Sinopec and TotalEnergies ink agreement for sustainable aviation fuel production

The partnership aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 230,000 tons of SAF.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG:0386, “Sinopec”) has inked a landmark heads of agreement (HoA) with TotalEnergies in Beijing, embarking on a joint venture to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from waste oils at one of Sinopec’s refineries. The partnership aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 230,000 tonnes, with the new production line co-operated by both entities.

Sinopec’s Chairman, Ma Yongsheng, commended the joint effort as a crucial step forward, noting, “With the integration of Sinopec’s specialised bio-jet fuel technology (SRJET) and our dedication to improving our assets’ quality and efficiency, along with TotalEnergies’ leading role in Europe’s SAF production, we are well-equipped to supply superior green and low-carbon solutions around the globe.”

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Sinopec – a major player in the global refining industry – to manufacture SAF in China and establish a sustainable aviation fuel value chain. “This project is central to TotalEnergies’ transformation strategy aimed at supporting the aviation sector’s carbon footprint reduction efforts. The company has set an ambitious target to produce 1.5 million tonnes of SAF annually by 2030.”

Advancing China’s bio-jet fuel industry 

For years, Sinopec has been dedicated to advancing China’s bio-jet fuel industry development. Bio-jet fuel is categorised under SAFs produced from renewable resources offering up to over 50% reduction in CO2 emissions throughout its lifecycle compared with conventional petroleum-based jet fuels. In 2009, Sinopec successfully developed its bio-jet fuel production technology securing intellectual property rights followed by producing qualified bio-jet fuels for the first time in December 2011. April 2013 marked successful trial flights at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport; commercial flights between Shanghai-Beijing were conducted in 2015; transoceanic flights from Beijing-Chicago took place in 2017 making China the first Asian country and fourth globally possessing indigenous bio-jet fuel technology development capabilities.

In May 2022, China’s inaugural industrial-scale bio-jet fuel facility commenced pilot production at Zhenhai Refining & Chemicals achieving Asia’s first Global RSB biomass-based sustainable aviation fuel certification later that year followed by obtaining airworthiness certificates for domestically produced large-scale bio jet fuels in September.

On signing day with TotalEnergies for jet-fuel cooperation agreement also saw Sinopec signing an MOU with Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce in Bangkok aiming further enhancement on product promotion and market expansion collaborations.

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