Your argument was spot on with what was said to defend the conversion of a deactivated refinery into a hydrogen plant.
This is a relatively small country, with a small population, so achieving energy independence makes complete sense. We have a very strong solar, wind and hydroelectric instalation already in place, enough that we have already several registered days where no fossil energy nor foreign bought was necessary to supply our demand. But it is common for 90% of our produced energy to be sold (cheaply) and the energy we use to be bought.
We are an example to all and yet the distrust towards renewables is generalized, to the point many even think the wind turbines cause heat trapping where the machines are installed, leading to fires and droughts.
It is disheartening. I remember reading that 10% of all the money invested annually into the oil industry could cause renewables to leap ten years forward in research.