Philippines DOT welcomes Airbus in sustainable aviation fuel study

The Philippines Department of Transportation welcomed Oct. 3 the support of aerospace company Airbus in the development of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) ecosystem through the Philippine SAF Feasibility Study.

In a statement, Roberto Lim, the department’s undersecretary for aviation and airports, said the study will help develop relevant policies, regulations and programs to advance economically viable SAF production in the Philippines.

“On behalf of our partner agencies—the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the Department of Energy, the Department of Science and Technology and the other National Biofuels Board SAF committee members—we thank our private-sector partners for participating to jumpstart the foundations of our SAF industry,” Lim said.

The study, according to Lim, will be based on the International Civil Aviation Organization Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for SAF.

“This follows the establishment of the SAF committee as part of the DOE-led NBB that oversees the development of the country’s SAF roadmap,” he said.

The feasibility study would include the analysis of country-specific macroeconomic data, evaluation of SAF feedstocks and production pathways, assessing relevant implementation support, financing and policies, as well as drafting an action plan.

SAF is expected to bring up to 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions.

As a member of ICAO, the Philippines committed to achieving a net-zero carbon-emission target in the aviation sector by 2050.

To reach this goal, the country will have to commit to several measures such as fleet renewal, disruptive technologies, operations improvement, SAF and carbon offsetting.