Aemetis to supply Cathay Pacific with 38 million gallons of blended SAF over 7 years

Photo: Cathay Pacific

Aemetis Inc. announced Sept. 19 the volume of an offtake agreement that has been signed with Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. for 38 million gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to be delivered over the seven-year term of the agreement.

The blended SAF to be supplied under this agreement is 40 percent biofuel and 60 percent petroleum-based jet fuel to meet international blending standards.

The supply agreement with Aemetis builds on Cathay Pacific’s ongoing commitment towards meeting its net-zero carbon-emissions target by 2050.

Cathay Pacific plans to use SAF for 10 percent of its total fuel consumption by 2030.

The agreement also underlines oneworld Alliance’s commitment to collectively source SAF.

Cathay Pacific is a founding member of the oneworld Alliance.

Cathay Pacific is the home airline of Hong Kong, offering scheduled passenger and cargo services to destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, Europe and Africa.

The Cathay Pacific Group also comprises low-cost airline HK Express and express freighter airline Air Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific is a member of the Swire Group and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE).

The SAF is expected to be produced by the Aemetis renewable diesel and SAF plant under development on a 125-acre former U.S. Army Ammunition production plant site in Riverbank, California.

The blended sustainable aviation fuel is scheduled to begin deliveries to Cathay Pacific in 2025.

“The use of sustainable aviation fuel by Cathay Pacific is another step by the oneworld Alliance toward lowering the environmental impact of aviation,” stated Eric McAfee, chairman and CEO of Aemetis. “Sustainable aviation fuel is an immediate solution to the decarbonization of air travel and cargo flights, without requiring extensive new fueling infrastructure or the expensive replacement of planes.”

Sustainable aviation fuel provides significant environmental benefits compared to petroleum jet fuel, including a lower lifecycle carbon footprint and reduced contrails.

Powered by 100 percent renewable electricity, the Aemetis Carbon Zero production plant design utilizes renewable hydrogen. The renewable hydrogen is used to hydrotreat vegetable and other renewable oils to produce renewable aviation and diesel fuel.

To further reduce carbon intensity, the Aemetis Carbon Zero design includes capturing CO2 from the production plant and injecting the compressed CO2 into a sequestration well at the Riverbank site. The project is designed to permanently store an estimated 300,000 metric tons of CO2 each year from the plant.