Weitan Platinum: Platinum Group Metals to Play Key Role in Decarbonization [SMM Express]

Craig Miller, CEO of Valterra Platinum, recently stated after attending the "Hydrogen Council 2025 Global CEO Summit" held in Seoul, South Korea, that the global hydrogen economy is developing with strong momentum, and platinum group metals (PGM) will play an indispensable role in the future green energy transition.

The summit brought together more than 200 global leaders from hydrogen-related enterprises, focusing on how hydrogen production, sales, and regulatory policies can support decarbonization goals. Miller pointed out that global investment in hydrogen projects over the past five years has accumulated to $110 billion, with an additional $35 billion added in the past year alone, indicating rapid industry growth.

Regarding the demand outlook for platinum group metals, Miller emphasized that opportunities are mainly concentrated in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers used for producing green hydrogen and the FCEV mobility sector. Although current supply-side investment is substantial, the key lies in converting these investments into actual end-use demand through public-private partnerships (PPP). Citing the example of Valterra Platinum's taxi fleet operating in Berlin for 18 months, he illustrated the importance of building an ecosystem to translate investments into concrete benefits. Following the successful demonstration of platinum-catalyzed FCEV shuttle services during the G20 and B20 summits, Miller called for accelerating the application of hydrogen technology in large vehicles such as trucks, buses, and taxis, and for unleashing commercial-scale demand by 2030 to achieve global climate goals.