Neste, a global leader in renewable and circular solutions, announced on April 9, the commencement of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production at its newly modified renewable products refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This significant development increases Neste’s global SAF production capability to an impressive 1.5 million tons (approximately 1.875 billion liters) annually.

The modifications undertaken at the Rotterdam refinery now enable Neste to produce up to 500,000 tons of SAF per year. This milestone marks a crucial step in addressing the aviation industry's climate impact and supports the implementation of regulations like the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which mandates increasing levels of SAF blending in Europe.

This latest development is part of Neste’s broader strategy to invest significantly in renewable fuel production capacity. The company is currently undertaking a major strategic growth investment project in Rotterdam, which will more than double the refinery’s annual production capacity of renewable products to 2.7 million tons. Upon its scheduled completion in 2027, the Rotterdam facility will become the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel and SAF.

Heikki Malinen, President and CEO of Neste, emphasized the urgency of climate action within the aviation sector. “It is clear that we need to continue making progress in mitigating climate change and addressing aviation’s climate impact. Neste is fully committed to supporting its customers in the aviation industry to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and this milestone underlines that commitment,” he stated in a press release issued at 4 p.m. (EET).

Malinen further highlighted the significance of this expansion in the context of evolving policy. “Our SAF production capability, now also in Rotterdam, enables us to significantly contribute to the implementation of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation and similar SAF mandates. Policies like these are crucial to ramping-up SAF production and usage, and we need to keep our ambitions and targets high. At the same time it requires support and close cooperation across the whole aviation ecosystem to accelerate the energy transition and related emission reductions.”

The ongoing expansion in Rotterdam will contribute significantly to Neste’s overall global renewable fuels production capacity, increasing it to 6.8 million tons annually. Of this total, Neste’s annual SAF production capability is projected to reach 2.2 million tons.

Beyond Rotterdam, Neste also possesses SAF production capabilities at its refineries in Singapore and Porvoo, Finland. This geographically diverse production network underscores Neste’s commitment to supplying SAF to meet the growing global demand and support the aviation industry’s transition towards a more sustainable future.