Topsoe selected as technology provider for another major SAF project in China

Topsoe, a leading global provider of advanced technology and solutions for the energy transition, has been selected as technology provider by Tangshan Jinlihai Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (Tangshan Jinlihai), a developer and provider of renewable fuels.

Topsoe will provide its Hydroflex® technology and related services for Tangshan Jinlihai industrial hub with a capacity of 300,000 tons of feedstock annually.

When the project is in full operation, Topsoe’s technology is expected to enable an annual emission avoidance of approximately 700,000 metric tons of CO2e, the equivalent of avoiding the emissions from approximately 2 million passengers flying from Beijing to Copenhagen.

“We are delighted to announce our collaboration with Tangshan Jinlihai, a partnership that reflects our shared commitment to advancing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel,” said Yassir Ghiyati, Topsoe’s chief commercial officer.

“By applying Topsoe’s proven technologies, we are enabling customers to move closer to their decarbonization goals while supporting efforts to reduce emissions across both China and Europe, making the energy transition truly global,” Ghiyati added.

Aijun Li, the chairman of Tangshan Jinlihai, said, “Jinlihai and Topsoe have jointly launched the SAF project, marking a crucial step forward for us in the strategic layout of high-end green energy and the active practice of new quality productivity. The project will fully leverage the geographical and industrial advantages of the Caofeidian National Petrochemical Base, using waste oil as feedstock and using Topsoe’s globally leading technology to build high-quality SAF production. This is not only a substantive measure for Jinlihai to extend its green industrial chain, but also an important action for us to respond to China’s ‘dual carbon’ strategy and promote the low-carbon transformation of the aviation industry.”

The agreement addresses the growing global demand for SAF.

The International Air Transport Association projects that SAF production will have more than doubled in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 2.1 million tons (2.7 billion liters), or 0.7 percent of total global jet-fuel production.

To stay on track for net zero by 2050, the International Energy Agency’s net-zero scenario suggests that over 10 percent of fuel consumption in aviation needs to be SAF by 2030.

The project is located at the Caofeidian Petrochemical Industry Base in Tangshan, in the Hebei province.

With a planned investment of approximately USD$210 million, construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2026.

Operations due to start in the second half of 2028.

This agreement builds on Topsoe’s growing SAF presence in China and marks its sixth contract for production of SAF in the nation to date.

Most recently it was announced that Topsoe will provide technology, proprietary equipment and catalysts to Zhongneng Yida New Energy Co. Ltd in May, Zhejiang Jianglan Bio-Energy Technology Co. Ltd in April, Chuangui New Energy Co. in January 2025 and Guangxi Hongkun Biomass in April 2024.

With HydroFlex, customers can convert various fats, oils and greases into drop-in renewable jet and diesel that meet all globally accepted specifications for these fuels.

Topsoe’s HydroFlex can be deployed in both grassroots units and revamps for coprocessing or fully renewable applications.