Changwon City Council Begins Administrative Investigation on 'Liquefied Hydrogen Plant'

The Changwon Metropolitan City Council in Gyeongnam has launched an administrative audit regarding the issues related to the Changwon Liquefied Hydrogen Plant project initiated during the previous mayor's term.

On the 23rd, during the 1st plenary session of the 138th extraordinary meeting, the council approved the administrative audit plan for the special committee on the administrative investigation.

Among the 41 council members, all 25 members from the People Power Party voted in favor, while all 16 members from the Democratic Party voted against the proposal.

The special committee was formed solely by six members from the People Power Party, as all Democratic Party members declared their absence.

The 1st plenary session of the 138th extraordinary meeting of the Changwon Special City Council in Gyeongnam was held.
[Photo by Changwon City Council]

The Changwon Liquefied Hydrogen Plant project was initiated in 2021 to establish the country's first liquefied hydrogen production base, and the plant within Doosan Enerbility's Changwon factory was completed on January 31 of this year.

The plant's operation is managed by HiChangwon, a special purpose corporation jointly invested by the Changwon Industry Promotion Agency, Doosan Enerbility, and the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, established in April 2020.

Originally, the plant was planned to produce 5 tons per day and up to 1,825 tons annually of liquefied hydrogen to supply nearby research institutes, companies, and hydrogen charging stations; however, concerns about poor demand discovery, decreased plant operation rates, and delays in commercial production have arisen.

The special committee plans to review the overall project, focusing on the Changwon Industry Promotion Agency, a city-affiliated institution, including the background and direction of the liquefied hydrogen plant project plan, the appropriateness of the implementation plan, fairness of the public offering process, and the legality and validity of the project cost estimation and execution process.

The special committee's activities will commence from today and continue until December 20.