Paris, June 11, 2025 – Marking a significant milestone in Vietnam’s energy transition, HDF Energy, a global pioneer in hydrogen power solutions, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC), a prominent state-owned enterprise in maritime transport, port operations, and logistics. This strategic partnership seeks to advance the deployment of green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies across VIMC’s operations, contributing
to the decarbonization of Vietnam’s maritime sectors. The MoU was formalized during a high-level ceremony in Paris, held on the occasion of Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s official state visit to France in the context of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), and attended by key representatives from Ministries, State-Owned Enterprises, and the private sector.
Vietnam’s extensive coastline and rapidly expanding port infrastructure make maritime transport a critical component of its economy. However, the sector is also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions due to its dependence on fossil fuels. As part of its commitment under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) and in line with the International Maritime Organization’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, Vietnam is seeking innovative pathways to reduce its maritime carbon footprint. The collaboration between HDF Energy and VIMC is a timely response to these global and national sustainability objectives.
The MoU establishes a strategic framework to develop and deploy HDF’s hydrogen fuel cell technologies across Vietnam’s maritime sector, with a focus on retrofitting vessels and port infrastructure. Joint initiatives will include feasibility studies, technical assessments, and pilot projects to validate and deploy hydrogen-powered ship operations.
VIMC will support these efforts by sharing operational data and selecting vessels and ports for study and pilot deployment. It will also help assess the performance of fuel cell technologies and explore broader adoption across its fleet and infrastructure. HDF, in turn, will lead the design and integration of retrofit solutions—such as onboard fuel cells, onshore refueling stations, and shore power systems. Competitive green hydrogen to power these fuel cells could be supplied by HDF’s Renewstable® hydrogen power plants currently under development in Vietnam, which is expected to generate surplus green hydrogen at a competitive marginal cost, thus leveraging economies of scale.
Beyond technical collaboration, the partnership aims to scale up successful models nationwide. HDF will support VIMC in securing international funding to accelerate implementation. Together, they intend to position hydrogen as a cornerstone of Vietnam’s clean maritime strategy and contribute to the country’s net-zero targets by 2050.
The MoU was officially signed by Mr. Nguyễn Cảnh Tĩnh, CEO of VIMC and Mr. Damien Havard, CEO of HDF Energy, in the presence of Mr. Phạm Minh Chính, Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology, and Mr. Hồ Sỹ Hùng, Vietnamese Vice Minister of Finance, Mr. François Corbin, Vice-President of MEDEF international, Mr. Tran Khanh Viet Dung, Business Development Manager at HDF Energy Vietnam.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Mr. Nguyễn Cảnh Tĩnh, CEO of VIMC expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating: “VIMC is proactively restructuring its fleet by investing in new generation ships and applying advanced technologies that help save fuel and reduce CO₂ emissions. At the same time, our strategy is to implement shore power systems for ships at ports, allowing them to switch off diesel generators while docking for cargo operations. VIMC is also focusing on developing deep-water ports following the ‘green port – smart port’ model, investing in electrified cargo handling equipment, and managing operations through digitalization to optimize efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
Our partnership with HDF Energy, a pioneer in hydrogen fuel, aligns perfectly with our green transformation strategy. We believe that this project will accelerate VIMC’s emission reduction roadmap, realize the Net Zero 2050 goal, and reaffirm VIMC’s pioneering role in developing a zero-emission maritime model in Vietnam.”
Mr. Damien Havard, CEO of HDF Energy, also stated: “Vietnam’s maritime sector presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate how hydrogen can decarbonize heavy mobility at scale. Partnering with VIMC allows us to bring concrete, technically mature fuel cell solutions to the forefront of maritime innovation. By combining our hydrogen power expertise with VIMC’s operational leadership, we aim to build a replicable model for zero-emission maritime transport – not only for Vietnam, but for the entire region”
ABOUT VIETNAM MARITIME CORPORATION (VIMC)
Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) is the country’s leading state-owned enterprise in maritime logistics, managing a wide network of seaports, shipping lines, and multimodal transport services. As a strategic player in Vietnam’s international trade, VIMC is actively pursuing digitalization and green transformation to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and global competitiveness. More information, visit: https://vimc.co/
ABOUT HYDROGÈNE DE FRANCE (HDF Energy)
HDF Energy is a leading global player in the hydrogen industry, dedicated to developing large-scale hydrogen infrastructure and advanced multi-megawatt fuel cell technology. These fuel cells generate electricity from hydrogen, driving the decarbonization efforts across the power generation, heavy maritime and rail mobility sectors. Set to commence mass production in 2025 at HDF Energy’s facility near Bordeaux, these fuel cells serve as the cornerstone of the power plants and heavy mobility solutions developed by HDF Energy.
HDF Energy’s Renewstable® power plants deliver non-intermittent renewable, stable and baseload power by seamlessly integrating intermittent renewable energy sources with substantial on-site energy storage in the form of green hydrogen. HDF Energy is also developing extensive infrastructure for the mass production of carbon-free hydrogen.
Backed by a team of over 150 hydrogen experts boasting more than a decade of operational experience across the value chain, HDF Energy is currently developing a portfolio of advanced projects valued at over €3 billion. Headquartered in France, HDF Energy has regional offices in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region with 35+ nationalities among its staff. Since 2021, the Group has been listed on the Euronext Paris stock market.
More information, visit: www.hdf-energy.com
