Neste, ITOCHU, and GS Caltex have joined forces to offer the first batch of CORSIA-eligible, ISCC-certified sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for purchase at Narita International Airport in Japan. This marks the inaugural instance of CORSIA-certified SAF being available for airlines’ regular commercial purchases, well ahead of the mandatory phase beginning in 2027.
As part of this collaboration, Neste supplied over 1,000 tons of neat, CORSIA-eligible, and ISCC-certified Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel to GS Caltex’s refinery in Yeosu, South Korea, where it was blended with conventional jet fuel. This blending marked the first local production of SAF in South Korea. The blended fuel was subsequently transported to Japan, where ITOCHU facilitated its supply into the fuel storage facilities at Narita International Airport. The initial batch will be provided to All Nippon Airlines (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL).
CORSIA, developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is a recognised framework for reducing CO2 emissions from international aviation to mitigate climate change. Currently in its first, voluntary phase, SAF qualifies as a CORSIA Eligible Fuel (CEF) when certified by an ICAO-approved sustainability certification scheme, enabling airlines to meet their CO2 emission reduction targets.
“Sustainable aviation fuel is a readily available solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from air travel. CORSIA-eligible SAF provides airlines like ANA and JAL an opportunity to credibly reduce aviation emissions. This milestone shows how we are working together with partners like ITOCHU and GS Caltex as well as local governments to develop the supply chains for SAF to make the fuel even more readily available in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world,” said Alexander Kueper, Vice President, Renewable Aviation Business at Neste.
Tetsuya Yamada, Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Energy Division at ITOCHU Corporation said, “In collaboration with Neste and GS Caltex we have successfully established a groundbreaking supply chain for the delivery of CORSIA Eligible Fuel to airports in Japan. We firmly believe that this initiative will significantly contribute to resolving the aviation fuel shortage in Japan. Furthermore, it marks a pivotal step towards the decarbonisation of the aviation industry.”
“This is a great example of working together to help achieve aviation’s net-zero carbon emissions goal, where Neste, ITOCHU and GS Caltex have built a new value chain based on their respective expertise, with active support from the Korean and Japanese governments. Through this business development, the customers will be able to receive a stable supply of CORSIA-eligible SAF ahead of the start of CORSIA’s mandatory phase in 2027, contributing to airlines taking a further step towards reducing their carbon emissions,” said S. H. Lee, Executive Vice President, Head of Supply & Trading Business Unit at GS Caltex.
In 2022, Neste provided the first-ever batch of CORSIA-certified SAF during a pilot programme aimed at certifying SAF as a CORSIA Eligible Fuel. The company claims that utilising unblended Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel can lead to a reduction of up to 80% in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) over the fuel’s lifecycle compared to conventional jet fuel.