NextChem, a subsidiary of Italian Energy transition firm Maire, has secured a licensing and process design package for a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production facility in Sei Mangkei, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, the company said in a release Dec. 19.
Once complete, the plant will produce 60,000 mt of SAF annually, using domestic feedstocks such as palm oil mill effluent (POME) and used cooking oil (UCO).
This SAF output is expected to meet around 5% of the jet fuel demand at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta, Indonesia's largest airport.
The project follows the successful completion of a feasibility study(opens in a new tab) in which NextChem collaborated with PT Tripatra Engineers and Constructors, which confirmed the viability of the SAF facility based on local feedstock availability and logistics.
According to the statement, Maire's proprietary technologies -- NX PTU and NX SAF BIO -- will play a crucial role in the plant's design and configuration.
These SAF production processes involve pre-treating the feedstocks through the NX PT technology and refining them into SAF using hydrogen via the NX SAF BIO technology. This method, known as the hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) process that efficiently refines second-generation vegetable oils and residual fats into SAF, promises to produce ultra-low-carbon green aviation fuel, potentially reducing aviation emissions by up to 95% compared with conventional fossil fuels.
The company is working on multiple such renewable fuel projects across the world.
Earlier this year, Maire partnered with KazMunayGas-Aero for SAF development in Kazakhstan(opens in a new tab).
Also, the company signed a licensing contract with DG Fuels Louisiana(opens in a new tab) to implement its proprietary NX Circular gasification technology for an SAF plant in the USA.
The plant is capable of processing 1 million mt/ annum (MMtpa) of bagasse, sugar cane trash and pulp. The licensing contract includes the supply of proprietary equipment for the gasification package, with an option for a modular approach to minimize site contingencies and associated technical services.
The SAF facility, anticipated to be operational by 2028, aims to produce 450 million liters of SAF annually, sourced from biomass and waste resources.
NextChem has also been awarded a contract by Sarlux Srl to provide licensing, engineering services, proprietary equipment, and catalyst supply for integrating its technology into a SAF pilot plant at Saras' facility in Sarroch, Italy.
Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, assessed the SAF production cost in Southeast Asia at $1,834.27/mt Dec. 18, down $28.30/mt from the previous assessment.
