Germany and the Czech Republic have launched a high-level working group aimed at rapidly deepening cross-border collaboration on hydrogen pipelines and related infrastructure, prioritizing the crucial Czech-German Hydrogen Interconnector (CGHI) project.

The initiative, announced by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics, formalizes a joint effort to convert existing natural gas pipelines for bidirectional hydrogen transport, effectively linking the two nations' future hydrogen grids. 

The CGHI is viewed by both governments as a keystone project for the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels and the strategic push toward energy independence.

The new working group comprises key ministers from both countries, their national regulatory bodies, and major gas network operators: GASCADE, Open Grid Europe, NaTran, and NET4GAS. Its core mandate is to fast-track joint planning, achieve regulatory alignment, and confirm the technical feasibility of the shared infrastructure.

The collaboration builds directly on a memorandum of understanding signed between Berlin and Prague on April 25, 2025, which laid the foundation for bilateral hydrogen efforts. The new group marks a formal push toward practical, rapid implementation.

Central to enhancing Germany's internal hydrogen core network, the CGHI is also critical in establishing a corridor for future hydrogen exports eastward to the Czech Republic through a cross-border pipeline. 

For Czech industry, which is heavily reliant on imports, the interconnector is vital for industrial decarbonization and energy security. The conversion aligns with the broader European Union’s REPowerEU plan, which seeks to boost hydrogen import and transit targets across the bloc.

By repurposing existing infrastructure, the two countries are positioning themselves as central players in the emerging European hydrogen economy, ensuring that cooperation moves swiftly from policy to practical cross-border hydrogen trade.