FatHopes Energy appoints engineering firms to advance development of SAF refinery in Malaysia

Photo: FatHopes Energy

FatHopes Energy announced March 16 that, in collaboration with Bin Zayed International Group, it has appointed Technip Energies—through its consulting company Genesis—and Wison Engineering Ltd. to undertake the technical feasibility study for its proposed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) refinery in Malaysia.

The news marks what FatHopes Energy said is “a significant step forward in the development of one of Southeast Asia’s most ambitious renewable fuel projects.”

The appointment signals the project’s transition into the next phase of technical development as FatHopes Energy progresses toward building a large-scale SAF production facility designed to support the aviation industry’s global decarbonization goals.

Both engineering firms will independently conduct a technical feasibility study to evaluate and optimize the refinery’s design and technical configuration.

Upon completion of the studies, one consultant will be selected to proceed with the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase.

The FEED outcomes will then support the project’s final-investment decision (FID) before advancing into the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) phase.

The engagement follows a rigorous request for proposal (RFP) process launched in 2025, which attracted submissions from leading engineering firms across Asia Pacific, Europe and the U.S.

The evaluation process concluded in November following detailed technical and commercial assessments.

Technip Energies and Wison Engineering were selected based on their global engineering expertise, strong SAF and energy-transition track records, and their ability to support complex energy-infrastructure developments, FatHopes Energy stated.

By appointing two leading engineering firms, FatHopes Energy said it will benefit from independent technical perspectives that strengthen project robustness and execution readiness.

The technical feasibility study, expected to be completed before mid-year, will establish the core engineering and economic parameters required to advance the project.

Deliverables will include the refinery’s master plot plan, site fit assessment, and the engineering framework for the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) production pathway.

The study will further define process-flow configurations, mass and energy balances, and technology-licensor recommendations for key process units including the hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) unit, hydrogen production unit (HPU), and pretreatment unit (PTU).

In addition, the consultants will develop preliminary equipment specifications, utilities planning, and the project’s initial environmental baseline.

The final deliverables will include a comprehensive technoeconomic assessment, incorporating capital-cost estimates, an operating cost-based financial model aligned with Malaysia’s regulatory framework, and a detailed sensitivity and risk analysis to guide investment decisions.

“Bringing in world-class engineering partners is an essential milestone in the development of this project,” said Vinesh Sinha, the founder and CEO of FatHopes Energy. “It reflects our commitment to building a refinery that meets the highest global standards while supporting the aviation industry’s transition toward sustainable fuels.”

The current phase builds upon the independent feasibility study conducted by FGENexantECA, which validated FatHopes Energy’s ability to scale feedstock supply across Southeast Asia through its established collection network, proprietary digital platforms and vertically integrated supply chain.

The company’s feedstock strategy continues to evolve beyond used cooking oil (UCO) and palm-oil mill effluent (POME) to incorporate additional sustainable residues including spent bleaching earth (SBE) oil and empty fruit bunch (EFB) oil from the palm value chain.

In parallel, FatHopes Energy said it is exploring algae oil as a future feedstock pathway through collaboration with one of Malaysia’s major carbon emitters.

The independent feasibility study also confirmed that the project’s capital-expenditure structure remains highly competitive for a greenfield HEFA SAF refinery, supported by strategic site advantages including proximity to Port Klang, reliable utilities infrastructure, and access to cost-competitive hydrogen.

Located along the Straits of Malacca—one of the world’s most active maritime corridors—the refinery is strategically positioned to support international SAF supply chains while reinforcing Malaysia’s ambition to become a regional hub for SAF production.

The study further recognized FatHopes Energy’s digital-driven feedstock-aggregation platform, which integrates vendor collectors, logistics operators and consumer participation through proprietary applications.

This ecosystem enables full traceability and real-time greenhouse-gas accounting, resulting in strong carbon-intensity reductions that exceed CORSIA benchmarks, based on lifecycle assessments conducted with project partners.

As the project advances, FatHopes Energy said it continues to align development with the highest international oil-and-gas engineering standards, ensuring the facility is designed to operate safely, efficiently and at scale for decades.

To ensure full regulatory readiness and compliance, Wan Husin & Associates Sdn. Bhd. has been appointed as the project’s permitting consultant.

It will lead the mapping of the complete regulatory-approval pathway required for the refinery’s development.

According to FatHopes Energy, the firm brings extensive experience collaborating with international engineering companies to deliver complex petrochemical facilities.