PARIS - Chile is embarking on a European hunt for investors in solar, wind and green hydrogen technologies as it looks to decarbonise copper mines and other industries reliant on fossil fuels. Marcos Kulka, CEO of H2Chile, a hydrogen association of 102 public and private companies, travelled to Europe to outline his government’s energy strategy, amid renegotiations of an EU-Chile trade and investment deal.

Kulka told AFP that “given the resources it has”, Chile can become carbon-neutral by 2040 -- 10 years earlier than the global net-zero target set in the Paris Agreement on climate change. Speaking on the sidelines of the Hyvolution energy trade show in Paris this month, Kulka said 24% of the reduction in emissions in Chile will come from hydrogen and its derivatives.

Hydrogen, which emits only water vapour when consumed, is touted for potential use in high-polluting heavy industries such as steel, metals, cement and chemicals, as well as in shipping and transport. - Nampa/AFP