Creation of 'Carbon Neutral Hydrogen Complex Zone' in Pyeongtaek Port Area... First Nationwide

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is set to develop the Pyeongtaek Port area as South Korea's first "carbon-neutral hydrogen complex zone." To this end, Gyeonggi Province plans to establish a cooperative system involving 20 public institutions and private companies.

On the 26th, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, Pyeongtaek Mayor Jeong Jang-seon, and Gyeonggi Province Climate Response and Industrial Transition Joint Committee Co-Chairs Cho Myung-rae and Kang Geum-sil signed the "Investment Agreement for the Establishment of the Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Hydrogen Specialized Complex" and the "Memorandum of Understanding for the Creation of a Hydrogen-Based Carbon-Neutral Port in Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek" at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office, together with 20 public institutions and private companies.

Governor Lee Jae-myung emphasized, "Recently, at the central government level, efforts are being made to create a leading economy in a new era of change centered on the Green New Deal. Gyeonggi Province will also spare no effort to support each city and county in quickly adapting to new industrial forms and enabling existing industries to swiftly transition to renewable energy-based industries."

He added, "It is said that a levy system called the carbon border tax will soon be implemented, mainly in Europe and the United States. From the perspective that companies that fail to quickly adapt to a low-carbon society are very likely to lose international competitiveness, I believe today's agreement is truly meaningful."

He continued, "Energy issues are more serious than we think, so faster and stronger energy transition policies are necessary. I ask businesspeople involved in related industries to firmly establish their position as economic actors so that Gyeonggi Province can lead a new path centered on Pyeongtaek Port."

Kang Geum-sil, Co-Chair of the Gyeonggi Province Climate Response and Industrial Transition Joint Committee, expressed her expectations, saying, "Since the Government Carbon Neutrality Committee, Gyeonggi Province has formed a climate response and industrial transition joint committee, which is almost the first among local governments. I appreciate Gyeonggi Province's awareness and urgent action. I feel that the hydrogen complex zone will become a tremendous symbol in overcoming the climate crisis era."

Co-Chair Cho Myung-rae also stated, "I am confident that the Pyeongtaek Port carbon-neutral hydrogen complex zone will become a pioneer that officially opens the hydrogen economy era. We will also work hard through the special committee to realize the Gyeonggi Province-type hydrogen-based urban energy transition model."

Minister Moon Seung-ok of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy conveyed an online congratulatory message, saying, "It is meaningful that Pyeongtaek Port, where domestic natural gas transport ships first arrived in 1986, is once again making new history based on future hydrogen. The hydrogen complex zone encompasses not only hydrogen production and supply but also utilization methods, and we expect it to play a model role in South Korea's carbon neutrality implementation."

Minister Moon Sung-hyuk of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries also said, "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, together with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, has established the 2030 Korean-style eco-friendly ship promotion strategy for the supply of zero-carbon ships such as hydrogen, aiming to reduce 70% of greenhouse gas emissions from ships. We plan to introduce hydrogen fuel-powered ships and prepare hydrogen ports by 2040. In particular, Pyeongtaek Port will be a model case where hydrogen energy production, logistics, and consumption occur within the port area."

According to the agreement, Gyeonggi Province, Pyeongtaek City, Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, Hydrogen Convergence Alliance, Korea Gas Corporation, Korea District Heating Corporation, Korea Western Power, Korea Gas Technology Corporation, Gyeonggi Economic Science Promotion Agency, Pyeongtaek Urban Corporation, GS Caltex Co., Ltd., Miko Power Co., Ltd., DIG Air Gas Co., Ltd., SPG Hydrogen Co., Ltd., NK Tech, and Hylium Industries Co., Ltd. agreed to actively cooperate by utilizing their respective capabilities and resources to establish the Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek hydrogen specialized complex.

Additionally, Gyeonggi Province, Pyeongtaek City, Pyeongtaek Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office, Korea Gas Corporation, Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port Authority, Korea Gas Technology Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd., Hyundai Glovis Co., Ltd., and the Poseung Managers Association pledged mutual cooperation to create the Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek hydrogen-based carbon-neutral port.

The signatory organizations jointly declared that they would form a working-level consultative body for the Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port carbon-neutral hydrogen complex zone to participate in eco-friendly hydrogen production and utilization and to strive for related technology demonstration and dissemination to achieve carbon neutrality at Pyeongtaek Port by 2040.

The creation of the Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port carbon-neutral hydrogen complex zone is a project to develop the Pyeongtaek Port area, the nation's largest cluster of key national industries, into a carbon-neutral hydrogen complex zone composed of a hydrogen specialized complex, hydrogen city, and hydrogen port to realize the government's 2050 carbon neutrality goal.

Currently, Gyeonggi Province and Pyeongtaek City have attracted four government public projects totaling 111.3 billion KRW, including small and medium-scale hydrogen production base public projects, hydrogen transportation complex base public projects, and hydrogen production localization technology development.

The event also included a groundbreaking ceremony for the small-scale hydrogen production base public project promoted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. When the hydrogen production base is completed in December, it will enable the supply of affordable hydrogen at around 4,000 KRW per kilogram in the vicinity of Pyeongtaek Port.

The Pyeongtaek Wonjeong district, a hydrogen specialized complex, will be developed as a full-cycle hydrogen industrial complex combining hydrogen production and liquefaction, hydrogen fuel cell power generation, carbon capture and utilization, and a distribution center for specialized hydrogen container manufacturing companies.

The province, city, Korea Gas Corporation, Korea District Heating Corporation, Korea Gas Technology Corporation, and Western Power, representing hydrogen industry energy public enterprises and private companies, plan to invest 640 billion KRW to complete the complex by 2024.

In particular, by producing blue hydrogen through carbon dioxide capture, hydrogen will be supplied to mobility and fuel cells in the vicinity of Pyeongtaek Port, and the captured carbon dioxide will be utilized in nearby smart farms, semiconductor companies, and dry ice production, enabling environmentally and economically viable hydrogen production.

Furthermore, the Pyeongtaek Hyeondeok and Manho districts will be developed as hydrogen cities that receive blue hydrogen produced in the hydrogen specialized complex via hydrogen pipelines and utilize hydrogen buses and hydrogen fuel cells.

A hydrogen transportation complex base with large-capacity charging stations and hydrogen vehicle maintenance facilities will be established in the Pyeongtaek Port hinterland and tourist areas, and hydrogen mobility such as hydrogen-based port cargo handling equipment, logistics trucks, freight trains, dedicated hydrogen charging stations for ships, and hydrogen-based shore power supply systems will be introduced.

The signatory organizations, together with the working-level consultative body, plan to establish an import base for green hydrogen and develop the port into a hydrogen port by 2040. To this end, the Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port carbon-neutral hydrogen complex zone working-level consultative body will prepare a detailed 2040 implementation plan by the end of this year.

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