LUKOIL launches production of SAF jet fuel at Bulgarian refinery

LUKOIL plans to start production of the first batch of eco-friendly aviation fuel (SAF) this year. This step will be a significant milestone in the company&s business development and will be implemented at an oil refinery in Bulgaria.

Certification and compliance with international standards

LUKOIL&s structures in Bulgaria have successfully passed the ISCC (International Certification Scheme for Sustainability and Carbon Units), which is recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This confirms the company&s compliance with SAF supplier requirements and sustainable fuel criteria, which is a prerequisite for delivering the product to regulated markets.

SAF production technology

SAF production will be carried out by mixing the purchased biocomponent with aviation fuel at a refinery in Bulgaria. Previously, the company had already conducted the necessary laboratory tests and prepared a production scheme, which became the basis for the start of industrial production of SAF.

New generation biodiesel development

In addition to SAF, biodiesel production based on natural raw materials, including palm oil waste (POME) and used cooking oil (UCO), is planned to be launched at refineries in Bulgaria using co-processing. The company has received a certificate confirming the compliance of the manufactured product with the criteria of sustainable development. This biodiesel will partially replace the first-generation biodiesel (FAME) that is currently supplied to gas stations. The launch of a test batch of new-generation biofuels is also scheduled for this year.

LUKOIL&s experience in biofuel production

LUKOIL already has experience in supplying customers with its own first-generation biofuels, including gasoline with added bioethanol and biodiesel, as well as third-party biofuels. Biofuel mixtures are produced at refineries and oil depots in Romania, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. In 2024, the volume of biofuel production at the LUKOIL refinery remained at the level of the previous year and amounted to 2,000 tons.

This step towards the production of environmentally friendly aviation fuel and next-generation biodiesel demonstrates LUKOIL&s commitment to sustainable development and reducing environmental impact, as well as expanding its business lines in the field of environmentally friendly fuels.