Petronas delivers Malaysia’s 1st locally blended sustainable aviation fuel

Photo: Petronas

Petronas announced Sept. 12 that it has successfully delivered Malaysia’s first blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport for the Malaysia Aviation Group, establishing Petronas’ in-house capability and readiness to provide continuous, scalable supply in Malaysia.

Locally blended at Petronas’ facilities, the SAF certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification System GmbH meets CORSIA-eligible fuel requirements and was delivered directly to KLIA via Malaysian Refining Co.’s multiproduct pipeline, ensuring readily available SAF through its integrated supply chain.

“Petronas recognizes its role in driving the global push towards decarbonization, especially in progressing Malaysia’s net-zero ambition as a key enabler contributing to the development of future fuels,” said Ahmad Adly Alias, Petronas’ vice president of refining, marketing and trading. “Decarbonizing the aviation industry requires reliable pathways, and SAF represents one of the most immediate solutions available today. This pilot project is a strategic long-term investment to build in-house capabilities through advancements in technology and infrastructure, as well as talent development to deliver reliable, cost-effective solutions to our partners and customers.”

Alias added that the achievement has also “effectively positioned us ahead in supporting the government’s targets for SAF … reinforcing our commitment to national energy security and industrial growth.”

The SAF will be uplifted for Malaysia Airlines’ daily late-evening MH2 service from Kuala Lumpur to London between Sept. 1-16, marking what Petronas said is “a tangible step” in integrating SAF into its regular operations.

“Malaysia Aviation Group is proud to play an active role in advancing sustainable aviation in Malaysia,” said Philip See, MAG’s chief sustainability officer. “Every flight powered by SAF proves that aviation decarbonization is not just a future ambition, but an achievable reality today, demonstrating that practical and scalable actions can already be taken across operations to significantly reduce emissions. At the same time, strong collaboration across the aviation industry is essential to scale up SAF production, making it more widely available, accessible and affordable for the industry. MAG is encouraged by this progress and remains committed to champion initiatives that accelerate SAF adoption, supporting both Malaysia’s and the global journey towards a greener, more sustainable future for aviation.”

Petronas said this achievement underscores its readiness to pave the way for scalable, cost-efficient SAF supply within Malaysia, backed by end-to-end capability from global procurement and certification to local blending and distribution, all in compliance with rigorous international sustainability standards.

As Malaysia’s main gateway, KLIA’s infrastructure enables growth of SAF while supporting the aviation industry to meet the CORSIA requirements.

“The introduction of locally blended SAF at KLIA is a significant milestone in our sustainability journey,” said Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, the managing director of Malaysia Airports. “We are committed to embedding carbon reduction into every aspect of airport operations. KLIA’s achievement of Level 3 Airport Carbon Accreditation by ACI reflects the progress we are making, and this collaboration to enable SAF availability further strengthens our role in supporting airlines as they decarbonize. Together with our partners, we are building the ecosystem that will allow Malaysia’s airports to grow sustainably while contributing to the country’s net-zero aspiration and ensuring our gateways remain resilient and future-ready.”