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Official opening of Rapid Prototype Training and Testing Facility at North West University, Potchefstroom Campus.
The Department of Science and Technology and Innovation says more investment is needed to fast-track innovations and skills.
The department says some innovations are unable to prosper because of lack of funding.
The department’s Director-General Mlungisi Cele was speaking at the opening of the Rapid Prototype Training and Testing Facility at the North West University in Potchefstroom.
A Mobile Hydrogen Refuelling Station was also handed over.
The institution has been actively involved in producing hydrogen, managing solar to hydrogen projects and researching storage technologies.
Cele says more investments are needed from private sectors to enhance innovations.
“The success of pilot would lead to the commercialisation and eventually to job creation and that what we are hoping. It’s about impact, it’s about positive outcomes but it requires a lot of investment, lot of collaboration, lot of believe and trust and we are grateful that our industry is demonstrating and against the challenge of investing in research and development is that it takes time and we therefore need to appreciate and stay to the course. We also need to have incentives and that is what government does through our Department of Science and Technology.”
VISUALS | The official opening of Rapid Prototype Training and Testing Facility at North West University, Potchefstroom Campus.
The Hydrogen Facility is a strategic platform that demonstrates hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle technologies, while the rapid prototype facility is… pic.twitter.com/Wp8egXdfZg
— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 30, 2026
Meanwhile, CEO of African Rainbow Minerals Philllip Tobias says the introduction of hydrogen technology will come in handy in the mining sector.
“The platinum and the iridium plays a critical role on the hydrogen technology, so if this scale up to large economies of scale it will reduce the hydrogen technology costs does making it more accessible and user friendly and as a results and as a alternative energy source. It will also stimulate when you look at the demand and supply within the platinum group metals. That will also stimulate that side of the business and it will make sure that we have sustainable business going forward.”
Advancing green hydrogen economy:
