Mandatory Safety Inspections for Hydrogen Facilities from the 5th... Implementation of Manufacturing Permit System

Researchers at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials are inspecting a liquid hydrogen engine for drone and robot operation at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. The institute announced that it has developed a hydrogen fuel engine capable of powering a 30kg-class industrial drone by supplying hydrogen fuel to a small engine, igniting it, and maximizing engine output. Hydrogen fuel has an energy density per weight 2.8 times higher than gasoline, allowing for longer flight times compared to drones using gasoline engines. It is characterized by being an eco-friendly, carbon-free technology that does not emit carbon./Daejeon=Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Junhyung] From the 5th, safety inspections for hydrogen manufacturing facilities and hydrogen fuel cells will be mandatory, and manufacturing permits and registration systems will be implemented.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 3rd, the safety management sector of the "Act on the Promotion of Hydrogen Economy and Hydrogen Safety Management (Hydrogen Act)" will be enforced from the 5th. Once the safety management sector of the Hydrogen Act is enforced, safety inspections for hydrogen products such as hydrogen manufacturing facilities, mobile fuel cells installed on forklifts and drones, and stationary fuel cells will be mandatory. The manufacturing permit and registration system will also be implemented.

The government introduced the safety management sector when it enacted the Hydrogen Act in February 2020. This was due to the need for safety management of hydrogen manufacturing facilities such as water electrolysis and hydrogen extractors, which was highlighted following the hydrogen explosion accident at the Gangneung Science Park (TP) in May 2019. The accident occurred during R&D demonstration of water electrolysis facilities because safety devices such as oxygen removers were not installed.

The promotion and facilitation sector of the Hydrogen Act has been enforced since February last year. However, the safety management sector was granted a one-year grace period considering the preparation period for establishing safety standards and building inspection infrastructure. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy formed a task force (TF) of 76 experts from industry, academia, and research institutes together with the Korea Gas Safety Corporation to establish and revise six KGS codes as safety standards.

With the enforcement of the Hydrogen Act safety sector, manufacturers and importers of hydrogen products must undergo inspections by the Gas Safety Corporation before selling or using hydrogen products. The inspection targets are hydrogen products manufactured or imported after the enforcement date of the Hydrogen Act safety sector on the 5th. Manufacturing or importing hydrogen products without inspection may result in imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 1,000 KRW.

Additionally, domestic hydrogen product manufacturers must obtain manufacturing permits from local government heads such as market or district office heads after technical review by the Gas Safety Corporation. Foreign hydrogen product manufacturers must undergo technical review by the Korea Gas Safety Corporation as well as on-site factory inspections and register manufacturing with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Manufacturing hydrogen products without a permit may result in imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW.

Meanwhile, the Gas Safety Corporation has installed a temporary hydrogen product inspection center at its headquarters’ test research building located in Eumseong, Chungbuk. The Gas Safety Corporation will conduct hydrogen product inspections there until next year. The Hydrogen Product Inspection Support Center, being constructed in Wanju, Jeonbuk with an investment of 19.5 billion KRW, plans to start inspections from 2024.

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