Aramco, TotalEnergies and SIRC assess the development of a SAF project in Saudi Arabia

December 3, 2024

BY TotalEnergies

On the occasion of the visit of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Energy, Aramco, TotalEnergies and Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC), the major player which collects and valorizes organic materials into sustainable products in Saudi Arabia, announced today the signing of a joint development and cost sharing agreement (JDCSA) to assess the development of a sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) production unit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This collaboration will draw on the expertise of the three partners to develop a production unit of sustainable aviation fuel by converting local residues from the circular economy, such as used cooking oil and animal fats.

Amin H. Nasser, Aramco president & CEO, said, “With demand for air travel forecast to grow, it’s becoming imperative to address aviation emissions through lower-carbon alternatives such as sustainable aviation fuels. This is where major global energy companies like Aramco and TotalEnergies can play a part, by collaborating to help meet this need. Addressing transport emissions requires a wide range of approaches and Aramco is pursuing a number of potential innovative solutions, as we seek opportunities to make an impact. We already have a well-established partnership with TotalEnergies and this new collaboration demonstrates our intent to explore ways to leverage our combined strengths, in this case with a view to establishing a sustainable aviation fuels plant in the Kingdom with SIRC. As Saudi Arabia’s tourism and aviation sectors expand, this could potentially benefit both domestic and international airlines.”

Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said, “We are delighted to partnering with Aramco and SIRC to study the production of sustainable aviation fuels in the Kingdom. By leveraging our collective expertise, we can take a further step towards the decarbonization of air transport together. SAF is at the heart of our company's transition strategy, as we strive to meet the aviation industry's demand to reduce its carbon footprint. Saudi Arabia is emblematic of our multi-energy strategy aimed at supporting the energy transition of oil and gas producing countries. This SAF production project contributes to the country's Green Initiative and Vision 2030’s objectives.”

Advertisement

Advertisement

Eng. Ziad Al-Sheha, CEO of SIRC, said, “In keeping with our commitment to supporting the ambitious sustainability objectives of Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, we have a keen focus on increasing waste conversion rates into renewable resources. The new partnership with Aramco and TotalEnergies to assess the feasibility of a renewable aviation fuels plant signifies a major leap forward in our mission. We also believe it will enrich and energize our efforts to lead the development of the Kingdom’s circular economy.”

 

Advertisement

Advertisement

Related Stories

The U.S. Energy Information Administration maintained its forecast for 2025 and 2026 biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released July 8.

Read More

XCF Global Inc. on July 10 shared its strategic plan to invest close to $1 billion in developing a network of SAF production facilities, expanding its U.S. footprint, and advancing its international growth strategy.

Read More

U.S. fuel ethanol capacity fell slightly in April, while biodiesel and renewable diesel capacity held steady, according to data released by the U.S. EIA on June 30. Feedstock consumption was down when compared to the previous month.

Read More

XCF Global Inc. on July 8 provided a production update on its flagship New Rise Reno facility, underscoring that the plant has successfully produced SAF, renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha during its initial ramp-up.

Read More

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency is implementing multiple changes to the Camelina pilot insurance program for the 2026 and succeeding crop years. The changes will expand coverage options and provide greater flexibility for producers.

Read More

Upcoming Events

Sign up for our e-newsletter!

Advertisement

Advertisement