Engagement of J. Surma to Support SAF Development

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC

26 August 2026

 

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.  

26 August 2026

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC

(the "Company" or "HUI")

Engagement of J. Surma to Support SAF Development

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC (LSE: HUI), a pioneering company transforming non-recyclable waste plastic into hydrogen, clean fuels and advanced materials, focusing on advanced fuels such as jet fuel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel is delighted to announce that it has engaged Jeffrey E. Surma, President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of InEnTec Inc. ("InEnTec"), to work alongside HUI's technical consultants in support of the engineering and development of projects incorporating InEnTec's PEM® (Plasma Enhanced Melter) gasification technology.

The engagement represents an important step in HUI's strategy to advance the  engineering and development of its project pipeline towards future commercial deployment with the objective of developing facilities capable of processing difficult-to-recycle waste streams and converting them into valuable products, especially Sustainable Aviation Fuel ("SAF") which is currently at the centre of HUI's strategy.

Jeffrey Surma is one of the principal pioneers and developers of the PEM®  gasification technology on which InEnTec's commercial platform is based. His involvement with the technology extends back to its development at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ("PNNL"), where he spent almost ten years directing major research programmes focused on new methods of transforming waste. At PNNL, Jeff Surma led multi-million-dollar research projects involving the development of advanced plasma processing technologies. He subsequently led a multi-institutional team comprising researchers from PNNL and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developing plasma technologies which were subsequently commercialised through InEnTec.

Most importantly, Jeffrey Surma is responsible for the design and development of the PEM® gasification technology  system, a core component of InEnTec's technology platform, which has demonstrated the ability to gasify a broad range of difficult-to-process plastics.waste streams, including non-recyclable waste plastic. 

Jeffrey Surma's engagement is regarded by the Company as a significant addition to HUI's project development capabilities. His first-hand experience spans the full lifecycle of plasma gasification technology,  from its origins in federal research programmes through to its commercialisation and industrial deployment. The Board believes that his involvement will materially strengthen and de-risk the engineering and development of HUI's projects as they progress towards potential commercial deployment and that his  continued contribution will  play a central role in supporting HUI as it advances its project portfolio.

Aleksandra Binkowska, Chief Executive Officer of Hydrogen Utopia International PLC, commented: "It is with the utmost honour that we welcome Jeff Surma to HUI.  As the inventor behind InEnTec, Jeff brings a depth of know-how, expertise, and knowledge that few in this field can match, the product of nearly three decades dedicated to pursuing a singular vision: a technology capable of transforming what the world discards into what the world desperately needs. In InEnTec, that vision has become reality - the only solution I have found, after years of searching, that truly delivers. To now have the privilege of bringing his technology and his expertise to the GCC and the UK, converting waste into jet fuel, is nothing short of the fulfilment of a dream I have long held. This partnership marks not just a milestone for HUI, but a meaningful step toward a cleaner, more resourceful future."

Jeffrey E. Surma, President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of InEnTec Inc., commented: "I'm genuinely excited to support HUI's team and see the InEnTec technology deployed across two markets where sustainable aviation is really gaining momentum. The UK and Saudi Arabia are both positioning themselves as leaders in the SAF sector, and having the opportunity to support implementation in both regions-with such strong market conditions-is exactly the kind of impact I envisioned when developing this solution. I'm looking forward to supporting the HUI team to scale the SAF and other waste to value opportunities in these regions and contribute to the industry's transition toward more sustainable operations. The intractable problem of extracting value from otherwise unrecyclable plastics is an extremely important endeavor and I am excited to have HUI as a licensee of the InEnTec technology to solve this significant problem"

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC  

Aleksandra Binkowska                    

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Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Limited (LSE Corporate Adviser)  

Nick Michaels/Maya Klein Wassink                                                                           

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Clear Capital Markets (Broker)                                                                      

Bob Roberts

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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.   

 

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