South Africa’s Sasol is preparing to export sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to the European Union after securing key certification, positioning itself to tap into a fast-growing clean energy market. The company recently obtained ISCC Plus certification from Germany’s TÜV SÜD, a requirement that allows its green jet fuel to meet EU sustainability standards, Reuters reported.
The fuel is produced from used cooking oil and vegetable oils at Sasol’s Natref refinery, which is being converted into a hybrid bio-refinery. This marks a shift from exporting raw feedstock to Europe for processing, toward producing finished sustainable fuel within South Africa.
Sasol is scaling production gradually, targeting one to two million litres initially, rising to about 16 million litres in 2027 and potentially up to 100 million litres annually by 2030. With additional output from its Secunda complex, total production could reach around 200 million litres, depending on demand.
The move comes as the EU tightens environmental rules, requiring airlines to blend at least 6% sustainable aviation fuel by 2030 and up to 70% by 2050. At the same time, global jet fuel markets are under pressure due to geopolitical disruptions, creating a supply gap that alternative producers like Sasol are aiming to fill.
Sasol’s push reflects a broader shift in the energy sector, where companies are repositioning toward low-carbon fuels while still leveraging existing refining infrastructure. If successfully scaled, the initiative could place South Africa among emerging suppliers of sustainable aviation fuel to Europe, while opening a new export stream in the global energy transition.
