Asia-Pacific countries interested in importing Russian hydrogen - Rosatom

MOSCOW. Feb 14 (Interfax) - The low-carbon hydrogen project of Rusatom Overseas and France's Air Liquide might find a market in the Asia-Pacific region, as the companies are discussing supplies with potential partners in Japan and South Korea, the Russian company, a division of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said in a statement.

Many companies in the Asia-Pacific region are "interested in importing low-carbon hydrogen from Russia," Rusatom Overseas president Yevgeny Pakermanov was quoted as saying. We are already holding negotiations with potential partners in Japan and South Korea on the launch of an international supply chain for low-carbon hydrogen in 2025," he said.

Rusatom Overseas and Air Liquide have already presented the feasibility study for the hydrogen project to the government of Sakhalin Region. "Based on the positive results of the feasibility study, Rusatom Overseas and Air Liquide are preparing for the next stage of the project, the FEED (front-end engineering design)," the company said.

The local government has "expressed support for the project," the company said. "The construction of the hydrogen production complex will become an integral part of the ambitious project to create and develop a hydrogen cluster in Sakhalin Region and lay the foundation for organizing an efficient chain on the island to supply hydrogen to foreign markets and local consumers in the energy, transport and industrial sectors," the press release said.

Rusatom Overseas, Air Liquide, a leading producer of industrial gases, and the Sakhalin regional government signed a memorandum of understanding last April calling for cooperation to study the possibility of building a complex on Sakhalin Island to produce up to 100,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year.

Rosatom is considering a total of ten pilot projects in the field of hydrogen energy. Rusatom Overseas vice president Anton Moskvin said in January that the company is now developing these projects. The company is doing research on large-scale hydrogen transportation and production and working with metal companies.