NorSAF selects Swedish Biofuels-developed, KBR-licensed technology for SAF, eSAF project in Latvia

KBR headquarters in Houston, Texas. (Photo: KBR Inc.)

KBR announced May 28 that NorSAF, one of the leading sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producers in the Baltics, has selected KBR’s proprietary PureSAF® technology for what is set to become the largest SAF and eSAF production plant in Northern Europe.

Under the agreement, KBR will license the proprietary PureSAF technology, invented and developed by Swedish Biofuels AB, for NorSAF’s new plant, which is expected to produce 100,000 tons of SAF and eSAF annually.

The project is backed by Avia Solutions Group.

Production is planned to begin in 2030, and distribution of SAF is planned for aviation companies across the Baltics, Northern Europe and additional European markets.

Europe has set one of the world’s most ambitious frameworks for aviation decarbonization in pursuit of climate neutrality by 2050.

“With aviation among the continent’s hardest sectors to abate, binding SAF mandates are an inevitable path forward,” KBR stated.

Under EU legislation, minimum SAF blending requirements are established by the ReFuelEU aviation regulation.

Effective January 2025, the European Fit for 55 climate package regulation mandates that aviation fuel supplied at EU airports must contain at least 6 percent SAF by 2030, rising progressively to 70 percent by 2050.

In alignment with the broader global decarbonization targets, KBR said it is constantly developing or licensing innovative technologies, including the proprietary PureSAF sustainable aviation fuel process, to help global economies meet their long-term climate objectives.

“We are proud to be a part of this pivotal project, which will drive Latvia’s transition toward cleaner aviation and reinforce Europe’s leadership in sustainable fuel innovation,” said Jay Ibrahim, the president of KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions. “KBR is committed to providing viable energy solutions and our PureSAF process not only scales SAF production but also offers an opportunity to coprocess CO2 and syngas in the same plant, and produce a fungible jet fuel ready for use, without the need to blend with traditional jet fuel.”

Jānis Kisiels, a board member of NorSAF, added, “We are delighted to have collaborated with KBR to bring PureSAF technology to Europe. Recent global events have underscored that energy sovereignty is no longer just an economic goal, but a matter of national and regional security. By producing sustainable, 100 percent drop-in jet fuel at scale using local, European-sourced feedstocks, we are building a resilient, self-sufficient energy ecosystem that reduces our dependence on external fossil-fuel markets and strengthens Europe’s industrial backbone.”

With more than 100 years of experience delivering clean-fuel solutions, KBR said it remains at the forefront of decarbonization—innovating processes and deploying low-carbon technologies to reduce emissions effectively.

“Together with NorSAF, we will help develop Latvia as the strategic SAF hub,” the company stated.

KBR employs approximately 36,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in over 28 countries.