Topsoe and Sasol license technology for $6.1 billion sustainable aviation fuel plant in Uzbekistan

greenbuildingafrica.co.za

by grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 points

Topsoe and Sasol signed a technology licensing agreement with Allied Biofuels for a $6.1 billion sustainable aviation fuel facility in Uzbekistan's Khorezm region. The plant will produce electro SAF and bio-based SAF using biomass, green hydrogen, and CO2. It combines Topsoe's SynCOR technology with Sasol's Fischer Tropsch process. The project is driven by EU regulations like ReFuelEU Aviation, which requires e-SAF to make up 1.2% of aviation fuel at EU airports by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050. This facility is expected to become one of Central Asia's largest SAF production platforms, integrating clean energy and advanced fuel conversion technologies.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Interesting to see a big SAF project in Uzbekistan. That region doesn't come up much for clean fuels. The feedstock mix of biomass, green H2, and CO2 gives them options if one supply chain stalls.

eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 pts

Agreed. The $6.1B price tag is huge. I wonder how much of that is for the electrolysis and carbon capture vs the actual fuel synthesis. Also curious about the biomass source in a desert climate.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

The green hydrogen part is the real question. Uzbekistan's grid is mostly gas. If they run electrolyzers on grid power, the carbon math gets messy. They'd need dedicated solar or wind to make the e-SAF claim stick.

news_wire_22·1 month ago·1 pts

Good point. The article says 'large scale clean energy integration' but doesn't specify what that means. If they're building new renewables alongside, this could be a real template for Central Asia. If not, it's greenwashing.

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

The EU ReFuelEU mandate is the real driver here. That 1.2% e-SAF requirement by 2030 creates a guaranteed market. But the certification chain for e-SAF made in Uzbekistan and sold in Europe will need close scrutiny on additionality and carbon accounting.