The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced on June 29 that it will hold the second hydrogen supply and demand council meeting for transportation on June 30 at the Centerpoint Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno, Seoul, to discuss the hydrogen supply situation for the second half of the year.
Representatives from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, six local governments including Busan and Incheon, and over 20 key organizations and companies in hydrogen production, distribution, charging, and vehicle manufacturing, including Lotte Chemical, SKI E&S, Korea Gas Corporation, Hyundai Motor, Hynet, and the Korea Petroleum Management Corporation, will attend to share the current supply status and response strategies.
According to the ministry, as of May this year, a total of 47,718 hydrogen vehicles, including 3,237 hydrogen buses, have been deployed in South Korea. Consequently, the consumption of hydrogen for transportation has increased by approximately 52% compared to the same period last year, totaling 8,297 tons.
The government anticipates that the demand for hydrogen for transportation will increase by up to 19,000 tons by the end of the year due to the expansion of hydrogen vehicle deployment. However, if current supply conditions are maintained, it expects to secure a supply capacity of up to 24,000 tons, allowing for stable supply management.
The Korea Petroleum Management Corporation noted that while the supply of by-product hydrogen derived from naphtha has decreased due to the conflict in the Middle East, alternative supplies such as hydrogen from natural gas reforming have been secured, ensuring that there have been no disruptions in the supply of hydrogen for transportation thus far.
However, in the second half of the year, maintenance checks are scheduled for 10 out of 46 hydrogen supply facilities. Some facilities may require longer inspection periods, making it essential for suppliers and local governments to collaborate on securing alternative supplies and managing charging station operations.
Industry analysts emphasize that as the deployment of hydrogen vehicles rapidly increases, ensuring supply stability has become a key issue for market expansion. Minimizing supply disruptions during regular maintenance periods is crucial.
Oil Young, head of the Climate and Energy Policy Office at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, stated, "Even if the conflict in the Middle East ends, it is expected to take time for the energy market to normalize. We must do our utmost to ensure stable hydrogen supply so that citizens do not experience inconveniences when using hydrogen buses and other hydrogen vehicles."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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