Thai energy company Bangchak Group has opened the country’s first 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility.
Located at the Bangchak Phra Khanong Refinery, the production unit was Thailand’s first fully integrated standalone neat SAF production facility, said Chaiwat Kovavisarach, group CEO and president of Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited.
Operated by Bangchak Group affiliate BSGF Company Limited, the facility had an initial production capacity of 1M litres/day, Bangchak said on 29 April.
Developed in collaboration with leading oils and fats technology company Desmet and US firm UOP Honeywell, Bangchak said the unit used hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) technology to process fatty acids or vegetable oils, such as used cooking oil (UCO), into SAF.
The company said the facility complied with International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) standards.
With a number of countries introducing SAF blending mandates, including the European Union (2% by 2025 and 6% by 2030), the UK (2% by 2025 and 10% by 2030) and Singapore (1% by 2026 and 5% by 2030), Bangchak said the Thai government was considering the introduction of such a mandate.
