Completion ceremony (ribbon cutting by business operators and guests). / SOURCE: Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd.
March 17, 2025
BY Erin Krueger
Japan-based Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd. on March 6 announced that construction is complete on a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant located within the company’s existing Sakai refinery. The facility, operated by Saffaire Sky Energy LLC, is expected to begin supplying SAF in April.
According to Cosmo, the SAF facility will convert waste oil feedstock into SAF. Once fully operational, the project is expected to have the capacity to produce 30 million liters per year (7.93 MMgy) of SAF.
Cosmo Oil, JGC Holdings and Revo International have been working to develop SAF capacity since 2020. The groups established Saffaire Sky Energy in 2022. Cosmo Oil and JGC Holdings each hold 48% ownership in Saffaire Sky Energy. Revo International holds the remaining 4% ownership.
Saffaire Sky Energy has already secured ISCC CORSIA certification for SAF produced at the new biorefinery.
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Cosmo Oil on March 14 announced that the collection of used cooking oil (UCO) to supply feedstock for the SAF facility is already underway. The facility is working with local governments to promote UCO recycling. Most recently, Cosmo announced that an agreement to promote the use of UCO was signed with Suita City, Japan, on March 12. Based on that agreement, Suita City is expected to provide approximately 27,000 liters of UCO to the biorefinery annually.
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The USDA significantly increased its estimate for 2025-’26 soybean oil use in biofuel production in its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, released July 11. The outlook for soybean production was revised down.
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.
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.
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.
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.