Idemitsu targets SAF production at Tokuyama site by 2028-29

Japanese refiner Idemitsu is planning to begin SAF production at Tokuyama by April 2028-March 2029 to meet domestic demand.

The company said it will begin the engineering work on the project later this month and informed that it has already completed feasibility on the project. The refiner plans to produce 250,000 kilo litres of SAF per annum from used cooking oil using the hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) pathway.

Idemitsu is currently working to secure feedstocks from both Japan as well as international markets.

The company is currently working on repurposing its Tokuyama site from the fossil fuel refining complex to HEFA site. To note, Idemitsu shut down the site in 2014.

As part of its move to invest in the biofuels, company demonstrated SAF production using alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology at Chiba and HEFA technology at Tokuyama sites.

The company plans to supply 500,000 kl of SAF per annum by 2030.

In addition to the Tokuyama refinery, the company is also working on developing an ATJ production method through the use of bioethanol as a feedstock, at its Chiba plant by 2028-29.

Moreover, in addition to setting up domestic production units, the company is also planning to purchase SAF from other producers to meet domestic demand.