Pohang City Going All Out to Expand Hydrogen Mobility Infrastructure and Strengthen Financial Support for Local Companies

Pohang City is concentrating its administrative capacity on transitioning to an eco-friendly transportation system and stabilizing the management of local small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized companies.

On the 25th, the city held a kick-off meeting at Pohang Technopark to report the start of construction for the “Northern Region Public Bus Depot Liquefied Hydrogen Refueling Station,” marking the full-scale commencement of the project.

Pohang City held a groundbreaking briefing on the 25th at the Pohang Technopark conference room to mark the start of construction of a liquefied hydrogen refueling station, with about 20 people, including relevant departments and the contractor, in attendance. Photo provided by Pohang City

This refueling station is a core piece of infrastructure in preparation for the expansion of hydrogen bus operations, with the goal of beginning commercial operation in the first half of 2027.

The city plans to use this as an opportunity to expand the supply of hydrogen mobility, including hydrogen passenger cars and buses, and thereby accelerate the transition to a low-carbon transportation system.

At the same time, the city is expanding the “2026 Regional Industry Crisis Response Interest Subsidy Support Project” for companies located in areas designated for preemptive response to industrial crises.

This is a measure to ease the financial burden on the region’s key industries and related companies that are struggling due to the slowdown in the steel market.

In particular, this year the loan limit per company has been raised from 1 billion won to 1.5 billion won, and the scope of support has been expanded from working capital only to also include facility funds.

As a result, not only funds for purchasing raw materials but also funds needed for introducing production facilities or constructing new business sites will be eligible for interest support, which is expected to help local companies substantially regain their competitiveness.

Lee Sangyeop, Director of the Job and Economy Bureau of Pohang City, said, “By building a liquefied hydrogen refueling station and strengthening financial support, we will do our best to improve transportation convenience for citizens and help local companies overcome the crisis and continue their sustainable business activities.”