SOCAR explores sustainable aviation fuel production

SOCAR Türkiye is exploring the potential for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at the STAR oil refinery, Report informs, citing Kenan Mirzayev, Head of SOCAR Türkiye's Oil Refining and Petrochemical Unit.

"We anticipate a growing demand for biofuels in the oil refining sector and we are currently working on a related project, which is for the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The project is in the technical assessment phase, and we believe it will be the biggest transformation at the refinery. We have already started working on this project," Mirzayev stated.

He also mentioned that the company expects an overall increase in demand for chemical and petrochemical products within the petrochemical sector.

"We believe that the petrochemical and chemical industry will create more demand for oil. Therefore, as SOCAR, our strategy is to develop in these sectors," he emphasized.

SAF is an eco-friendly alternative to conventional Jet-A1 fuel, reducing carbon emissions by 80%. The US plans to transition to 50% SAF usage by 2050. The European Union will implement 2% SAF usage from 2025, increase to 5% by 2030, and aim for 63% by 2050.