEEC and CGGC serving as EPC contractor. The project will supply renewable electricity to Anglo American's mining operations in South Africa, including Kumba Iron Ore, De Beers and Valterra Platinum, and is expected to generate nearly 360 million kWh of renewable electricity annually while supporting long-term reductions in Scope 2 emissions. During construction the project supported more than 1,600 jobs and included approximately R20 million in socio-economic development investment for surrounding communities. Vikas Bansal, CEO International at GameChange Energy, cited harsh Northern Cape conditions including high wind exposure, elevated temperatures and dusty conditions, and thanked CGGC, Envusa Energy and the broader project team, while Envusa Energy Head of Execution Hanli Smit noted the scale and execution complexity of the development.