Ministry of Environment Selects Priority Negotiation Candidates for '10 Hydrogen Refueling Stations in the Seoul Metropolitan Area' to be Established Within the Year

Status Map of Hydrogen Refueling Stations Construction and Operation in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Environment announced on the 20th that it has selected the preferred negotiation candidates for a private subsidy project to build 10 hydrogen charging stations within this year to improve hydrogen charging conditions in the metropolitan area at an early stage.

The Ministry of Environment has been striving to secure sites for hydrogen charging stations and expedite their construction in the metropolitan area through public-private cooperation. On March 23 of this year, it signed a business agreement with related industries (E1 and SK Gas) to convert existing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stations in urban areas with good accessibility into hydrogen complex charging stations.

Along with discovering sites on its own, the Ministry of Environment secured additional budget in consultation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and announced the private subsidy project from May 3 to June 11. In this additional project, preferred negotiation candidates were selected mainly for locations where construction is possible within the year.

As a result of the evaluation, a total of eight stations were selected within approximately 25 km from Seoul City Hall, including four sites on LPG supplier (E1 and SK Gas) properties with which the Ministry of Environment had previously signed business agreements (Ogeok-dong, Seoul; Wondang-dong, Goyang; Gwacheon-dong, Gwacheon; Wanggok-dong, Uiwang), two stations in the northeastern part of Gyeonggi Province where hydrogen charging stations have been insufficient (Topyeong-dong, Guri; Suseok-dong, Namyangju), and two stations close to Seoul (Deokpung-dong, Hanam; Seowoon-dong, Incheon). The remaining two stations were selected in Incheon (Oryu-dong and Songdo-dong), where the Ministry of Environment’s Environmental Industry Research Complex and a large-scale liquefied hydrogen plant will be established.

The Ministry of Environment plans to finalize the 10 selected stations through negotiations and comprehensively support the entire process from permits and approvals to securing equipment and construction.

In particular, starting July 14, the Ministry will implement expedited permit processing and actively communicate with the relevant local governments and residents to promote the project promptly.

Additionally, to expand hydrogen charging stations in the metropolitan area, sites with favorable conditions among projects not selected this time will be supported for future promotion.

Kim Seung-hee, Director of Air Environment Policy at the Ministry of Environment, said, "We are doing our best to build more than 180 hydrogen charging stations nationwide this year to become a turning point for the spread of hydrogen vehicles." She added, "If the selected projects are additionally constructed within the year, it is expected that hydrogen charging conditions will improve in the metropolitan area centered around Seoul."