Sasol Launches Commercial SAF Supply in South Africa, First Batch Used for Antarctic Route

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 15, Sasol signed a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply agreement with Antarctic travel operator White Desert. Sasol will supply White Desert with the first batch of commercially produced SAF from South Africa for its flights from Cape Town to Antarctica. The first flight using Sasol SAF is scheduled for November 2026, operated by an Airbus A340-600.

The SAF supplied in this arrangement is produced at Sasol's Natref refinery through co-processing of used cooking oil and vegetable oil alongside conventional refinery feedstocks. Natref has a crude oil processing capacity of approximately 108,500 barrels per day and currently remains primarily engaged in crude oil processing, while transitioning toward a hybrid biorefinery capable of both conventional refining and biofuel production.

In April 2026, Natref passed its final on-site audit conducted by TÜV SÜD and obtained ISCC PLUS product sustainability certification, covering the co-processing of used cooking oil and vegetable oil to produce SAF and renewable diesel. This certification enables Natref to produce these fuels in accordance with the relevant sustainability certification system, and the White Desert contract represents its first commercial SAF supply arrangement following certification.

According to Sasol's current production plans, Natref aims to produce approximately 1 million to 2 million liters of SAF in 2026, increasing to approximately 16 million liters in 2027, and reaching up to approximately 100 million liters by 2030. Actual output will be adjusted based on customer demand. Sasol is also seeking further SAF supply contracts with airlines in Europe and the Middle East.

White Desert's Antarctic flights depart from Cape Town and arrive at Wolf's Fang Runway in Antarctica. Its official operating data shows that the one-way distance of this route is approximately 4,220 kilometers, with a flight time of approximately 5.5 hours, using Airbus A330/A340 series wide-body aircraft for intercontinental transport. Wolf's Fang is a blue ice runway approximately 3 kilometers long, capable of accommodating large intercontinental passenger aircraft.

White Desert's Antarctic operating season typically runs from November each year to February of the following year. During the operating season, the company operates approximately one flight per week from Cape Town to Antarctica, carrying not only tourists but also staff, researchers, supplies, and cargo. Prior to this agreement, the sustainable aviation fuel used by White Desert was mainly sourced from Europe; after Natref completed SAF certification, the company shifted to local South African supply.

White Desert's current intercontinental flights fly directly to Wolf's Fang Runway, after which Basler BT-67, Twin Otter, and other aircraft are used for intra-continental transport within Antarctica. The Sasol supply agreement corresponds to the intercontinental segment from Cape Town to Antarctica, with the first batch of fuel entering actual flight use starting in November 2026.