SATORP completes MENA’s first conversion of used cooking oil into certified SAF

SATORP, a platform jointly owned by Aramco (62.5 %) and TotalEnergies (37.5 %), has for the first time in the region successfully converted used cooking oil through coprocessing into ISCC+ certified Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Last August, the platform successfully co-processed used cooking oil in the Low-Pressure Hydrodesulphurisation Unit (LPHDS), producing SAF, meeting all product quality parameters within the SAF specifications, the companies said, with TotalEnergies contributing with its experience and expertise to achieve the goal.

SATORP has received International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC+) to produce SAF. With this certification, the platform will be able to respond the expected rise in SAF demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, TotalEnergies said.

The sustainable aviation fuels produced from UCO reduces CO2 emissions by at least 80% on average over the entire lifecycle, compared with their fossil equivalent.

With this success, TotalEnergies through its platform located in Jubail has further developed its portfolio of circular products. SATORP has previously announced converting oil derived from plastic waste into ISCC+ certified circular polymers, TotalEnergies said.

Francois Good, Senior Vice President, Refining and Petrochemicals Africa Middle East and Asia at TotalEnergies said: “This project at SATORP is part of TotalEnergies’ aim to produce 1.5 million tons/y of SAF by 2030. Sustainable aviation fuel is essential to reducing the CO2 emissions of air transport, and its development is fully aligned with the company's climate ambition to get to net zero by 2050, together with society.”