VARO to build major SAF manufacturing facility in Rotterdam

VARO Energy will build a large-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) manufacturing facility at the Gunvor Energy Rotterdam site.
The company will invest $600 million (€560 million) with the aim of helping its airline customers decarbonise.
This facility alone is expected to contribute up to 7% of the EU’s 2030 SAF target.
The 100% VARO-owned facility features a world-class pretreatment unit, guaranteeing renewable feedstock flexibility and production optimisation capability.
The facility will have a total feedstock capacity of 350 kt per annum, with a SAF production capacity of 245 kt pa alongside a mixture of bio-naphtha and bio-propane.
Made from waste and renewable biomass sources, SAF is a viable and scalable low carbon solution for the aviation sector.
This investment by VARO will provide more airline customers with access to SAF, which can be used in the current generation of aircraft and utilises the current fuelling infrastructure.
According to the IEA, European jet fuel demand is set to grow by more than 20% over the next five years.
Located in Rotterdam at the centre of one of the world’s major aviation hubs, VARO’s new SAF manufacturing facility will be well positioned to meet this demand growth.
Production is expected to commence by Q4 2026, enabling VARO to contribute to the significant growth in European SAF demand expected in the coming years.
Dev Sanyal, CEO of VARO, said: "The development of a large-scale SAF manufacturing facility in Rotterdam, at the centre of one of Europe’s most significant aviation hubs, is an important milestone in the development of the ONE VARO Transformation strategy.
“This investment strengthens our leading position in biofuels in Europe by adding SAF production to our portfolio of solutions and will provide our airline customers with an important route to decarbonisation.”