Aramco, TotalEnergies, and the Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC) have signed a Joint Development and Cost Sharing Agreement (JDCSA) to explore the possibility of building a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production plant in Saudi Arabia. The project will focus on recycling local waste to produce cleaner fuel for aviation.
The SAF plant, if developed, will be located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The project will use waste materials like used cooking oils and animal fats as feedstock. The agreement was announced during the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Saudi Arabia, underlining collaboration between the two nations.
Amin H. Nasser, President and CEO of Aramco, said that air travel demand is increasing, making it important to reduce aviation emissions through low-carbon alternatives. He added that Aramco is exploring several solutions to reduce emissions and noted the potential benefits of SAF for Saudi Arabia’s growing tourism and aviation sectors.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, stated that, “the partnership with Aramco and SIRC aligns with the company’s efforts to help decarbonize the aviation industry.” He emphasized that, “SAF is a major focus for TotalEnergies as part of its strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of air transport.”
Eng. Ziad Al-Sheha, CEO of SIRC, said that “the project supports Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, which aim to promote sustainability and renewable resources.” He added that, “converting waste into renewable fuels aligns with SIRC’s mission to advance the circular economy in the Kingdom.” The study will assess the technical and economic feasibility of the SAF plant, focusing on innovative engineering and recycling technologies.
