Lang
Thailand's aviation sector is making significant strides towards a cleaner, more sustainable future by converting used cooking oil (UCO) into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This transformative initiative is being championed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), PTT Global Chemical (GC), and Bangchak Group, aiming to drive the adoption of low-carbon flights and reduce reliance on conventional jet fuel.
The global aviation industry faces mounting pressure from energy security risks and stringent climate commitments. Recent conflicts in the Middle East have highlighted the sector's vulnerability to fuel price volatility, pushing jet fuel costs significantly above pre-conflict levels and impacting reserves in parts of Europe. This instability has intensified the pursuit of alternative fuels, particularly SAF.
SAF, derived from renewable resources, can be produced from various feedstocks. However, used cooking oil and animal fats are garnering significant attention due to their high energy content in fat molecules, which can be efficiently reprocessed into high-quality diesel and kerosene suitable for commercial aircraft. Beyond simply being a cleaner alternative, SAF offers the crucial benefit of reusing carbon already circulating in the atmosphere, thereby avoiding the extraction of new fossil carbon from underground. Depending on the feedstock and production method, SAF can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel, while also mitigating waste oil and fat that would otherwise contribute to landfills or soil contamination. Modern production technologies have also advanced, ensuring SAF's performance parity with conventional jet fuel, making it suitable for large commercial aircraft, including wide-body jets like the Boeing 777.
The groundwork for wider SAF adoption in Thailand was laid on November 17, 2025, when the CAAT signed a memorandum of understanding with eight leading Thai airlines: Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, K-Mile Air, Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Lion Air, and Thai VietJet. This collaboration aims to curtail carbon dioxide emissions from international aviation and prepare the industry for a clean energy transition. Under this framework, SAF use remains voluntary, offering airlines flexibility in choosing their suppliers and refuelling airports as the supply chain matures. The initial target for 2026 is for SAF to constitute 0.5% to 1% of total fuel use on international routes, a target that will be reviewed and potentially increased in subsequent phases. Achieving this goal is projected to reduce emissions from Thailand's international aviation sector by approximately 60,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2026, which would also alleviate the need for airlines to purchase CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (CEEUs) under the global Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), led by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
PTT Global Chemical (GC) has emerged as a pioneer in Thailand's commercial SAF production, utilizing a biorefinery model based on co-processing technology. Instead of constructing new facilities, GC has intelligently upgraded and adapted its existing refinery infrastructure to convert UCO into cleaner fuel and bio-based feedstock. This strategic approach minimizes investment costs and shortens development time, while simultaneously establishing a lower-carbon business line. GC estimates that its SAF can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional aviation fuel, depending on the production method and lifecycle assessment. The company has initiated SAF production with an annual capacity of 6 million litres, with plans to expand this to 24 million litres per year. Once fully operational, this expansion is expected to contribute to an annual reduction of approximately 60,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. GC's biorefinery capabilities extend beyond aviation fuel, enabling the production of over 10 types of high-value biochemical and bioplastic products, including Bio-Propylene for toys and automotive parts, Bio-Butadiene for tyres, and Bio-PTA for PET plastic. These materials deliver performance comparable to their fossil-based counterparts but with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.
Pukpong Wungrattanasopon, Chief Operating Officer of GC’s base and intermediate chemicals business, emphasized the potential of used cooking oil as a valuable resource that can be reintegrated into the economy through advanced technology. He highlighted that GC's co-processing biorefinery can not only produce SAF but also extend into Bio-Circular Polypropylene (Bio-PP), a material offering properties similar to conventional plastic, with applications ranging from food trays and nappies to industrial products, and future recycling potential. For GC, sustainability encompasses more than just emission reduction; it also involves optimizing resource utilization, decreasing reliance on petroleum-based feedstocks, and advancing Thailand's journey towards its net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
Following GC's innovative co-processing strategy, Bangchak Group has also commenced commercial SAF production from Thailand's first stand-alone HEFA-SPK SAF unit at its refinery in Phra Khanong, Bangkok. HEFA-SPK, which stands for Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene, is a form of SAF produced from renewable feedstocks like used cooking oil, representing a crucial pathway supporting low-carbon aviation globally. Chaiwat Kovavisarach, Group Chief Executive Officer and President of Bangchak Corporation, hailed the SAF unit as a long-anticipated project now fully complete and operating commercially. This unit was developed to meet international standards and support the burgeoning market for low-carbon aviation fuel, aligning with Bangchak Group’s broader net-zero strategy. Beyond the SAF production facility, Bangchak has been developing a comprehensive used cooking oil ecosystem, encompassing collection, feedstock management, and processing into both SAF and renewable diesel, also known as hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). The company views these efforts as integral to bolstering energy security while fostering cleaner energy sources.
Collectively, the proactive measures undertaken by CAAT, GC, Bangchak, and the participating Thai airlines underscore a pivotal shift: used cooking oil is evolving from a mere waste stream into a strategic fuel source. For Thailand, SAF is no longer solely an environmental concept; it is rapidly transforming into a significant industrial opportunity, closely intertwined with aviation competitiveness, cleaner energy solutions, and the nation's ambitious long-term net-zero objectives.
Source: Nation Thailand