Asset manager Keppel has teamed up with energy, chemical, and infrastructure solutions firm Aster on a project to assess the development of an ‘ethanol-to-jet’ (EtJ) sustainable aviation fuel facility on Jurong Island in Singapore.
The proposed facility, which is subject to final investment decision and regulatory approval, will boast a production capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) per year.
The EtJ process involves converting bioethanol into SAF through a series of chemical processes, utilising feedstocks from biomass or waste materials.
‘Practical and impactful’
“SAF is one of the most practical and impactful levers available today to decarbonise air travel, and demand from airlines and passengers is growing rapidly,” commented Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel’s infrastructure division. “Keppel is pleased to partner Aster on this first‑of‑its‑kind commercial‑scale Ethanol‑to‑Jet SAF project on Jurong Island, supporting Singapore’s ambitions to be a leading SAF hub in Asia.”
Lim added that the goal of the collaboration is to deliver a “bankable, scalable end‑to‑end solution to produce SAF close to where airlines need it.”
The project, which has support from the Economic Development Board (EDB) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), is set to be one of Asia’s first purpose-built EtJ facilities, and will help to support both Singapore’s national SAF target and growing demands from regional airlines.
Singapore has already outlined its ambition to become a leading hub for SAF development in Asia.
‘A defining step’
“This agreement with Keppel represents a defining step in shaping the future of SAF in Singapore and the wider region,” added Erwin Ciputra, CEO of Aster. “Aster brings deep experience in refining and chemicals, and by combining this with Keppel’s infrastructure strengths, we are advancing a future ready, first of a kind Ethanol-to-Jet pathway in our region, designed to accelerate aviation decarbonisation.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to the energy transition and to supporting Singapore’s ambition to become a leading low‑carbon fuels hub, while meeting the region’s growing SAF demand.” Read more here.
