Belgium considers investigating presence of natural hydrogen
The federal government is considering whether to begin an investigation into the possible presence of natural hydrogen in Belgium after a large hydrogen bubble was discovered in northeastern France.
“Belgium may have white gold under its feet,” Climate minister Jean-Luc Crucke, of Les Engagés, told RTBF radio on Friday morning. Should the commodity also be in Belgian soil, it would be a “gamechanger”.
A hydrogen bubble discovered three years ago was tapped this week near Metz. Possibly the largest natural hydrogen reservoir in the world, it is thought to extend into Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Hydrogen is an energy carrier, so the discovery could be significant in the transition to green energy.
"There is an opportunity up for grabs, we must seize it"
The government is now discussing whether to launch an investigation into the possible presence of hydrogen in Belgium. The operation would take up to three years and cost around 3.5 million euros, financed by funds from the European innovation fund ETS.
“The French have a head start. We have no time to lose,” Crucke said. “There is an opportunity up for grabs, we must seize it.”
Like oil and gas, white hydrogen is naturally occurring, generated by continuous geochemical reactions in hard rock.
The REGALOR II project, which aims to characterise the resource of natural hydrogen and find a method for its exploitation in Pontpierre, northeastern France, 23 January 2026 © PHOTO JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / AFP
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