Korean Air teams up with Samsung E&A to advance SAF production in US

South Korean flag carrier Korean Air announced a partnership with engineering firm Samsung E&A to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and supply chain originating in the United States.

Under the agreement, the two firms will identify and evaluate overseas SAF production projects, review long-term SAF offtake opportunities, explore investments in SAF-related technologies and projects and collaborate through Samsung E&A’s “SAF Technology Alliance”.

The two firms said that the US has abundant feedstock availability, advanced technology and strong infrastructure.

Under the agreement, Samsung E&A will contribute its engineering, procurement and construction expertise to support potential US-based second-generation SAF projects, while Korean Air will provide stable long-term demand as a committed offtaker, creating a strong, mutually beneficial model that supports project development.

Samsung E&A is currently reviewing participation in a US SAF project that will use gasification–Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology to convert woody waste into synthetic liquid fuel. Meanwhile, Korean Air is also reviewing its participation as an offtaker of the SAF produced through the project.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on November 20 at Korean Air’s headquarters in Seoul by Keehong Woo, vice chairman of Korean Air, and Namkoong Hong, president & CEO of Samsung E&A.

Korean Air began testing SAF in 2017 becoming the first Korean carrier to operate a SAF-blended flight on the Chicago–Incheon route.

Earlier this month, Samsung E&A announced that it has been awarded the contract for its eSAF project in St. James Parish in Louisiana. DG Fuels said the South Korean engineering firm will be contracted for the blue hydrogen, green hydrogen and power generation portions of the approximately $8bn eSAF project.