CHARBONE Strengthens Hydrogen Production Team with Air Liquide Veteran Ahead of First Revenue Milestone

CHARBONE Corporation has appointed Jean Watelle to its clean Ultra High Purity hydrogen production team as the company prepares for first delivery at its flagship project in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. Watelle brings more than 25 years of technical and manufacturing management experience, including 11 years as Director of Hydrogen and Site Operations for Air Liquide Canada's Eastern Region Large Industries division.

The hiring comes at a critical juncture for CHARBONE as it transitions its first project deployment to full-scale production. Watelle's operational expertise in continuous improvement methodologies and lean manufacturing, developed through roles at Chrysler and Ford as a Tier 1 specialist, will support the management of clean UHP hydrogen production across projects in the United States and Canada. His appointment signals CHARBONE's shift from planning to execution phase as detailed on their corporate website at https://www.charbone.com.

Dave Gagnon, CHARBONE's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, emphasized the strategic importance of this addition. "Jean's extensive experience in industrial gases, particularly in operations and production management, will significantly strengthen our team as we move from planning to execution," Gagnon stated. "As we prepare to generate our first revenues from Sorel-Tracy, we are focused on increasing shareholder value through efficient operations and strategic growth."

The Sorel-Tracy project represents CHARBONE's initial step in developing a network of clean hydrogen production facilities throughout North America and select international markets. The company's modular approach aims to reduce risk, enhance scalability, and enable diversified revenue streams through partnerships in helium and other specialty gases. This development occurs as CHARBONE trades on multiple exchanges including the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: CH), OTC Markets (OTCQB: CHHYF), and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: K47).

For investors and stakeholders, regulatory filings and detailed risk factors are available through the SEDAR database at https://www.sedar.com, providing transparency into the company's forward-looking statements and operational considerations. The appointment of an industry veteran with Watelle's credentials suggests CHARBONE is building operational capacity to match its strategic ambitions in the clean hydrogen sector.

The timing of this leadership addition carries significant implications for the emerging clean hydrogen industry. As governments and industries accelerate their transition to lower-carbon energy sources, companies like CHARBONE that demonstrate both technical capability and operational readiness may gain competitive advantages. Watelle's experience at Air Liquide, a global industrial gas leader, provides CHARBONE with proven methodologies for scaling hydrogen production operations while maintaining safety and efficiency standards.

This development represents more than just a personnel change—it reflects the maturation of clean hydrogen from conceptual projects to revenue-generating operations. The Sorel-Tracy project's progression toward first delivery indicates that decentralized, modular hydrogen production is moving from theory to practical implementation. For industries seeking to reduce carbon emissions through hydrogen adoption, CHARBONE's operational build-out suggests increasing availability of clean UHP hydrogen from North American sources.

The global transition to cleaner energy sources creates both opportunities and challenges for hydrogen producers. CHARBONE's integrated model, combining hydrogen production with industrial gas distribution, positions the company to serve both emerging hydrogen applications and traditional industrial gas markets. As detailed in their corporate materials, this dual approach aims to create diversified revenue streams while supporting the broader shift toward localized clean energy solutions.