Lighthouse Green Fuels secures Seal Sands site for multi-billion pound SAF facility

Alfanar Group has confirmed a land option agreement for its Lighthouse Green Fuels (LGF) project at Seal Sands, Teesside — a major milestone that anchors one of the world’s largest planned Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) facilities and the UK’s first commercial‑scale refinery since the 1960s.

The agreement secures the site for a second‑generation SAF plant capable of producing 180 million litres of SAF and 30 million litres of renewable naphtha annually from sustainably sourced biomass, including forestry and agricultural residues.

With access to carbon capture and storage (CCS), LGF can deliver carbon‑negative fuel, reducing lifecycle emissions by more than 200% compared with conventional jet fuel.

The project has entered an advanced development phase, with Front End Engineering Design (FEED) completed in May and all core technology licences secured.

Planning and permitting continue through the Development Consent Order process, supported by LGF’s selection as a Defra Lead Environmental Regulator pilot project — a move designed to streamline consenting for nationally significant infrastructure.

Alfanar UK country head Noaman Al Adhami said the agreement “anchors the project in Teesside” and provides “the platform to deliver one of the most advanced and ambitious sustainable aviation fuel facilities anywhere in the world.” He added: “At a time of growing fuel insecurity, this multibillion investment will strengthen the UK's resilience to global oil price shocks and unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation and skilled jobs in the region.”

Site MP Chris McDonald welcomed the progress, noting: “The scale is impressive, the ambition is clear. This is a powerful vote of confidence in our region. It has the potential to change aviation for the better and cement the UK as a leader in sustainable aviation fuel.”

Alfanar has invested around £90 million to date, with a further £100 million expected before Final Investment Decision at the end of 2027.

Construction is targeted to begin in 2028, with commissioning from 2031 and full operations in 2032.