Gazprom White Hydrogen Extraction in Siberia Explained

A Russian energy giant quietly pulled a few liters of hydrogen out of the ground in Siberia this spring, and suddenly the conversation about clean fuel shifted. Gazprom’s April 2025 extraction of naturally occurring “white” hydrogen from the Kovyktinskoye field marks the first time a major oil and gas company has tapped geological hydrogen rather than manufacturing it.

First production date: April 2025 · Location: Kovyktinskoye gas condensate field, East Siberia · Company: Gazprom · Type: Natural (white) hydrogen

Four key facts stand out from the early data: the date, location, responsible company, and current status of the project.

What is white hydrogen?

White hydrogen is naturally occurring molecular hydrogen that forms deep in the Earth’s crust through processes like serpentinization — where water reacts with iron-rich minerals at high temperatures — and radiolysis, the splitting of water molecules by radioactive decay (Rystad Energy). Unlike green hydrogen (made by electrolysis using renewable electricity), blue hydrogen (made from natural gas with carbon capture) or gray hydrogen (made from fossil fuels without capture), white hydrogen is already in the ground. It can be produced with zero carbon emissions at the point of combustion.

Definition of white hydrogen

• Natural hydrogen found in geological reservoirs (ChemAnalyst)
• Gazprom uses the term “white hydrogen” for naturally occurring extracted hydrogen (ChemAnalyst)

How white hydrogen differs from green, blue, and gray hydrogen

• Green hydrogen: produced by electrolysis using renewable energy
• Blue hydrogen: natural gas reforming with carbon capture and storage
• Gray hydrogen: natural gas reforming without carbon capture
• White hydrogen: naturally occurring — no manufacturing required, just extraction (ChemAnalyst)

Natural occurrence in the Earth’s crust

White hydrogen is found in geological formations worldwide, though most deposits are small. The only fully operational white hydrogen project is in Bourakebougou, Mali, which produces about 5 tonnes of hydrogen annually and has powered a local village for a decade (Rystad Energy). Rystad Energy reports that 40 companies were searching for natural hydrogen deposits at the end of the previous year, up from just 10 in 2020.

How is white hydrogen extracted?

Extraction relies on drilling into hydrogen-bearing geological formations. At the Kovyktinskoye field, Gazprom taps into the formation gas mixture that already contains hydrocarbons, methane, helium, nitrogen, and about 3% hydrogen (Newsbase; Ecoticias). Gazprom uses its existing gas production infrastructure, which lowers initial capital requirements (ChemAnalyst).

Geological formation of natural hydrogen

• Serpentinization: water reacts with iron-rich minerals at elevated temperatures (Rystad Energy)
• Radiolysis: radioactive elements split water molecules (Rystad Energy)

Extraction methods for white hydrogen

Standard drilling techniques access the gas mixture. But separating hydrogen from the mix is the hard part. Alexander Ishkov, deputy department head at Gazprom, stated that membrane technology is not suitable for extracting pure hydrogen at Kovykta because the hydrogen concentration is too low (Interfax). Instead, the company could build additional purification facilities if commercial demand emerges. ChemAnalyst reports that Gazprom is investing in membrane-based separation technologies to improve future efficiency (ChemAnalyst).

Comparison with traditional hydrogen production

Traditional hydrogen production (gray, blue, green) involves chemical conversion or electrolysis. White hydrogen extraction is straightforward drilling — no reforming, no carbon capture hardware, no electrolyzer. But the concentration challenge makes purification costly. In Mali, the Bourakebougou well produces hydrogen at concentrations high enough to burn directly, but most global occurrences, including Kovykta, are much leaner (Rystad Energy).

What are the disadvantages of using white hydrogen?

White hydrogen carries several drawbacks that temper the early excitement. Technical, economic, and environmental factors all need addressing before the fuel can compete at scale.

Technical challenges

• Low hydrogen concentration in most known deposits (~3% at Kovykta) (Newsbase)
• Membrane technology not yet viable for low-concentration streams (Interfax)
• Extraction remains experimental (Rystad Energy)

Economic viability

• Exact cost of Gazprom’s extraction not disclosed (Interfax)
• Infrastructure cost for purification facilities is high (Interfax)
• Commercial demand for hydrogen is uncertain (Interfax)

Environmental concerns of extraction

• Possible methane leakage during drilling (Ecoticias)
• Limited known reserves — total Siberian hydrogen volumes unverified (Rystad Energy)

Which country has white hydrogen?

