Sasol Targets 200 Million Litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Output by 2030

Sasol has taken a significant step toward entering the rapidly expanding sustainable aviation fuel market after receiving certification that could enable exports of its product to the European Union. The move positions the South African energy and chemicals group as a potential regional supplier of lower-emissions aviation fuel at a time when airlines, airports and regulators are searching for alternatives to conventional jet fuel. As pressure grows on the aviation industry to reduce carbon emissions, certified SAF producers are expected to play an increasingly important role in global fuel supply chains over the coming decade.

Sasol’s sustainable aviation fuel has been granted ISCC Plus sustainability certification by TÜV SÜD. The certification applies to fuel produced at the company’s Natref refinery. This 108,500-barrel-per-day facility is now being adapted into a hybrid bio-refinery capable of handling both traditional and renewable feedstocks. The approval is considered a key requirement for supplying markets with strict sustainability, traceability and environmental compliance rules, particularly in Europe, where SAF mandates are already being phased in.

Sasol said its SAF is produced using feedstocks such as used cooking oil and vegetable oil, both of which are widely recognised as practical near-term raw materials for lower-carbon aviation fuel. The company also confirmed that sustainable chemicals manufactured at its Secunda complex have received certification, broadening the potential commercial opportunities for greener industrial products. Together, the approvals strengthen Sasol’s ability to market a wider range of lower-emissions products to international customers while also supporting its own transition goals.

The development also highlights an opportunity for South Africa to capture more value from waste oils that have traditionally been exported for processing elsewhere. Sasol executive vice president for strategy and technology Sarushen Pillay said used cooking oil collected in South Africa has often been transported through Durban and shipped to Rotterdam, where it is converted into aviation fuel. By refining those materials locally, South Africa could retain more economic value, support industrial jobs, and build technical expertise in an emerging sector rather than sending raw feedstocks abroad.

Although Sasol did not provide a firm date for exports to Europe, the timing is strategically important. The European Union has introduced progressively higher blending mandates for sustainable aviation fuel, requiring fuel suppliers to include increasing percentages of SAF in aviation fuel sold at European airports. Those targets are expected to rise steadily through the coming decades, creating a substantial long-term market for producers that can meet regulatory standards and offer competitive pricing. For companies such as Sasol, gaining early certification could prove valuable as demand continues to expand.

Production volumes are expected to increase in phases. Depending on customer demand, Natref is targeting between one and two million litres of SAF this year. Output could then rise to around 16 million litres in 2027 before reaching as much as 100 million litres annually by 2030. When projected production from the Secunda complex is included, Sasol believes total SAF output could reach 200 million litres by the end of the decade. While modest by global fuel industry standards, such volumes would represent a meaningful start for South Africa’s SAF sector.

The company’s aviation fuel strategy also forms part of a broader effort to lower its environmental footprint. Sasol has long faced scrutiny as one of Africa’s largest industrial emitters, particularly because of coal-linked processes used at some of its operations. Expanding into renewable and lower-carbon fuels is therefore seen as an important component of its long-term transition strategy, helping the company respond to investor expectations, future regulation and changing customer demand.

To strengthen future feedstock supply, Sasol has partnered with Anglo American and De Beers to investigate biolipid sources such as Solaris crops, which are known for high oil yields. These crops could diversify supply beyond waste oils, improve long-term production resilience and support agricultural value chains linked to the SAF market.

Research by WWF suggests South Africa could eventually produce between 3.2 and 4.5 billion litres of SAF annually using a variety of feedstocks, including invasive alien plant vegetation. While challenges remain around pricing, certification, and scaling production, Sasol’s latest approval represents an important milestone. It could help establish South Africa as a future player in the global market for cleaner aviation fuels.