EcoCeres inaugurates 1st SAF plant in Malaysia
- EcoCeres Inc.
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
EcoCeres Inc. officially launched Jan. 26 its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia, marking a historic milestone as the country’s first SAF plant.
Commissioning and start-up of the plant were successfully achieved in October.
The facility also produces hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha with a combined maximum production capacity of 420,000 metric tons per year.
EcoCeres said the launch reinforces the company’s position in the global renewable fuels landscape and underscores Hong Kong’s contribution as a platform for green innovation and investment.
As host of the ceremony and a founding investor of EcoCeres, Peter Lee, chairman of Towngas and principal of Full Vision Capital, welcomed YB Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, the minister of plantations and commodities for Malaysia, and invited her to officiate the inauguration of EcoCeres’ first SAF plant in Malaysia.
The ceremony was also attended by Eddie Cheung, the permanent secretary for the environment and ecology of the Hong Kong special administrative region, together with EcoCeres co-chairmen Alan Chan and James Tam, and CEO Matti Lievonen.
According to the company, their presence marked a significant milestone and underscored the Hong Kong-headquartered firm’s pivotal role in advancing cross-border collaboration in the low-carbon economy.
“EcoCeres has grown from a laboratory in Hong Kong into one of the world’s leading producers of SAF, and this new Johor plant shows how regional commitment to sustainability can feed into the global search for climate solutions,” Lee said. “With supportive government policies and the dedication of all our partners, we can turn the tide on climate change for future generations.”
Cheung added, “EcoCeres shares the Hong Kong government’s vision of achieving carbon neutrality and being a super-connector. The Johor SAF plant is a shining example of a Hong Kong company with a global vision putting one of its production facilities in a strategic location in the region.”
As a technology-driven company, EcoCeres has developed its own proprietary waste-to-fuel processes in Hong Kong and successfully scaled them through its first facility in Zhangjiagang, China, which has helped the company become one of the world’s leading SAF producers by volume.
“The Johor plant is a major step forward for EcoCeres’ regional platform and for Malaysia’s renewable fuel industry,” Lievonen said. “It also demonstrates our commitment to reliable supply capability and high product quality as customers’ demand for renewable fuel solutions accelerates. This facility supports Malaysia’s transition towards net zero while strengthening Hong Kong’s strategic position as a regional hub for financing and scaling sustainable energy projects, enabling the supply of sustainable fuels to global industries. Our waste-to-fuel technology proves that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand-in-hand.”
The establishment of this facility is aligned with Malaysia’s commitment to advancing renewable fuel development and adopting waste-to-fuel approaches to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050.
At the same time, it showcases how Hong Kong’s innovation capabilities, capital markets and professional-services ecosystem can enable the deployment of climate solutions across the region, with EcoCeres serving as a prime example of a Hong Kong-founded company commercializing homegrown technologies at scale overseas.
By converting waste and residue feedstocks into high-value, low-carbon renewable fuels, EcoCeres supports Malaysia’s transition toward a sustainable and circular economy while addressing the growing demand for renewable fuels across aviation, maritime, transportation, mining and chemical industries.
“The Malaysian government proudly supports EcoCeres’ pioneering facility, which aligns with our National Energy Transition Roadmap and National Agri-commodity Policy (DAKN) 2030,” Ahmad said. “By fostering innovation in renewable fuels, we are creating high-value jobs, reducing carbon emissions and strengthening Malaysia’s role as a leader in the green economy. This project exemplifies our commitment to sustainable industrial development.”
EcoCeres said it remains committed to expanding its global footprint in renewable fuels, leveraging pioneering proprietary technologies to meet the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions.
“From its Zhangjiagang plant in China to the new Johor facility in Malaysia, the company is building a regional platform anchored in Hong Kong that turns waste to wonders, supports global decarbonization efforts and reinforces Hong Kong’s position as a super-connector for green development in Asia,” the company stated.
In addition to the Malaysian facility, EcoCeres’ Zhangjiagang plant also produces SAF and HVO, bringing its combined maximum global renewable fuels capacity to approximately 770,000 tons per year.