Russia is the latest — and largest — player to enter the game, but natural hydrogen shows have been documented across the globe. The only continuously operating white hydrogen site is in Mali, where Hydroma’s Bourakebougou well has supplied a village for ten years (Rystad Energy). France is actively exploring deposits in the Lorraine basin, and Australia has several exploration licenses. Rystad Energy projects the first European commercial production could start in 2029.

Countries with natural hydrogen resources

• Mali — one operational site (Rystad Energy)
• France — exploration underway
• Australia — multiple licensed areas
• Russia — first extraction at Kovyktinskoye (Newsbase)
• US, Canada, Brazil — early-stage studies

Russia’s white hydrogen potential

Siberia’s geology offers ideal conditions for serpentinization. Gazprom previously estimated that the gas at Kovykta contains about 3% hydrogen (Newsbase). The field itself is massive: 1.8 trillion cubic meters of recoverable gas and 65.7 million tons of gas condensate (ChemAnalyst). If even a fraction of that hydrogen can be economically extracted, Russia could become a significant white hydrogen producer.

Other European and global deposits

France’s BRGM (Geological and Mining Research Bureau) has identified hydrogen shows in the Lorraine mining basin. Australia’s government has funded exploration in South Australia. But the global map of natural hydrogen remains sparse — most known occurrences are accidental discoveries from oil and gas drilling. According to Rystad Energy, only one project worldwide is currently producing commercial white hydrogen, and it generates just 5 tonnes per year.

What is the cost of Gazprom’s white hydrogen extraction?

Gazprom has not disclosed exact costs for the Kovyktinskoye white hydrogen pilot (Interfax). However, because the company uses existing gas production infrastructure, the marginal cost of extracting the hydrogen-bearing gas mixture is relatively low. The real expense comes from separation and purification. Ishkov said Gazprom could build additional purification facilities if commercial demand emerges (Interfax).

Current cost estimates

No official figures exist. Analysts at ChemAnalyst suggest that membrane-based separation technologies being developed could reduce costs over time (ChemAnalyst). But the pilot stage makes any estimate highly uncertain.

Comparison with green hydrogen cost

Green hydrogen currently costs between $4 and $8 per kilogram, depending on electricity prices and electrolyzer efficiency. White hydrogen, if it can be extracted at scale, could potentially undercut that because it avoids the electricity input. However, until Gazprom publishes a cost breakdown, any comparison is speculative. The only operational white hydrogen site in Mali produces very small volumes and is not cost-comparable to industrial-scale projects.

Future cost projections

If Gazprom’s pilot succeeds and purification technologies improve, white hydrogen could become competitive with blue hydrogen (around $1.50-$3/kg). The key variable is hydrogen concentration: richer deposits mean cheaper separation. For now, 3% at Kovykta is lean. Exploration may find richer zones, or better membranes may make lean gas economic.

The table below compares production methods and estimated costs for different hydrogen types.

The trade-off: white hydrogen promises a lower-cost carbon-free source than green hydrogen, but only if the Earth delivers enough concentrated gas. For now, the numbers are too fuzzy to bet on.

“Gazprom reported producing its first hydrogen from the formation gas mixture at the Kovykta field in East Siberia in April 2025.”

— Interfax (Russian news agency)

“Ishkov said membrane technology is not suitable for extracting pure hydrogen from the Kovykta gas mix because the hydrogen concentration is too low.”

— Interfax, quoting Gazprom deputy department head Alexander Ishkov

“Rystad Energy reported that 40 companies were searching for natural hydrogen deposits at the end of the previous year, up from 10 in 2020.”

— Rystad Energy (energy research firm)

“Newsbase reported that the first extraction was from the Kovyktinskoye gas condensate field in Eastern Siberia.”

— Newsbase (energy intelligence)

The early race for natural hydrogen is just beginning. For Gazprom, the Kovyktinskoye pilot is a low-stakes experiment that opens a door to a potentially massive new business line — if the hydrogen is there and the economics work. For energy importers in Europe and Asia, the implication is clear: either prepare for a future where Russian white hydrogen could compete with domestically produced green hydrogen, or invest now in electrolysis capacity to lock in alternatives before Siberia scales.