TotalEnergies CEO predicts EU SAF mandate to be dropped in future

The chief executive officer of TotalEnergies has said he expects the European Union’s mandate on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to be revised or potentially dropped in the future, citing concerns over cost, supply constraints and global competitiveness.
Speaking at an industry event, Patrick Pouyanné noted that while the company supports the long-term decarbonisation of aviation, current SAF production remains limited and significantly more expensive than conventional jet fuel.
He warned that rigid mandates could place European airlines at a disadvantage compared with competitors operating in regions without similar regulatory requirements.
The EU’s SAF mandate, introduced as part of its wider climate and transport strategy, requires airlines to progressively increase the proportion of sustainable fuels used in aviation. However, industry leaders have raised concerns that the pace of regulation is not aligned with the scale-up of production capacity or supporting infrastructure.
TotalEnergies, which has invested in SAF production projects across Europe, argues that market-based incentives and technological development would be more effective than fixed quotas in accelerating adoption.
The CEO suggested that policymakers may ultimately need to reassess the mandate as economic and geopolitical pressures evolve.
The comments add to an ongoing debate within the aviation and energy sectors over how best to balance climate ambitions with affordability, energy security and international competitiveness.