23rd Feb 2006 14:00
Anglo American PLC23 February 2006 News Release 23 February 2006 Anglo American joins FutureGen Industrial Alliance - targeting development of the world's first "zero emissions" coal-fuelled plant Anglo American announces that it has joined the FutureGen Industrial Alliance,which is developing the world's most advanced clean coal technology project,thereby strengthening the Group's commitment to securing a future for coal inthe global energy mix. The FutureGen Industrial Alliance (currently consisting of eight major energyand mining companies who intend to contribute up to $250 million to the projectover its lifetime) will partner with the U.S. Department of Energy to design,construct, and operate FutureGen, the world's first "zero emissions"coal-fuelled power generation plant. The ultimate goal for FutureGen is to show how technology can advance clean coaltechnologies for generating electricity for families and businesses and alsoproduce hydrogen to power fuel cells for transportation and other energy needs.The technology also will integrate carbon capture and storage, helping toaddress the issue of climate change as energy demand continues to growworldwide. The nominal 275MW prototype FutureGen power generation plant will gasify coalthrough a process that converts the coal's carbon to a synthesis gas composed ofhydrogen and carbon monoxide. The hydrogen will be used as a clean fuel forelectricity generation in turbines, fuel cells or hybrid combinations of thesetechnologies. The captured carbon dioxide will be separated from the hydrogenand permanently stored underground, where it will be monitored over time. Theproject hopes to prove the effectiveness, safety and permanence of carbondioxide capture and storage by testing the technology under real workingconditions. Construction of the FutureGen plant is due to start in three years and work iscurrently under way to find a suitable site in the United States. Constructionand plant startup and testing is due to take an additional three years with afull-scale plant operating in 2012. The project will be supported by the ongoingcoal research programmes, which will be a major source of technology for theprototype plant. The FutureGen project is being co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, andaims to validate the technical feasibility and economic viability of advancedcoal-based technologies for commercial readiness. Tony Trahar, CEO of Anglo American said, "We are very excited to have joined theFutureGen Industrial Alliance. Our participation is complementary to ourexisting projects in China and Monash Energy in Australia, and represents afurther step in our commitment to participating in the development of clean coaltechnologies that ensure that coal remains an important and sustainable energysource for the future." For further information: Anglo American - LondonInvestor Relations Media RelationsCharles Gordon Kate AindowTel: +44 207 968 8933 Tel: +44 207 968 8619 Anglo American - JohannesburgInvestor Relations Media RelationsAnne Dunn Daniel NgwepeTel: +27 11 638 4730 Tel: +27 11 638 2267 Notes to Editors: Anglo American plc is one of the world's largest mining and natural resourcegroups. With its subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, it is a globalleader in platinum group metals, gold and diamonds, with significant interestsin coal, base and ferrous metals, industrial minerals and paper and packaging.The group is geographically diverse, with operations in Africa, Europe, Southand North America, Australia and Asia. (www.angloamerican.co.uk) For further information on FutureGen - please visit the following website: http://www.FutureGenAlliance.org andhttp://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/futuregen/ This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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