ADNOC gets green light to produce SAF in the Middle East

ADNOC said its Ruwais Refinery has received International Sustainability Carbon Certification (ISCC) for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) - making it the first company in the Middle East to earn the distinction.
The ISCC EU/CORSIA PLUS Co Processing international certification enables ADNOC to supply its SAF to international airlines at Abu Dhabi Airport.
It is produced from used cooking oil feedstock that is blended with jet fuel at ADNOC’s Ruwais Refinery.
The first batch, enough to fuel a return 787-10 Dreamliner flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris, will be available later this month.
Sultan Al Bigishi, acting-CEO of ADNOC refining, said: “The development of sustainable aviation fuel is a key part of our strategy to deliver lower carbon fuels to our customers.
“We are committed to supporting the aviation industry’s effort to ramp-up the use of sustainable aviation fuel as one of the key pillars to decarbonize air travel.”
ADNOC Global Trading is responsbile for sourcing suitable bio feedstocks from the market into refinery operations.
Ahmad Bin Thalith, CEO of ADNOC global trading, said “This certification is an important step forward on our sustainabiility journey and will open up a whole host of new opportunities both in the UAE and beyond.
“Trading biofuels enables ADNOC to offer our global and domestic customers more sustainable alternatives. As first adopters in the region, we are well-placed to meet the drive in market demand for these sought-after, internationally certified products.”
SAF is produced from lower-carbon feedstocks, such as cooking oils, and is very similar in its chemical composition to conventional jet fuel, thus serving as a ‘drop-in’ fuel.
It represents one of the most effective solutions to decarbonizing aviation and ADNOC is working to include SAF in its portfolio in response to customer demand, contributing to aviation sustainability.