South Africa's Sasol aims for green jet fuel exports to EU
- Sasol targets 200 MM liters (l) of SAF by 2030
- Natref upgrade part of plans to reduce carbon footprint
- New certification allows SAF exports to EU
South African petrochemical company Sasol has received certification from a German agency for its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), paving the way for it to start exports to the European Union, a senior company executive said on Thursday.
Sasol's SAF which is produced using cooking oil and vegetable oil at the company's 108,500-bpd Natref plant, was granted ISCC Plus sustainability certification from Germany's TUV SUD agency. The agency also certified sustainable chemicals produced at Sasol's sister Secunda complex, Sasol said.
"South Africa has a lot of used cooking oil which is being collected, taken to Durban and exported to Rotterdam in the EU and they make it (SAF) there," Sarushen Pillay, Sasol's VP strategy and technology, told media. "Now, we will be able to make it in South Africa."
He did not say when Sasol hoped to start exports to the EU.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has severely crimped jet fuel supplies globally, with the EU among the worst hit regions as skyrocketing prices and dwindling stocks hit airlines ahead of a potentially catastrophic summer tourism season.
Depending on customer demand, crude oil-dependent Natref, which is converting into a hybrid bio-refinery, is targeting 1 MM liters–2 MM liters this year, around 16 MM liters in 2027 and up to 100 MM liters by 2030 as Sasol aims to reduce its carbon footprint and readies for new cleaner fuel specifications.
"If we include Secunda then we are looking at 200 MM liters of SAF by 2030," Pillay said.
Sasol, one of Africa's worst industrial polluters, has also partnered with Anglo American and De Beers to use plants such as Solaris crops, which have high oil yield, to develop a biolipid feedstock for its overall SAF production portfolio.
($1 = 16.5539 rand)
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