China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and TotalEnergies have signed a heads of agreement (HoA) in Beijing to establish a joint venture for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from waste oils at one of Sinopec’s refineries. The partnership aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 230,000 tons, with the new production line being co-operated by both companies.
Sinopec’s Chairman, Ma Yongsheng, praised the collaboration, stating, “With the integration of Sinopec’s specialized bio-jet fuel technology (SRJET) and our dedication to improving our assets’ quality and efficiency, along with TotalEnergies’ leading role in Europe’s SAF production, we are well-equipped to supply superior green and low-carbon solutions around the globe.”
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Sinopec, a major player in the global refining industry, to manufacture SAF in China and establish a sustainable aviation fuel value chain. He noted that the project is central to TotalEnergies’ transformation strategy, which aims to support the aviation sector’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. The company has set an ambitious target to produce 1.5 million tons of SAF annually by 2030.
Sinopec has been dedicated to advancing China’s bio-jet fuel industry for years. Bio-jet fuel, a category of SAF produced from renewable resources, offers up to a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions throughout its lifecycle compared to conventional petroleum-based jet fuels. Sinopec has achieved several milestones in the development and implementation of bio-jet fuel technology, including successful trial flights, commercial flights, and transoceanic flights.
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. In September, the facility obtained airworthiness certificates for domestically produced large-scale biojet fuels.
On the same day as the signing of the jet-fuel cooperation agreement with TotalEnergies, Sinopec also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce in Bangkok, aiming to further enhance product promotion and market expansion collaborations.
