Chrissie Rose, a member of the Action Organizing Coalition leading the protests, told POLITICO: “Hydrogen Week is about European oil relying on secret practices, imperialist violence and colonial domination for profit. and another attempt to green the image of the gas company,” he said. “
At the same time, pro-Palestinian activists joined calls to disrupt the event, with Italy’s Snam one of its sponsors. Snam partly owns gas pipelines linking Israel and Egypt and infrastructure off the Gaza coast.
“Not only is Snam complicit in this genocide, he is actively lining his pockets while our people are being slaughtered,” said Naji Muhammad, a global energy embargo activist for Palestine. “A comprehensive energy embargo is needed to stop the use of energy to fuel genocide.”
A Snam spokesperson told POLITICO that the claims are “clearly inappropriate” and that the pipeline is “a rare example of regional cooperation.”
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of trade association Hydrogen Europe, denied that gas production, which can power heavy industry and cars, had a disproportionately negative impact on developing countries.
“The ‘colonialism’ argument ignores the fact that all hydrogen-related agreements are based on the prior consent of these countries’ governments and that the West will not deprive these countries of their sunlight or wind power,” he said.
But some activists in countries where renewable hydrogen projects are underway say the industry is designed to deliver results while also accelerating Europe’s green transition.
“Chile’s ambition to produce the world’s cheapest hydrogen hides the sacrifice of territories and ecosystems that are crucial to the sustainability of life in our region and on our planet,” said Natalia Lueje, campaigner for Sustentarse in Chile. “There is,” he said.
