Minister joins global hydrogen dialogue
Nigeria's Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has joined global policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and project developers at a high-level international dialogue focused on advancing hydrogen deployment through cross-regional cooperation and ecosystem development. The conference, organised by the International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association (IHFCA), served as a platform for stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain to discuss practical strategies for moving hydrogen from policy ambition to large-scale implementation.
The IHFCA is an international academic, non-profit organisation established by enterprises, research institutions, and industry organisations involved in the hydrogen sector. Registered in July 2022 under the supervision of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the association has its secretariat in Beijing, China.
Bilateral meetings on renewable energy
On the sidelines of the conference, Bagudu held bilateral meetings with officials of the IHFCA and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Discussions focused on hydrogen development initiatives, Nigeria’s renewable energy investment plans, innovation opportunities, and potential areas of collaboration to support the country’s clean energy transition.
As part of the programme, the Minister, alongside IHFCA representatives, investors, industry leaders, and global project developers, visited EMT Madrid’s pioneering green hydrogen plant and refuelling station. The facility, which spans nearly 50,000 square metres, is Europe’s first municipal hydrogen bus hub, integrating the full green hydrogen value chain, including production, compression, storage, and distribution.
Green hydrogen plant details
Powered by a 2,780-panel solar array, the plant produces green hydrogen through water electrolysis, making the facility fully energy self-sufficient. It also features high-pressure (350-bar) CETIL dispensers capable of refuelling a hydrogen-powered city bus in less than 10 minutes. Constructed entirely by Spanish engineering companies with support from European Union funding, the €17.2 million facility currently supplies hydrogen to a fleet of 10 buses serving commuters across Madrid.
