“Hydrogen for a New Industrial Era” – United Hydrogen Launches the Hydrogen Revolution in Vietnam and ASEAN
Report from the Presentation by Mr. Ianton Tan – Asia Pacific Regional Director, United Hydrogen – at the Conference “Bringing Hydrogen Into Industrialization in Vietnam and ASEAN,” Ho Chi Minh City, September 26, 2025
HO CHI MINH CITY – Against the backdrop of a world rapidly accelerating its energy transition, the “United Hydrogen – Bringing Hydrogen Into Industrialization in Vietnam and ASEAN” conference held on September 26, 2025, became a gathering place for the region’s hydrogen community. Policymakers, transportation–industrial–port operators, financial investors, and research institutes came together to discuss the pathway toward realizing a hydrogen economy.
At the heart of the program was a passionate keynote by Mr. Ianton Tan, Asia Pacific Regional Director of United Hydrogen, who painted a comprehensive picture of how hydrogen can become the “backbone” of decarbonization across industry, transportation, logistics, agriculture, and everyday life.
From Vision to Action: United Hydrogen – Connecting the Hydrogen Ecosystem
Mr. Ianton opened with a powerful message:
“Hydrogen is not just a fuel. It is the key to unlocking a new industrial era – a low-emission, efficient, and sustainable economy. United Hydrogen wants to be the catalyst for this transformation in Vietnam and ASEAN.”
United Hydrogen currently operates five subsidiaries and offices, four green hydrogen plants, and over 30 hydrogen refueling stations, serving customers in 30 cities and managing more than 3,000 vehicles. The company holds more than 30 patents and aims to become the number-one hydrogen service provider in China before expanding globally. It is also preparing for a listing on the U.S. Nasdaq stock exchange this year, targeting a market capitalization exceeding USD 1.5 billion.
The circular ecosystem developed by United Hydrogen spans the entire value chain:
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Energy production and storage: from renewable power to green hydrogen.
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Refueling & transport infrastructure: building a wide coverage of hydrogen stations, providing Hydrogen-as-a-Service (H2aaS).
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Industrial & consumer applications: heavy-duty trucks, ports, logistics, hydrogen agriculture, and smart household appliances.
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Carbon asset management: supporting enterprises in accounting for and monetizing carbon credits.
Industrial Applications: Hydrogen Is Ready to Change the Game
Much of Mr. Ianton’s presentation focused on real-world deployment of hydrogen in heavy industry – the largest source of CO₂ emissions. United Hydrogen has implemented large-scale projects in China, demonstrating that hydrogen is ready:
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Shanxi coal mines: each hydrogen-powered heavy truck reduces up to 120 tons of CO₂ annually, while maintaining cost-effectiveness, with cost-per-kilometer lower than diesel trucks.
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Inner Mongolia mines: 20 hydrogen-powered 49-ton trucks deployed as the nucleus of a “wind–solar–hydrogen–storage–vehicle” model, creating a zero-carbon industrial cluster.
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Shaoguan steel plant: pioneering internal logistics with hydrogen trucks, reducing emissions and optimizing operations simultaneously.
Mr. Ianton emphasized hydrogen’s critical advantage: refueling takes only 15 minutes compared with 1.5–2 hours of charging for electric trucks, making it ideal for long-haul and heavy-duty transport.
Ports & Logistics: Building the “Oriental Hydrogen Port”
United Hydrogen is helping transform Jiaxing Port into China’s “hydrogen business card”:
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100 heavy-duty hydrogen trucks are in continuous operation with 98% uptime, achieving operating costs per TEU nearly 1 CNY lower than diesel.
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The first 64-TEU hydrogen container vessel has been launched, with a 380 km range and an annual reduction of 700 tons of CO₂.
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Fuel-cell RTG cranes have been successfully tested, operating reliably in temperatures from -30°C to 50°C, emitting only electricity, heat, and water.
According to Mr. Ianton:
“What is happening at Jiaxing is the model for ASEAN ports – where decarbonization is not just a target, but a competitive advantage.”
Hydrogen in Agriculture & Daily Life – A New Horizon
Beyond industry, United Hydrogen is pioneering hydrogen applications in agriculture through nano-bubble technology:
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Neutralizing harmful reactive oxygen species, protecting plant cells.
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Improving nutrient absorption, boosting yields (e.g., blueberries increased average fruit weight by 14.59%).
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Reducing heavy metals, pesticides, and nitrites, extending storage life.
The company has also developed the Isle by H brand, bringing hydrogen into healthcare, wellness, and home appliances – making hydrogen a part of daily life.
A Call for Collaboration from Vietnam and ASEAN
Concluding his presentation, Mr. Ianton called for joint efforts:
“To scale up, we must work together – governments, businesses, investors, and consumers. Let’s collaborate on pilot projects in Vietnam and ASEAN, explore green finance models, and build regulatory sandboxes. This is an opportunity for our region to become the growth hub of hydrogen in Asia.”
Mr. Ianton’s keynote inspired a sense of shared purpose and optimism, reflecting the expectation that Vietnam and ASEAN will not stand on the sidelines of the global hydrogen industrialization trend. Building innovative hydrogen projects will require collaboration, solidarity, and partnerships between industry players and local stakeholders.
