Kawasaki and Transgaz hydrogen infrastructure partnership

Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Romania’s state-controlled natural gas operator, Transgaz, have entered into a memorandum of understanding to develop large-scale onshore hydrogen gas transport via pipelines. Announced at the Romania–Japan Innovation Forum 2026 in Tokyo, the partnership aims to establish a model for the safe and stable supply of hydrogen to Central and Eastern Europe.

The collaboration focuses on testing Kawasaki’s KM Comp-H2 centrifugal hydrogen compressor technology in Romania. This pilot project represents what Kawasaki describes as a “world-first attempt” to realize large-scale hydrogen gas transport through onshore pipelines.

The initiative is supported by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as part of a program to strengthen ties with Central and Eastern European countries and support Ukraine’s reconstruction. Transgaz intends to integrate hydrogen from renewable and low-carbon sources into its existing network, aligning with the European Hydrogen Backbone and the EU’s Hydrogen Strategy. The company’s long-term development plan includes over EUR 4.9 billion in projects to repurpose natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen blending and transmission.