PM Oli Inaugurates Green Hydrogen Production and Refueling Center at KU

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday inaugurated Kathmandu University (KU)’s green hydrogen production and refueling center in Dhulikhel. This initiative, hailed as a milestone in Nepal's green energy sector, took place during the 29th Convocation Ceremony of KU, where PM Oli also unveiled a green hydrogen-fueled car with the registration number plate Ba 1 Jha 1111. The prime minister used the same car to travel to the convocation venue, demonstrating the practical application of this sustainable technology.

During the event, PM Oli commended KU for its pioneering efforts, describing the hydrogen production and refueling station as an exemplary project. He emphasized the need for similar innovative projects to be expanded across the country, particularly in the transportation sector. The prime minister recalled that he had initiated discussions and studies on the production of green hydrogen and wind energy during his previous term as prime minister, and expressed satisfaction that the project had now taken off.

Associate Professor Biraj Singh Thapa, chief of KU's Nepal Hydrogen Initiative, explained that the green hydrogen is produced by processing electricity with water through electrolysis. KU has been engaged in research and development on green hydrogen fuel for the past two years and successfully produced hydrogen for the first time on April 2, 2023. The project received financial assistance from Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), which provided Rs 50 million for the initiative. Of this amount, USD 33,000 was used to remodel a car brought from South Korea, and Rs 13 million was spent on building the refueling center.

The hydrogen refueling center was installed on the university campus with technical assistance from a Korean green hydrogen production company. The facility currently produces an average of two kilograms of hydrogen daily for study and research purposes. The car, once fully fueled with six kilograms of hydrogen, can travel up to 650 kilometers. KU aims to develop a pilot project capable of refueling 30 to 35 hydrogen-fueled cars, marking a significant step towards sustainable transportation in Nepal.

This project represents Nepal's first initiative to produce hydrogen for transportation purposes and aligns with the country's broader goals of promoting green energy and reducing carbon emissions. -- RSS