Total starts production of sustainable aviation fuel in France

Total has started production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its La Mède biorefinery and its Oudalle facility in France.

While the $310 million La Mède biorefinery is located in Châteauneuf-les-Martigues, the Oudalle facility is located near Le Havre in Normandy.

The French energy giant said that the biojet fuel, which is produced from used cooking oil, will be supplied to French airports from April 2021.

Additionally, from 2024, the sustainable aviation fuel will be produced at Total‘s zero-crude Grandpuits platform, located southeast of Paris.

According to the energy giant, the sustainable aviation fuels will be produced from animal fat, used cooking oil, and other waste and residue procured from the circular economy. Total pledged not to use vegetable oils as feedstock for producing the sustainable aviation fuels.

Total starts production of sustainable aviation fuel in France. Photo courtesy of Frauke Feind from Pixabay.

Total expects its production of sustainable aviation fuels to help meet the new French legislation that asks for aircraft to use at least 1% biojet fuel by 2022, 2% by 2025, and 5% by 2030.

The French oil and gas company has also taken up the development of sustainable aviation fuels to meet the challenge of carbon neutrality as biojet fuels help cut down emissions of CO2 from air transportation.

Bernard Pinatel – President of Refining and Chemicals at Total said: “By producing sustainable aviation fuel at our French sites today, we are able to respond to strong demand from an aviation industry looking to reduce its carbon footprint, while adapting our industrial resources.

“As a broad energy company, we support our customers by providing innovative solutions to reduce their emissions. This commitment is fully aligned with Total’s climate ambition to get to net zero emissions by 2050.”