Hydrogen fueling station in Seoul / Yonhap

Korea held a ceremony to mark the completion of a new hydrogen production plant in the city of Pyeongtaek, the first such facility in the metropolitan area, the industry ministry said Wednesday.

The base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, is the country's second hydrogen production plant following the first one in the southeastern city of Changwon, which has been in operation since the end of last year.

The Pyeongtaek plant is expected to be put into operation next month after necessary tests. It will be able to produce up to 7 tons of hydrogen per day, which can produce fuel for 430,000 hydrogen vehicles per year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

"The envisioned operation of the new plant is expected to cut distribution costs of the fuel and to boost the competitiveness of the country's hydrogen industry," the ministry said in a release.

Currently, Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area have 33 hydrogen fueling stations.

Korea has been pushing to set up a total of seven smaller-scale hydrogen production bases across the nation by the end of this year, as it is seeking to boost the hydrogen economy as a new growth engine.

A hydrogen fuel cell electric car only releases water vapor as it converts stored hydrogen into electricity to turn the motor.

Global carmakers have been racing to go eco-friendly amid tightened regulations on emissions of greenhouse gases, which scientists say are to blame for global warming. (Yonhap)