Regional SAF: KBR to license SAF technology for Singapore's first commercial ethanol-to-jet fuel plant

By Romel S. Gurky

Engineering company KBR has been selected to provide technology licensing and front end engineering design (FEED) services for what is planned to become Asia's first commercial scale ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant, to be developed by Keppel Ltd. and Aster Chemicals and Energy on Singapore's Jurong Island.

The proposed facility is designed to produce up to 100,000 tonnes of SAF annually, subject to a final investment decision and regulatory approvals.

KBR will provide its proprietary PureSAF technology, which was originally developed by Swedish Biofuels AB, engineered for commercial scale deployment by KBR and exclusively licensed by the U.S. engineering company worldwide.

Keppel and Aster announced earlier this year that they had partnered to assess development of the project as Singapore seeks to establish itself as a regional hub for sustainable aviation fuel production.

"We are looking forward to working with Keppel and Aster on this key project and to support Singapore's ambition of becoming Asia's leading SAF hub and advancing the ongoing efforts to decarbonize the country's aviation ecosystem," KBR President and Chief Executive Stuart Bradie said.

Bradie said PureSAF is a feedstock flexible technology capable of producing 100% drop in jet fuel that can be used without blending and is being further developed to accommodate different regional feedstocks while reducing production costs.

In addition to the licensing agreement, KBR signed a memorandum of intent with Keppel's Infrastructure Division to collaborate on decarbonization technologies, including waste to energy, plastic recycling, biofuels, sustainable aviation fuel and artificial intelligence driven digitalization.

The project supports Singapore's strategy to expand sustainable aviation fuel production as airlines prepare for rising demand driven by global decarbonization targets and aviation emission reduction mandates. The city state plans to introduce a sustainable aviation fuel requirement for flights departing Singapore from 2026, making domestic production an increasingly strategic component of its aviation sector.  

Editing by Alexander Ginting