Master Services Agreement with io consulting

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.  Upon the publication of this announcement via the Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.  

20 August 2026

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC

(the "Company" or "HUI")

Master Services Agreement with io consulting

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC (LSE: HUI), a pioneering company focussed on transforming non-recyclable waste plastic into hydrogen and advanced fuels, such as jet fuel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), is delighted to announce that it has entered into a Master Services Agreement ("MSA") with io consulting (energy) UK LLP ("io"), based in London. io is an engineering consultancy providing front-end loading and strategic advisory services across the energy, chemicals, resources and decarbonisation sectors, and is a strategic joint venture between McDermott and Baker Hughes.

Under the terms of the MSA, io will provide HUI with engineering and consulting services to support the development and commercialisation of HUI's waste plastic-to-hydrogen and waste plastic-to-SAF projects. Using its capital value process, io will support projects from initial feasibility through progressive project definition, helping establish the technical and commercial basis required to support investment decisions.

io brings together a multidisciplinary team of consultants, engineers and project management professionals with experience across complex energy and chemicals developments. Its engagement will provide HUI with specialist technical, commercial and project development capability, as HUI progresses its growing pipeline of project opportunities.

In particular, io will support HUI in the evaluation and development of its UK SAF opportunity, bringing together the technical, commercial and project development requirements needed to progress the opportunity. This will include consideration of potential routes to funding and financing, together with support for HUI's engagement with relevant stakeholders, partners and funding programmes.

The engagement follows HUI's announcement on 17 August 2026 that it has secured a UK licence from InEnTec Inc. for its proprietary PEM® (Plasma Enhanced Melter) gasification technology, enabling HUI to pursue the production of SAF from non-recyclable waste plastics in the UK.

The UK Government has identified SAF as a strategically important component of the transition to lower-carbon aviation. The Department for Transport (DfT) has enacted the SAF Mandate, requiring UK fuel suppliers to ensure an increasing proportion of SAF within the aviation fuel mix over time.

In June 2026, the DfT announced a £219 million Low Carbon Fuels Fund, including £93 million to be made available over the next two years to support the development and commercialisation of UK SAF production capacity, as part of the Government's ambition to develop the UK as a global hub for low-carbon fuels.

HUI intends to assess and pursue appropriate funding opportunities available under these programmes as its UK SAF proposition develops. io will apply its sector and project development expertise to support the continued development and definition of HUI's project opportunties, helping understand and address relevant technical, commercial and funding requirements and supporting discussions with potential partners and stakeholders.

Duncan Snelling, Chief Technical Officer of HUI, stated: "We are very pleased to be working with io consulting. Their experience as project architects across complex energy developments will be valuable as we advance our UK SAF opportunity and wider advanced fuels portfolio. io's ability to integrate the technical, commercial and project development elements of complex projects will help us progress these opportunities on a co-ordinated way as they move  towards investment and delivery. We look forward to working closely with the io team on the UK SAF project and, as our pipeline develops, on future advanced fuels projects."

Imran Esmail, CEO of io consulting, commented: "We are delighted to be supporting HUI as it develops its UK SAF opportunity and wider advanced fuels portfolio. The combination of waste conversion, lower-carbon fuels and a developing UK market creates an interesting opportunity, but ultimately successful projects need to bring together the technology, commercial case, funding strategy and route to delivery. Our role is to help HUI develop the opportunity in a structured way, building the level of project definition needed to support sound investment decisions and constructive engagement with partners and stakeholders. We look forward to working closely with the HUI team as the UK SAF project progresses."

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC  

Aleksandra Binkowska 

+44 78 8077 0880 

Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Limited (LSE Corporate Adviser)  

Nick Michaels/Maya Klein Wassink 

+44 20 8064 4056 

Clear Capital Markets (Broker) 

Bob Roberts

+44 (0)20 3869 6081 

About Hydrogen Utopia International PLC   

HUI aims to become one of the leading new companies specialising in converting non-recyclable mixed waste plastic into hydrogen and other carbon-free fuels, new materials or distributed renewable heat.    

A HUI facility uses non-recyclable mixed waste plastic as feedstock and turns it into syngas from which new products and energy can be produced. HUI anticipates that its revenues will be derived from a variety of sources, dependent upon location and configuration of the HUI facilities, including the sale of syngas, hydrogen and other gases, electricity and heat sales, and the payment to it of fees for a given quantity of non-recyclable mixed waste plastic received at a HUI facility.   

HUI will target areas where there is significant private sector interest or potential, financial backing is accessible and or where substantial government funded sources of grants and loans are or may be available. The global increase in fossil fuel-based energy prices reinforces the need for alternative, price competitive energy sources, which HUI's business model can provide. Learn more at www.hydrogenutopia.eu/