Russia gathers firms to develop hydrogen industry

Spanish Market: Hydrogen
22/07/21

The Russian government has established a working group of industrial firms and ministries to design and implement a plan for the country to secure a share in global hydrogen production and trade.

The working group unites state-run and some privately-owned firms from a range of industries with the ministries of energy, transport, industry and trade, science and education, economic development and foreign affairs. Several Russian scientific institutions and state bank VEB are also members.

The private sector is represented by gas firm Novatek, petrochemicals producer Sibur and investment group Sistema. State-owned enterprises include nuclear corporation Rosatom, oil and gas producer Rosneft, gas giant Gazprom and its oil arm Gazpromneft, heavy-duty trucks manufacturer Kamaz and its owner, industrial group Rostec, as well as nanotechnologies corporation Rosnano.

Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak is the head of the working group. It was officially created by a decree signed by prime minister Mikhail Mishustin on 17 July and published this week, although the government has been working on a program of hydrogen development for some time. A framework document prepared last year by the energy ministry — a roadmap to develop the hydrogen energy sector — received government approval in October 2020. This happened shortly before Novak became deputy prime minister in November 2020. He served as energy minister from May 2012.

Novak said in early June that Russia wants a 20pc share of the world's future hydrogen market, and that the government may approve a plan in the next two months. This plan is likely to present several scenarios for Russian hydrogen production and exports, depending on the pace of global demand growth. Last year, in its energy strategy to 2035, Russia set a target of exporting 200,000t of hydrogen in 2024 and 2mn t in 2035.

But deputy energy minister Pavel Sorokin said in April this year that if the global market develops faster, Russia might become an exporter of 1mn t/yr of hydrogen in 2024 and 7mn t/yr in 2035. In a more distant perspective Russia may be exporting 7.9mn-33.4mn t/yr by 2050, again depending on the pace of demand growth, according to Sorokin.

In the newly-created working group on hydrogen, Sorokin is one of Novak's deputies.

Russian officials including Novak said earlier this year that there is a scope for joint projects on hydrogen with companies from Germany, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

By Anastasia Krasinskaya

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20/12/24

Viewpoint: EU at crossroad on H2 rules, competitiveness

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Splitwaters electrolysers heading for US e-fuel makers

18/12/24

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UK government underlines its commitment to net zero

18/12/24

UK government underlines its commitment to net zero

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Nordic Electrofuel expands e-SAF plans to Middle East

18/12/24

Nordic Electrofuel expands e-SAF plans to Middle East

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Viewpoint: Japan eyes methanol as marine bridging fuel

18/12/24

Viewpoint: Japan eyes methanol as marine bridging fuel

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By Reina Maeda and Nanami Oki Japanese firms' methanol projects Methanol-fuelled ships Company # of vessel Type Target commercialisation Announcement Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Mitsui OSK Line 1 Ocean-going methanol carrier Jul-05 May-23 Toyofuji Shipping, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 2 Ro-Ro vessel 2027-28 fiscal year Jun-24 Mitsui OSK Line 1 Coastal methanol carrier Dec-24 Jul-24 NS United Kaiun, Nihon Shipyard, Jaman Marine United, Imabari Shipbuilding Multiple Bulk carrier After 2027-28 fiscal year May-24 Orix, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding 2 Bulk carrier Jul-24 Production Company Product Country Target commercialisation Target capacity (t/yr) Mitsui E-methanol US Jan-24 1630000 Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Bio-methanol Japan Jun-24 Small amount Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Kobelco E-methanol Japan NA NA Cosmo, Toyo Engineering E-methanol Japan NA NA Sumitomo Chemical E-methanol Japan 2030s NA Mitsui, Asahi Kasei Bio-methanol US Jun-23 NA Toyo Engineering E-methanol India 2030 NA Investment Company Product Country Target commercialisation Target capacity (t/yr) Mitsui E-methanol Denmark NA 42,000 Idemitsu E-methanol Brazil, US, Chile, Uruguay, Australia 2,030 4,000,000 JOGMEC E-methanol Brazil, US, Chile, Uruguay, Australia 2,030 4,000,000 Mitsu OSK Line E-methanol Brazil, US, Chile, Uruguay, Australia 2,030 4,000,000 Table source: Firm's company releases Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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