Australia and UK Reach Out for Exchange with Hydrogen City Changwon

Visit to Australian and British Embassies in Korea and Discussion on Cooperation Plans for Hydrogen Industry Exchange

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam held a business consultation on exchanges in the energy and defense industries, focusing on the hydrogen industry of both countries, at the invitation of the Australian and British embassies in Korea.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Song Jong-gu] Australia and the United Kingdom have taken their first steps toward acquiring advanced hydrogen policy know-how from Changwon and promoting hydrogen industry exchanges through their embassies in Korea.

On the 28th, Changwon City in Gyeongnam Special City, at the invitation of the Australian and British embassies in Korea, hosted a visit by officials including Ryu Hyo-jong, Director of the Smart Innovation Business Bureau, along with personnel in charge of the hydrogen and defense industries, to discuss exchange and cooperation in energy and defense sectors centered on the hydrogen industry of both countries.

Currently, Australia is pursuing national-level energy transition policies centered on hydrogen due to abnormal climate caused by climate change, and the UK is doing the same due to abnormal climate and natural gas supply difficulties caused by the Ukraine situation. However, globally, there is a lack of achievements in hydrogen utilization, making it difficult to establish detailed plans for transitioning to a hydrogen society.

Accordingly, Australia and the UK have focused on South Korea, which has been promoting a national hydrogen economy roadmap, and especially on Changwon, where hydrogen mobility distribution, hydrogen charging infrastructure, and hydrogen production base construction and operation are most actively pursued, yielding various achievements.

To acquire know-how on Changwon’s hydrogen policies and to practically promote hydrogen industry exchanges centered on hydrogen companies, business consultations were held with city officials through the embassies of both countries in Korea.

During the visit to the Australian Embassy in Korea, Australian government officials including Russell Wild, Economic Counselor, emphasized that although hydrogen mobility distribution and charging infrastructure construction are still in the early stages worldwide, Changwon possesses world-class experience and data in this field, making exchanges with Changwon’s various know-how and hydrogen companies essential for Australia’s successful hydrogen policy implementation.

During the visit to the British Embassy in Korea, it was decided to hold a hydrogen industry exchange meeting between Changwon and the UK in August to facilitate mutual introductions and business exchanges between Changwon’s representative hydrogen companies and British energy company officials stationed in Korea.

In the second half of the year, British government and company officials will visit Changwon to tour its hydrogen infrastructure and hydrogen companies, and reciprocal support will be provided for Changwon officials’ visits to the UK and policy exchanges.

Ryu Hyo-jong, Director of the Smart Innovation Industry Bureau, stated, “Australia and the UK are doing their best to realize specialized hydrogen policy goals according to their national circumstances. The Australian and British embassies in Korea recognize our city as a practical leader in South Korea’s hydrogen policy and have great interest in the various industrial policies we have pursued, hoping for substantial exchanges.” He added, “Based on the diverse industrial know-how and capabilities accumulated by our city, we will do our best to expand practical mutual exchanges with Australia and the UK not only in the hydrogen industry but also in our city’s key industries such as machinery manufacturing and defense industries, contributing to Changwon’s economy.”

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