Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways expand SAF cooperation

Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways have agreed to work together with Renewable Developments Australia (RDA) to become key partners on a project that will set out to deliver a homegrown Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production facility in the Charters Towers Region of North Queensland.
The project aims to establish a fully-integrated Ethanol to Jet (EtJ) facility that converts bioethanol derived from sugarcane grown onsite into 100% SAF, using proprietary PureSAFSM technology supplied from KBR, while also generating all of the project’s energy requirements from renewable sources.
The facility is expected to produce up to 96 million litres of SAF annually which will be supplied to nearby airports. Early modelling indicates a potential lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 70% compared to conventional jet fuel.
The project, currently in pre-final investment decision stage, aims to deliver SAF from early 2029.
Renewable Developments Australia’s Managing Director, Tony D’Alessandro, said the partnership with Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways marks a significant milestone in the development of a sustainable aviation fuel industry in Australia.
He said: “We are proud to be working with two globally recognised airlines that share our vision of creating a domestic supply of SAF. This project is designed to deliver real, long-term emission reductions while building a new industry in regional Queensland.
“Our EtJ SAF facility in the Charters Towers Region will be a fully integrated production site, generating sustainable fuel from bioethanol derived from locally grown sugarcane. Additionally, by repurposing by-products of the SAF production process to generate renewable power onsite, we are setting a new benchmark for sustainability in aviation fuel manufacturing.
“This initiative is more than just a step towards decarbonising air travel; it represents a major investment in Australia’s energy security and regional economic development.”