When GreenH recently advertised the position of plant manager for its new hydrogen facility in Bodø, the response exceeded expectations. A total of 55 candidates applied for what will be the very first position at the facility on Langstranda.
It has now been confirmed that Jon Inge Drevland (47) from Ørnes has accepted the role as plant manager for what will become Northern Europe’s largest hydrogen facility of its kind.
– We are very pleased to have Jon Inge on board. This is a rare opportunity to help establish new green industry in Northern Norway, said Petter O. Bertheussen, Regional Manager for Northern Norway at GreenH, when the position was announced.
The plant manager position is far more than a traditional leadership role. The position involves responsibility for taking the facility from a construction project to safe and stable operations, building the operational team, and shaping the culture of the new plant.
The Bodø facility is the first in GreenH’s national hydrogen initiative, with additional facilities planned in several locations across Norway.
Strong process industry background
Jon Inge joins from the position of Shift Operations Manager – Process at Yara Glomfjord and brings more than 21 years of experience in the process industry, with extensive expertise in safe and energy-efficient operations, maintenance, and the start-up and shutdown of complex process plants.
He has been responsible for areas including ammonia gas production (NH₃), steam systems, cooling systems, treatment facilities and quality control, and has nearly ten years of experience as a shift leader in safety-critical plants.
Throughout his career he has maintained a strong focus on HSE, quality management and continuous improvement. He has participated in commissioning new production equipment, held key roles during major plant turnarounds, developed procedures, and served as an instructor for operators and apprentices. In addition, he has chaired the examination board for the chemistry and process trade for more than 11 years.
– I look forward to the road ahead and to building a safe and future-oriented facility together with highly skilled people. We have a strong technical support system and a solid operations organization behind us. Together we will build a plant and a working environment we can be proud of — both locally in Bodø and as part of a new green industrial initiative in Norway, says Jon Inge Drevland.
A milestone for Bodø
The large and strong pool of applicants demonstrates that Bodø and Nordland are attractive locations for new industry. The fact that 55 candidates applied for the first position at the facility highlights both the interest in hydrogen as an energy carrier and the belief that this project will become an important part of Norway’s future green value chain.
The recruitment company Hyr, represented by advisor and Bodø native Karoline Rosøy Tømmerbakk, has led the recruitment process.
– At the end of April we will advertise the next six to eight positions at the plant, and I look forward to assisting in those processes as well. Together with Jon Inge, we will build a strong operations team for GreenH Bodø, ready for the future,says Karoline Rosøy Tømmerbakk.
Building the operations team
The facility at Langstranda is planned to be completed towards the end of 2026, and throughout the spring and summer the operations team will be built.
During this period, GreenH will recruit key specialists within chemical process operations, electrical engineering (both high and low voltage), automation, mechanical maintenance and the operation of safety-critical facilities. These roles will be essential to ensure a safe, stable and efficient start-up and continued operation of the plant.
About GreenH Bodø
The hydrogen facility in Bodø will have an electrolysis capacity of 20 MW and a production capacity of 8.5 tonnes of green hydrogen per day.
The first major customer is Torghatten Nord, which will use hydrogen to operate the Bodø–Lofoten ferry route, a project expected to reduce approximately 26,500 tonnes of CO₂ annually.