South Africa prepares Antarctic flights using SAF made from used oil — OilPrice
In South Africa, energy and chemical company Sasol will supply sustainable aviation fuel for tourist flights by luxury operator White Desert to Antarctica. The first Airbus A340-600 flight using Sasol-produced fuel is expected in November, OilPrice reports.
Sasol fuel
Sasol produces this fuel from renewable feedstocks, including used cooking oil and vegetable oil, combined with conventional feedstocks. The company has received international sustainability certification for the product produced at the Natref refinery in Sasolburg.
The fuel can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft without replacing engines or creating new airport refuelling infrastructure. White Desert has been purchasing sustainable aviation fuel in Europe since 2021.
Cost and adoption of SAF
According to Business Insider Africa, cited by OilPrice, White Desert passengers will pay from $16,500 to $120,000 depending on the selected travel package. The company plans to operate flights from South Africa to Antarctica, one of the world’s most remote regions.
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Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, is chemically similar to traditional jet kerosene. Commercial flights can use a blend in which SAF accounts for up to 50%, while the remainder is conventional fossil fuel.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, more than 360,000 commercial flights have already used SAF at 46 airports, mainly in the United States and Europe. At the same time, the share of this fuel in global aviation fuel consumption remains small due to limited production scale and higher costs compared with oil refining.
Using SAF does not eliminate aircraft emissions completely. Its environmental advantage lies in using renewable waste instead of extracting additional oil.
