The Incheon Metropolitan Government will run a 45-day emergency response system for hydrogen buses to prepare for the scheduled overhaul of the nation’s largest liquefied hydrogen production facility. With some disruption to the liquefied hydrogen supply expected during the overhaul, the measure aims to minimize inconvenience for citizens who use city and metropolitan buses.
 [코리안투데이] A hydrogen bus operating on the streets of Incheon © 장형임 기자 |
The Incheon Metropolitan Government (Mayor Park Chan-dae) announced that it will operate an emergency response system to ensure the stable operation of hydrogen buses for 45 days, from October 6 to November 19.
The measure comes as SK Incheon Petrochem, the nation’s largest liquefied hydrogen production facility, carries out a regular overhaul during this period for the safety and quality management of its petrochemical plant in accordance with the High-Pressure Gas Safety Control Act and other relevant laws. The overhaul is expected to cause some disruption to the volume of liquefied hydrogen supplied to hydrogen buses, both in the Incheon area and nationwide. Of the roughly 2,500 city and metropolitan buses currently operating in Incheon, about 600 are hydrogen buses, accounting for roughly a quarter of the total.
In response, the city has prepared emergency measures to disperse refueling demand by using existing liquefied hydrogen charging stations together with alternative (gaseous) charging stations. It also plans to establish a close cooperation system with relevant organizations, including hydrogen suppliers, charging stations and transport operators, to continuously manage supply and refueling conditions.
Measures to reduce the inconvenience citizens actually experience will also be implemented. The city plans to maintain dispatch intervals during peak commuting hours as much as possible, but will flexibly adjust operating routes only when unavoidable, taking into account factors such as congestion at charging stations and the operating conditions of transport companies. As a result, during the overhaul period, dispatch intervals on some hydrogen bus routes may lengthen or delays may occur depending on hydrogen supply and refueling conditions.
The city plans to provide advance notice of related matters through its website and the Incheon Bus Information website so that citizens can check operating information in advance.
This preparation was not made on the spur of the moment. The city has continuously discussed countermeasures with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and relevant agencies, and since August it has been fleshing out response plans and alternative charging plans for each hydrogen charging station while continuing consultations among the city, SK and transport operators. Going forward, it plans to closely monitor hydrogen supply and refueling conditions during the overhaul and respond swiftly in the event of an emergency to minimize disruption to hydrogen bus operations.
Park Seong-sun, director general of the city’s Transportation Policy Bureau, said, ‘We will make every effort to minimize inconvenience for citizens using city and metropolitan buses during this overhaul period,’ adding, ‘As increased dispatch intervals or delays may unavoidably occur on some routes, we ask for citizens’ understanding and cooperation.’
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