Bangchak ready to produce SAF from UCO

Bangchak Group in Thailand is to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from used cooking oil.
The ceremony for the construction agreement of SAF production unit was signed between BSGF Company Limited and TTCL Public Company Limited.
Chaiwat Kovavisarach, group CEO and president, Bangchak, said: “Over the course of nearly four decades since Bangchak was established with a mission to create energy security for the country and sustainability for society and the environment.
“Bangchak refinery is now approaching a new era by pioneering the production of aviation fuel that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% throughout its lifecycle compared to conventional aviation fuel from fossil fuels.”
SAF has garnered global attention as a key fuel in achieving targets for carbon dioxide emission reduction.
Notably, the United States passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) last year, which provides incentives to producers through a tax credit per gallon of SAF.
Similarly, Europe has adopted a mandate requiring a minimum portion of SAF in the overall fuel supply, with targets set at 2% by 2025, 5% by 2030, and 70% by 2050.
Japan has also established a goal for international flights passing through Japanese airports, stipulating a SAF blending ratio of 10% by 2030.
The SAF production unit at Bangchak refinery will incorporate Malaysian-based Desmet’s pre-treatment technology to effectively eliminate impurities and contaminants from used cooking oil collected.
Additionally, the production process will involve a deoxygenation process, employing UOP Ecofining Technology from Honeywell to alter and crack the molecular structure using hydrogen, which is an effective solution to produce SAF from Honeywell UOP.
The unit is projected to have a daily production capacity of approximately 1,000,000 litres and is scheduled for commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2024.