Mitsui & Co has invested in Hiringa Refuelling New Zealand to develop a network of green hydrogen refuelling stations for fuel cell powered heavy vehicles in New Zealand.
HRNZ plans to build four fuel stations within 2022, located in logistics hubs in major cities targeting the country’s commercial and heavy transport market.
“This is a rare opportunity to commercialise green hydrogen and decarbonize heavy duty vehicles,” said Koji Nagatomi, chief operating officer of Mitsui’s Asia Pacific Business Unit & chief executive of Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific).
“We believe New Zealand is an ideal market to develop and demonstrate the viability of green hydrogen as a next generation fuel,” he said.
“The country has abundant sources of renewable energy from which to produce green hydrogen, and approximately 85% of its electricity now comes from renewables. There is also collaboration between the governments of Japan and New Zealand, which have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on hydrogen.
“We look forward to working with Hiringa to create a sustainable ‘local production for local consumption’ green hydrogen business to address the urgent and complex global challenge of climate change.”
Andrew Clennett, chief executive of Hiringa Energy, added, “It is encouraging to see the partnership envisaged in our 2020 Strategic Alliance Agreement going from strength to strength.
“Hiringa sees Mitsui as a highly aligned investor and strategic partner, and we are excited to be working closely together on the refuelling network.”
This latest investment builds on Mitsui’s existing investment in HRNZ’s parent company, Hiringa Energy Limited, and a wider Strategic Alliance Agreement to jointly develop multiple green hydrogen-related commercial projects in New Zealand.
Mitsui has also agreed to invest additional capital into HRNZ upon the achievement of key project milestones.
The project aligns with Mitsui’s ‘Energy Solutions’ strategy, a core part of Mitsui’s Medium-Term Management Plan, which aims to respond to the growing trend toward decarbonization by promoting cleaner forms of energy including next generation fuels such as hydrogen.
