Linde has signed a 15-year contract with the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) to build, own and operate four hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) in Chungnam, South Korea.

The HRS will be supplied with hydrogen from Linde’s manufacturing facilities in the nearby Pyeongtaek area, the company said.

All four HRS are expected to start operating in December 2020.

“As a global leader in hydrogen technology and mobility solutions, Linde is pleased to further expand its presence in South Korea through our latest agreement with KEC,” said Sanjiv Lamba, EVP, CEO Asia Pacific at Linde.

“We are delighted to see the growing momentum for hydrogen as a sustainable source of energy across Asia and continue to work with various stakeholders to support the development of a safe and efficient hydrogen ecosystem by deploying Linde’s world-class hydrogen solutions.”

South Korea unveils hydrogen economy plans

Since 2016, Linde has been building out HRS infrastructure in the South Korean market with strong local government support.

The company is a member of the global Hydrogen Council and a member of the board of directors of H2 Korea, the Korean hydrogen alliance founded in 2017 to promote and establish a hydrogen ecosystem through policy planning, infrastructure and technology development.

“We are proud to be selected by KEC to help develop the future of mobility in Korea, a major step forward in our mission of making our world more productive,” added B.S. Sung, President of Linde Korea.

“This achievement is testament to Linde’s industry-leading technology and meeting the highest safety standards.”