Gyeongbuk Province to Install 'Hydrogen Charging Stations' in Gyeongju, Gumi, Sangju, and Gyeongsan... "Next Year Marks the First Year of Hydrogen Vehicle Distribution"

Hynet and Four Cities Sign Business Agreement for Hydrogen Charging Station Construction Project

The photo shows the completion ceremony of the Hynet Government Sejong Office Hydrogen Charging Station held at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City on August 31. Attendees, including Hong Jeong-gi, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environment, are posing for a commemorative photo and cheering. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Gyeongsangbuk-do will sign a business agreement on the 22nd at 11:30 a.m. in the provincial government conference room with Hydrogen Energy Network Co., Ltd. (hereinafter HyNet) to establish hydrogen charging stations in Gyeongju, Gumi, Sangju, and Gyeongsan.

The signing ceremony will be attended by Governor Lee Cheol-woo, HyNet CEO Yoo Jong-soo, Gumi Mayor Jang Se-yong, Sangju Mayor Kang Young-seok, Gyeongsan Mayor Choi Young-jo, and Gyeongju Deputy Mayor Lee Young-seok.

Under this agreement, HyNet will install hydrogen charging stations in the four agreed cities and take responsibility for their operation and management for 10 years. The province and the cities will provide administrative and financial support to ensure the smooth progress of the hydrogen charging station project.

HyNet is a special purpose corporation established in March 2019 as a joint venture of 13 hydrogen-related companies including Korea Gas Corporation and Hyundai Motor Company to build hydrogen charging infrastructure. Each hydrogen charging station installation costs 3 billion KRW. The Ministry of Environment provides 1.5 billion KRW in national subsidies, and HyNet covers the remaining 1.5 billion KRW.

To select sites for the hydrogen charging stations, the province has been recruiting operators since July to install hydrogen charging stations in combination with existing LPG (including CNG) stations operating within the province. Among the applicants, four sites were secured after reviewing site area and related regulations for installation feasibility.

Based on this agreement, HyNet will apply for the 'Hydrogen Charging Station Private Capital Subsidy Project' announced early next year by the Korea Automobile Environment Association (an agency commissioned by the Ministry of Environment), and if finally selected, will proceed with the project.

As of the end of November 2020, there are 56 hydrogen charging stations operating nationwide (including 8 for research purposes), and within the province, there is one hydrogen charging station at Seongju Rest Area installed by Korea Expressway Corporation.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo of Gyeongsangbuk-do said, "The expansion of eco-friendly vehicles such as hydrogen cars is a timely trend to prevent climate change and move toward a carbon-neutral society," adding, "We will make efforts to continuously expand hydrogen charging infrastructure so that residents can conveniently use hydrogen cars through this agreement."

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