While Quebec only announced its first green hydrogen strategy last May, another European company is knocking on its door to build a plant in Baie-Comeau on the north coast.
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In recent days, Universal Kraft Canada Inc. has registered as a lobbyist to “confirm that it has received a social license for the green hydrogen plant construction project.”
“Green” hydrogen is made from electricity and “grey” hydrogen from fossil fuels. Almost 2% of the world’s hydrogen is green.
Universal Kraft Canada Inc., Calgary, states in its registration that it carries out its lobbying activities for its Portuguese subsidiaries Basemotion Lda and UH2.
Founded in Sweden in 2000, Universal Kraft has notably developed solar energy projects in Portugal, Spain, Malaysia and Canada.
Six ministers targeted
In total, the company is asking six ministers from Quebec, including Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon and Energy Minister Jonatan Julien.
It is claimed in the Secretary of Energy’s office that they have not met Universal Kraft Canada Inc. and that the company has not contacted him.
Reached in Alberta, newly registered lobbyist Edward Alberts declined to say more to the journal given the embryonic state of the discussions.
After Hy2Gen in February
At the Corporation de gestion du port de Baie-Comeau, its general manager, Karine Otis, confirmed that she was in talks with Universal Kraft and the German firm Hy2Gen, which has a nearly $1 billion project on its farm.
“We spoke to them. We didn’t meet her in person,” she said of Universal Kraft.
Last February, Caisse de depot et Placement du Québec, Hy24, Mirova and Technip Energies invested US$261 million in Hy2Gen.
Last year, $15 million was allocated to innovation in the hydrogen sector, in addition to $30 million from the Green Economy Plan.