France and Saudi Arabia partner on SAF development
A new collaboration to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in Saudi Arabia has been announced during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the Kingdom.
The agreement involves Aramco, TotalEnergies, and the Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC), a major player in transforming organic waste into sustainable products.
The agreement, signed in the presence of Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, will see the three partners assess plans for a production facility utilising residues from the circular economy, such as used cooking oil and animal fats.
The announcement reflects deepening cooperation between France and Saudi Arabia in advancing energy innovation and sustainability in aviation, particularly as SAF gains traction as a critical part of global decarbonisation efforts.
Amin H. Nasser, Aramco president and CEO, said: “With demand for air travel forecast to grow, it’s becoming imperative to address aviation emissions through lower-carbon alternatives such as sustainable aviation fuels. This is where major global energy companies like Aramco and TotalEnergies can play a part, by collaborating to help meet this need.
“Addressing transport emissions requires a wide range of approaches and Aramco is pursuing a number of potential innovative solutions, as we seek opportunities to make an impact.
“We already have a well-established partnership with TotalEnergies and this new collaboration demonstrates our intent to explore ways to leverage our combined strengths, in this case with a view to establishing a sustainable aviation fuels plant in the Kingdom with SIRC. As Saudi Arabia’s tourism and aviation sectors expand, this could potentially benefit both domestic and international airlines.”
Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said: “We are delighted to partnering with Aramco and SIRC to study the production of sustainable aviation fuels in the Kingdom. By leveraging our collective expertise, we can take a further step towards the decarbonisation of air transport together.
“SAF is at the heart of our company’s transition strategy, as we strive to meet the aviation industry’s demand to reduce its carbon footprint. Saudi Arabia is emblematic of our multi-energy strategy aimed at supporting the energy transition of oil and gas producing countries. This SAF production project contributes to the country’s Green Initiative and Vision 2030’s objectives.”
