Hydrogen Pier Established in Dangjin, Chungnam... Accelerating Carbon Neutrality Realization

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A large-scale hydrogen (ammonia) storage facility-equipped pier is being constructed in Dangjin, Chungnam.

On the 2nd, Chungnam Province announced that Governor Kim Tae-heum, Dangjin Mayor Oh Seong-hwan, and representatives from nine companies including CEO Choi Ik-hoon of HDC Hyundai Development Company signed a business agreement for the ‘Songsan Hydrogen Pier Construction’.

The agreement focuses on reclaiming 187,000㎡ of public waters in front of the Songsan General Industrial Complex in Gagok-ri, Songsan-myeon, Dangjin City, to build a hydrogen pier by 2030.

The public waters are planned as a general cargo pier under the Port Basic Plan Act, allowing rapid pier construction by simply changing the type of cargo handled.

The companies participating in the hydrogen pier construction include ▲HDC Hyundai Development Company ▲Korea Western Power ▲Korea East-West Power ▲Korea Gas Technology Corporation ▲Samsung C&T (Construction Division) ▲Shinhan Bank ▲Seonkwang ▲Aprotium ▲Lotte Group Chemical Division (Lotte Chemical, Lotte Fine Chemical), totaling nine companies.

The participating companies plan to invest a total of 450 billion KRW from 2024 to 2030. The pier will be equipped with four ammonia storage tanks each with a capacity of 40,000 tons and two berths for liquid cargo carriers of 30,000-ton and 50,000-ton classes.

Once the pier and storage facilities are completed, 2 million tons of ammonia will be imported annually from overseas and supplied for coal-fired power plant co-firing (coal + ammonia), fuel cell power generation, and vehicles.

The province expects that the completion of the hydrogen pier will contribute to revitalizing the domestic hydrogen economy, including Chungnam.

In particular, the province anticipates that co-firing power generation will reduce 3.74 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, supporting the realization of carbon neutrality.

The investment effect is expected to exceed 1 trillion KRW over seven years, creating approximately 4,700 direct and indirect jobs, according to the province.

The province plans to provide full administrative support, including reflecting the Dangjin hydrogen (ammonia) pier in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ ‘Carbon Neutral Port Construction Basic Plan (2022?2024)’ and incorporating it into the port area.

Governor Kim Tae-heum said, “The Dangjin Port area is densely populated with large-scale carbon-emitting facilities such as coal-fired power plants and industrial complexes. The construction of the hydrogen pier will lead the hydrogen economy, drive the development of eco-friendly energy industries, and contribute to creating sustainable growth engines for Chungnam and promoting the realization of carbon neutrality.”