Sinopec and TotalEnergies Forge Partnership for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG:0386, known as Sinopec) has solidified a groundbreaking collaboration with TotalEnergies in Beijing through a heads of agreement (HoA), signaling the commencement of a joint venture dedicated to producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from waste oils at one of Sinopec’s refineries. This strategic partnership aims to establish an annual production capacity of 230,000 tons, with the production line being a collaborative effort between both entities.
Chairman of Sinopec, Ma Yongsheng, hailed this joint endeavor as a pivotal stride forward, emphasizing the fusion of Sinopec’s specialized bio-jet fuel technology (SRJET) and the company’s commitment to enhancing the quality and efficiency of its assets, alongside TotalEnergies’ prominent role in SAF production in Europe. Ma expressed confidence in their capacity to provide superior green and low-carbon solutions globally.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, expressed his excitement about partnering with Sinopec, a significant player in the global refining industry, to manufacture SAF in China and establish a sustainable aviation fuel value chain. Pouyanné underscored the project’s centrality to TotalEnergies’ transformation strategy, aimed at supporting carbon footprint reduction efforts in the aviation sector. He revealed the company’s ambitious target of producing 1.5 million tons of SAF annually by 2030.
Sinopec has long been committed to advancing China’s bio-jet fuel industry, which falls under the category of SAFs produced from renewable resources, offering over 50% reduction in CO2 emissions throughout its lifecycle compared to conventional petroleum-based jet fuels. The company’s journey began in 2009 with the successful development of bio-jet fuel production technology, securing intellectual property rights. Subsequent milestones include producing qualified bio-jet fuels in December 2011, conducting successful trial flights at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport in April 2013, and facilitating commercial and transoceanic flights in 2015 and 2017, respectively, making China a pioneer in bio-jet fuel technology.
In May 2022, China’s first 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. Additionally, the facility obtained airworthiness certificates for domestically produced large-scale biojet fuels in September, further solidifying China’s position as a leader in indigenous bio-jet fuel technology development.
On the day of signing the agreement with TotalEnergies for jet-fuel cooperation, Sinopec also inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce in Bangkok, aimed at enhancing product promotion and collaborating on market expansion efforts.
