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Laos has inaugurated Asia's first hydrogen-powered coffee roasting plant in Champasak province, aimed at enhancing export value and promoting sustainable production. The facility, developed through a collaboration between a Japanese company, local coffee producers, and the Lao government, utilizes hydrogen fuel to roast coffee beans at approximately 200 degrees Celsius, producing zero carbon emissions.

The plant leverages Laos' hydropower resources for cost-effective hydrogen production. Following a successful pilot facility, a larger plant with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes per year is under construction and expected to start operations in 2027. This initiative is designed to improve local farmers' incomes, provide access to high-value markets, and secure a sustainable future for the coffee sector, while the government continues to enhance production quality and market access.