Vema Hydrogen Taps Energy Veteran Ramya Swaminathan for Board Leadership, Propelling the Commercialization of Engineered Mineral Hydrogen

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Swaminathan joins Vema Hydrogen as an independent board member to help the company advance funding, secure offtakers and sharpen its focus on commercialization

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HOUSTON, TX January 7, 2026 -- Vema Hydrogen, developer of a disruptive sustainable hydrogen production technology - Engineered Mineral Hydrogen (EMH), today announced the appointment of Ramya Swaninathan, a clean-energy veteran and former CEO of thermo-electric energy storage developer Malta Inc., as an independent member of its Board of Directors. 

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As the energy sector pivots toward clean fuels and as demand escalates with the rise of power-hungry AI data centers, Vema’s EMH technology is positioned to deliver reliable, low-cost hydrogen at scale. With partnerships already established with FPH2 and Verne, the company is demonstrating strong market traction. 

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Building on this momentum, Vema is bringing on Swaminathan, who brings nearly three decades of experience spanning energy infrastructure, long-duration storage, project development, and capital markets. She founded and scaled Malta Inc., a global energy storage company spun out of Google X, and previously built Rye Development into the leading U.S. hydropower developer on existing dams. Earlier in her career, she managed more than $10B in infrastructure financing at UBS Investment Bank.

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At Vema, she will leverage this entrepreneurial and financial expertise to guide commercialization strategy and strengthen North American expansion. She will also advise Vema CEO Pierre Levin in supporting raising capital, closing partnerships, and developing offtake agreements.

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“As we embark on the path to commercialization, we need the best and the brightest to guide our company as we deliver on our promise to produce cost-effective, low-carbon hydrogen. Ramya is that person,” said Pierre Levin, CEO of Vema Hydrogen. “Her rare combination of entrepreneurial vision, technical understanding, and strategic discipline will be instrumental as we scale EMH and meet surging demand from hyperscallers and industrial energy users.”

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Swaminathan adds “I’ve spent my career building companies that turn bold ideas into market-ready solutions. What excited me about Vema is not just the innovation behind EMH, but the company’s determination to prove its value through partnerships and commercialization. I’m eager to help accelerate that journey and expand Vema’s footprint in the clean energy economy.”

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About Vema Hydrogen

Vema Hydrogen is a U.S. producer of low-carbon hydrogen, offering a new path to a clean energy future. The company's unique technology, Engineered Mineral Hydrogen (EMH), harnesses naturally occurring chemical reactions below the Earth's surface to produce high-purity sustainable hydrogen. By applying geoscience to de-risk production and ensure predictable, cost-competitive output, Vema makes clean hydrogen a viable solution for large-scale industrial energy and baseload power needs. More https://www.vema.earth/. 

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Media Contact:

Mission Control Communications (MC2)

Vema@Missionc2.com 

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