Latvia SAF plant to use KBR tech, target 2030 start-up

NorSAF will use KBR's proprietary PureSAF technology at what is planned to become Northern Europe's largest sustainable aviation fuel production facility, amid escalating EU mandates requiring a minimum 6% SAF blend at airports by 2030, according to a statement released May 28.

NorSAF, a leading SAF producer in the Baltics, has licensed the technology for a new plant in Latvia expected to produce 100,000 metric tons/year of SAF and e-SAF, with production targeted to begin in 2030. The project, backed by Avia Solutions Group, will supply aviation companies across the Baltics, Northern Europe and other European markets.

The project addresses both climate goals and energy security concerns by producing drop-in jet fuel at scale using European-sourced feedstocks, Jānis Kisiels, board member of NorSAF, said in the statement.

"By producing sustainable, 100% drop-in jet fuel at scale using local, European-sourced feedstocks, we are building a resilient, self-sufficient energy ecosystem that reduces our dependence on external fossil fuel markets and strengthens Europe's industrial backbone," he said.

SAF supplies for Europe are also exposed to overseas production and, therefore, extended supply lines. Global production of SAF will be 64,000 b/d in 2026, of which Europe will account for 54%. It will only account for 18% of production, according to data from S&P Global Horizons.

The EU's ReFuelEU Aviation regulation mandates progressive increases in SAF blending at EU airports, reaching 6% by 2030 and 70% by 2050. A sub-mandate requires e-SAF to comprise 1.2% of the fuel mix by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050.

SAF comes at a considerable premium to conventional jet fuel. Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed SAF, produced via the HEFA pathway, on a CIF basis in Northwest Europe at $2,894.25/metric ton May 28, compared with $1,124/mt for jet fuel cargoes on an equivalent basis.

KBR's PureSAF process, invented and developed by Swedish Biofuels, produces fungible jet fuel ready for immediate use without requiring blending with conventional jet fuel, KBR said. The technology also enables co-processing of carbon dioxide and syngas within the same facility.