SOCAR's Turkish subsidiary, Turkish Airlines to cooperate in SAF
BAKU. Aug 14 (Interfax) - SOCAR Turkiye Enerji A.S. (STEAS, the Turkish subsidiary of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic, SOCAR) and Turkish Airlines have agreed to cooperate in the field of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), according to a statement by STEAS on LinkedIn.
"The head of SOCAR Turkiye Enerji, Elchin Ibadov, and the head of Turkish Airlines, Bilal Eksi, signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of sustainable fuel on August 13," the statement said.
The document extends the existing cooperation between the two companies in the supply of conventional aviation fuel to include SAF, it said.
"This cooperation will also lay the foundation for implementing larger-scale projects aimed at achieving regional sustainable development goals," it said.
Earlier this year, the head of SOCAR Turkiye's refining and petrochemical division, Kenan Mirzoyev, said that SOCAR Turkiye Enerji is exploring the possibility of producing sustainable aviation fuel at its STAR refinery.
It was noted that, in line with its development strategy until 2030, the company intends to establish SAF production from waste vegetable fats. At the same time, Mirzoyev said that SAF production would represent the largest transformation at the refinery.
SAF is sustainable aviation fuel, an environmentally friendly version of Jet-A1 fuel. It can be produced from renewable raw materials - waste cooking oils, animal fats and plant residues. Unlike conventional jet fuel, SAF in its pure form reduces carbon emissions 80%. SAF can be blended with conventional aviation fuel in proportions of up to 50%.
SOCAR entered Turkey's aviation sector under the SOCAR Aviation brand in 2013, signing its first major contract with Pegasus Airlines for fuel supply at Sabiha Gokcen Airport. In 2016, fuel deliveries began for Turk Hava Yollari at Ataturk Airport, Adnan Menderes Airport in Izmir, and Bodrum Airport.
The STAR refinery was commissioned in October 2018 and is designed to process Azeri Light, Kirkuk and Urals crude oil. It supplies raw materials to the Petkim petrochemical complex and creates opportunities for SOCAR to enter the Mediterranean market with its diesel, jet fuel and feedstock for the chemical industry. The refinery meets 18% of Turkey's demand for petroleum products.
The refinery's processing capacity exceeds 13 million tonnes per year. SOCAR has invested approximately $7 billion in the construction and development of the STAR refinery.
