Chile and The Netherlands tightening green hydrogen links

The Chilean and Dutch governments are working to strengthen and build their joint green hydrogen ecosystem and networks. 

Officials are planning a side event for Chilean delegates during the World Hydrogen Summit 2024, being held in Rotterdam from May 13-15.

The side event is a space for Chilean companies eyeing hydrogen opportunities to meet with Dutch firms also interested in the nascent sector, chief among them a Chile-focused cluster supported by the Dutch government’s Partners for International Business program, an initiative to help Dutch companies achieve their international ambitions. 

Cluster firms are port operator Port of Rotterdam, energy infrastructure players Gasunie and Vopak, ammonia-focused engineering and turnkey firm Proton Ventures, technology provider SoluForce, and consultants Arcadis and Port Consultants Rotterdam.

“The best way to use the conference is to organize a lot of meetings, to meet experts and companies directly there,” Marcelo Villagrán, managing director of Chile’s Mankuk Consulting & Services and former Chilean trade commissioner, told BNamericas. Villagrán has been hired by the Dutch government to help organize the side event and promote Chilean participation at the conference. 

Along with networking and business gatherings, other activities are planned for delegates from Chile, a country that has hosted Dutch hydrogen trade missions over the past few years.

“It’s really VIP. For example, there will be an opportunity to visit [Rotterdam] port installations, a great opportunity to see what is happening there and how the port is moving towards green energies,” Villagrán said. “They’ll show the places where this industry will be built, the projects and companies behind them, like Shell.”

Rotterdam is gearing up to become a gateway for the reception of imported green hydrogen derivatives. Chile, in turn, is aiming to become an exporter of them, which Europe will likely buy to help meet domestic demand.

Getting Chile’s exporting industry underway will require outlay not only geared to production but also transport and logistics, particularly in isolated southern region Magallanes, where existing marine terminal facilities belonging to state oil firm Enap will need investment to make them fit for purpose.

“We have a lot of opportunities here in Chile, not just for developers of green hydrogen projects, but also for the whole value chain, for the construction of the projects and the common infrastructure that we need,” Villagrán said. “We are lacking in terms of knowledge, technology, experience, infrastructure and money.”

He added there was space for both Dutch firms – which could provide the likes of knowledge and capital – and for local companies, which could potentially work in partnership with them.

“So, the opportunities [for foreign players] are there and we need to also recognize we have really good companies here, so why not provide them with the experience and solutions they need to build projects.”

Dutch cluster firms have visited Chile to scope out opportunities.

Chile had stands at World Hydrogen Summit in 2022 and 2023. Last year, 45 Chilean companies, including domestic players and subsidiaries of global firms, attended the conference. 

“For Chilean delegates, the goal is to find offtakers, investors to see what other countries and developers are doing, what’s coming in terms of certification and regulation,” Villagrán said.

“It is going to be like a pitch day for some. Developers are looking for partnerships, looking for investors and also offtakers, and you’re going to find there investors and offtakers and, obviously, a lot of developers.”

The Chilean delegation will be led this year by José Miguel Benavente, executive VP of state development agency Corfo. Private sector companies, representatives of the energy ministry, industry associations H2 Chile and H2 Antofagasta, and academia are also due to attend. 

Chilean trade development agency ProChile and Chilean embassy officials, along with the Dutch government, are leading the side event organization.

Around 60 green hydrogen projects have been announced in Chile, the bulk targeting Magallanes and northern region Antofagasta. Projects are starting to enter the environmental review system. 

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