Government Goes All Out to Promote Hydrogen Economy... Forms Dedicated TF

On December 26 last year, Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (second from the right in the front row), visited the hydrogen charging station in Hakha-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced the launch of a promotional task force (TF) encompassing hydrogen-related institutions and experts.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Environment, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, along with local governments, related organizations, industry, environmental groups, and private experts, have formed the TF and plan to hold a meeting on the 16th at WeBiz in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

About 50 people attended the meeting, including government officials, metropolitan local governments, the Hydrogen Convergence Alliance, Korea Gas Corporation, Korea Gas Safety Corporation, Korea Energy Agency, Korea District Heating Corporation, Korea Expressway Corporation, Automobile Environment Association, Hyundai Motor Company, Hynet officials, and private experts.

Since July last year, the government has conducted emergency safety inspections of hydrogen facilities and strengthened safety at research and development (R&D) demonstration facilities, and in December established a "Comprehensive Hydrogen Safety Management Plan."

To promote this hydrogen safety system, the TF was organized to unify the previously decentralized organizations by institution.

Starting next month, a radio advertisement titled "Easy-to-Understand Hydrogen Economy (tentative)" will be broadcast. During the first half of the year, a contest to correctly understand hydrogen energy and hydrogen economy supporters activities will be held.

The hydrogen economy supporters program targets students and the general public, with an inauguration ceremony scheduled for March.

Beginning on the 22nd in Wonju, Gangwon-do, the program will visit Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 30th, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do in early next month, and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province in mid-next month.

At the briefing sessions, all processes from construction to operation of related facilities such as hydrogen charging stations and hydrogen extraction facilities will be disclosed. The government plans to provide thorough explanations about safety and revise systems to gain public understanding and cooperation.

From the construction stage of charging stations, the Korea Gas Safety Corporation and experts will conduct safety evaluations considering site conditions and disclose the results to residents as a pilot project.

The briefing sessions will also include a hydrogen energy experience program where residents can test drive hydrogen vehicles and visit charging stations to observe the charging process firsthand.

The program is designed to allow tours and experiences of all hydrogen-related facilities, including charging stations, production bases, fuel cell power plants, and R&D processes for hydrogen production via water electrolysis.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.