"First Step in Aircraft Carbon Reduction".. GS Caltex's Bio Aviation Fuel First Refueling in Korea

5-Day Biojet Fuel Demonstration Flight Ceremony
Biojet Fuel Produced by Neste Finland
GS Caltex Supplies for the First Time in Korea
6 Demonstration Flights Between Incheon and LA Over Three Months

GS Caltex has begun supplying bio-jet fuel made from eco-friendly raw materials such as waste cooking oil to Korean Air cargo flights bound for Los Angeles, USA. Korean Air will conduct a total of six pilot flights over three months. This marks the first bio-jet fuel flight in Korea. Kim Chang-soo, Vice President of GS Caltex, stated, "Our country has taken the first step toward reducing carbon emissions in the aviation industry."

On the 5th, GS Caltex held a ceremony at Incheon Airport with Korean Air to commemorate the pilot flight of 'Sustainable Aviation Fuel' (SAF). Earlier, GS Caltex and Korean Air signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the 29th of the same month to promote the first domestic bio-jet fuel demonstration project, in line with the government's eco-friendly biofuel expansion plan announced in October last year and the bio-jet fuel demonstration research promotion plan announced in June.

GS Caltex received the supply of bio-jet fuel produced by Neste, a Finnish company and the world's largest biofuel producer, for the first time in Korea. Neste's bio-jet fuel, manufactured using renewable waste materials such as waste cooking oil and animal fats, can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. Additionally, bio-jet fuel is blended with existing jet fuel and operates smoothly with existing fuel supply infrastructure and aircraft engines.

GS Caltex refueled Korean Air cargo flights bound for LA with bio-jet fuel supplied by Neste after going through its own bio-jet fuel supply process. During the storage and refueling process of the bio-jet fuel, the Korea Petroleum Quality and Distribution Authority collects samples for quality testing and safety verification. The Petroleum Authority also conducts performance tests such as energy consumption efficiency during the pilot flights.

Huh Se-hong, President and CEO of GS Caltex Photo by GS Caltex

Bio-jet fuel is attracting attention as a key player in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation sector. This is because the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has committed to significantly reducing aircraft greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to achieve carbon neutrality (net zero).

Last month, GS Caltex became the first domestic refinery to obtain the ISCC EU certification, an international eco-friendly product certification system for biofuels, to enhance reliability related to biofuels. Vice President Kim said, "We will continue to make various efforts, including expanding cooperation with customers, to establish a foundation for the activation of bio-jet fuel in the future."

Sami Jauhiainen, Vice President of Renewable Aviation Fuel at Neste, said, "Achieving carbon neutrality in the aviation industry is more important than ever, and we are pleased to supply bio-jet fuel for Korean Air's pilot flights through GS Caltex." He added, "We hope this demonstration project will serve as a stepping stone to further expand cooperation among Neste, GS Caltex, and Korean Air."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

GS Caltex is pursuing fundamental innovation and deep transformation to respond to future environmental changes such as carbon neutrality and energy transition. The company is focusing on green transformation by actively reducing carbon emissions in existing businesses and accelerating low-carbon new businesses such as hydrogen and circular economy for waste plastics. Among these efforts, GS Caltex is striving to build a value chain across the bio-business sector, including biodiesel, bio-marine fuel, bio-jet fuel, and biochemicals, to establish a white bio-ecosystem.

GS Caltex plans to secure competitiveness by actively investing in the bio-business sector in response to changes in the global biofuel market and government activation policies. In July last year, GS Caltex signed an MOU with LG Chem to build a white bio-ecosystem and started a demonstration plant. In April this year, it signed an MOU with HMM, a leading domestic shipping company, for the bio-marine fuel business and is preparing for demonstration voyages. In June, GS Caltex also signed an agreement with L'Or?al, a global beauty company, to develop and supply bio-based cosmetic raw materials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.