MLIT selects ITOCHU in sustainable aviation fuel demo project

ITOCHU Corporation has been selected for a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) demonstration project by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). 

The aim of the project is to demonstrate the blending of 100% SAF locally in Japan, which helps the country prepare for the future when significantly larger quantities of SAF will be needed to help the aviation industry achieve its ambitious emissions reduction goals. 

In this demonstration project, ITOCHU will import Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ in January 2023 and blend it with conventional fossil jet fuel in cooperation with Fuji Oil Company. A portion of the blended SAF will then be delivered to Chubu Centrair International Airport in February and will be used in a flight inspection aircraft owned by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau of the MLIT. 

Neste and ITOCHU have already established a partnership for the distribution of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the Japanese market. Neste’s sustainable aviation fuel is already available at Haneda Airport and Narita International Airport. In addition to the development of Chubu Centrair International Airport in conjunction with this demonstration project, ITOCHU plans to expand the supply of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel to domestic and foreign airlines by making it available at Kansai International Airport and other airports in the future. Following the expansion of the cooperation between Neste and ITOCHU in February this year, Neste’s SAF was already supplied to Etihad Airways at Narita. 

“Neste is committed to supporting Japanese airlines and the Japanese government with the target to replace 10% of conventional jet fuel with SAF by 2030. This demonstration project solicited by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau is an important step on the pathway towards realizing that goal, as it demonstrates the blending of neat SAF with fossil jet fuel from a domestic refinery in Japan. We are proud to collaborate with ITOCHU and Fuji Oil Company to make this demonstration project happen”, said Sami Jauhiainen, vice president, APAC, Renewable Aviation at Neste.

Neste is the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and is currently increasing its annual SAF production capacity to 1.5 million tons by the end of 2023. Completion of Neste’s Singapore refinery expansion will increase its SAF production capacity to more than one million tons by the end of the first quarter of 2023, to support the aviation industry in the Asia Pacific region and globally.