First Hydrogen Specialized Complex to Launch by Year-End... Ministry of Industry Opens Designation Bidding

On April 30, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it will begin the 'Hydrogen Specialized Complex Designation Contest' procedure starting May 1. Metropolitan local governments wishing to be designated as specialized complexes must submit related documents, including application forms and development plans, by 6 p.m. on June 28.

The ministry plans to comprehensively evaluate the submitted development plans based on factors such as hydrogen industry concentration, infrastructure establishment, regional industry linkage potential, and ripple effects. Following this, the Hydrogen Economy Committee chaired by the Prime Minister will review and approve the designations, with the first hydrogen specialized complexes expected to be designated in the fourth quarter of this year.

Separately from the hydrogen specialized complexes, which are support systems under the Hydrogen Act, the hydrogen cluster creation project passed the preliminary feasibility study last year and is scheduled to be actively promoted starting this year. Gangwon's Donghae and Samcheok will be developed as hydrogen storage and transportation clusters, while Pohang in Gyeongbuk will be developed as a hydrogen fuel cell power generation cluster.

Meanwhile, for regions where designation as a hydrogen specialized complex is difficult but industrial concentration is necessary, the ministry plans to review the possibility of preliminary project promotion through pre-planning research services. On the 9th, the ministry amended the enforcement decree of the Hydrogen Act to supplement the designation requirements, allowing not only areas with existing hydrogen industry concentration but also regions with high potential for concentration to be designated.

Additionally, following the hydrogen specialized complex promotion plan briefing held on the 19th, the ministry announced that it will hold a 'Practical Explanation Session on Evaluation Plans' in May to explain evaluation criteria and how to prepare development plans.

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