A discussion was held between Vittorio Coco, President Ceylon Italy Blue Economy Association, Nawaz Rajabdeen, President, Confederation of MSME Industries and Macky Hashim, Past President, SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka on the project for the production of hydrogen fuel from the ocean using solar power which has been submitted to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) which promotes the production of Hydrogen in which Sri Lanka is the current Chair.
The concept of producing green Hydrogen fuel has been forwarded to Sri Lankan partners by Italian businessman Vittorio Coco, President Ceylon Italy Blue Economy Association who has also had negotiations with the Sri Lankan government over setting up the project. Coco said they plan to set up a World Trade Center in Trincomalee and Cristina Sbaizero, CEO of the World Trade Center Trieste Italy will partner them in this initiative. This will be a hub for trade and investment related to blue economy and hydrogen products and it would be created with the collaboration of the World Trade Center. An international hydrogen trade office too will be created and connected to the World Trade Center network. He said they have had discussions and requested Foreign Minister Ali Sabry to take the lead as Sri Lanka is now the Chair of IORA.
Nawaz Rajabdeen, President, Confederation of MSME Industries said this would be moving from fossil fuel to green fuel which is a requirement with the International Marine Organization making it mandatory from 2030 that all cruiser vessels must use green energy for which Hydrogen is the base product produced from resources in the ocean using solar. He said Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles and all island nations will benefit by having bunkering stations in their countries for the future of maritime trade. Rajabdeen said they would support the project as a Chamber and also use their regional network to support it which will provide a stepping stone for anybody coming into the picture. He said this is the future and a flagship bunkering company in Sri Lanka too will be involved in the project.
