Consortium to build e-fuels demonstration facility in Germany for e-SAF research

Sasol and Topsoe have signed a cooperation agreement with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Griesemann, (acting as EPC-contractor) to enable the construction, operation and R&D activities of DLR’s e-SAF production demonstration plant at the Leuna Chemical Complex, Germany, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The demonstration plant is currently under construction and expects to produce 2500 tons of e-fuels per year, starting in Q4 2027. The e-fuels produced will comprise mainly of kerosene, using renewable feedstocks such as biogenic CO2 and green hydrogen.

With €130 million of funding secured from the German Federal Ministry for Transport, the plant will be the largest demonstration and research facility globally for the production of e-fuels. Topsoe, Sasol, Griesemann Gruppe and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have signed a cooperation agreement to enable the construction, operations and R&D activities of DLR’s e-fuels demonstration facility for research and production of e-SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuels).

The demonstration plant forms part of DLR’s e-fuels Technology Platform Power-to-Liquid Fuels (TPP), to be constructed at the Leuna Chemical Complex, Germany.

Elena Scaltritti, CCO at Topsoe, said: “Demonstration facilities, like the TPP, are essential for proving the capabilities of new technologies and highlighting the viability of innovative products like e-fuels. We are excited to join forces with DLR, Sasol and Griesemann to develop this demonstration plant as well as the technologies that will support the rollout of power-to-liquid fuels at scale.”

Sarushen Pillay, Executive Vice President for Business Building, Strategy and Technology at Sasol, commented: “DLR, Topsoe and Sasol’s collaboration stretches over many years, and we are proud that the TPP received funding, our efficient and high yielding G2LTM e-fuels technology was selected, and we can be part of demonstrating and developing eFuels production. Together with our partners Topsoe and Griesemann we have a winning team with the expertise to make this project a success, which we believe will be an important step in enabling SAF production at scale, as well as supporting downstream application and flight testing to move us to a fully decarbonized industry.”

Bjorn Griesemann, CEO at Griesemann Group, added: “The Technology Platform Power-to-Liquid Fuels is the basis for future industrial production and the extensive use of sustainable fuels, particularly in aviation. Our engineering enables the technologies developed by Topsoe and Sasol, as well as the research conducted by DLR, to be transferred into feasible, scalable concepts – thus closing the gap between research and practice. Our long-time experience in the implementation of modular projects and renewable energies flows directly into the development of the TPP.”

Manfred Aigner, Coordinator Sustainable Fuels at DLR, said: “The Technology Platform Power-to-Liquid Fuels (TPP) is the next important step in advancing the market ramp-up of PtL-fuels. As a lighthouse project, the TPP offers a unique research platform. Our aim is to work in an application-orientated manner and to close the gap between the laboratory and the refinery in the development of PtL-fuels. For this task we value the co-operation with experienced technology providers.”

The TPP facility began construction on October 1, 2024, and is expected to be the world’s largest research e-fuels production facility and the first in which electricity-based fuels can be demonstrated and tested across the entire technology value chain. The design of the plant allows various processes and technologies to be analyzed.

This announcement follows Topsoe and Sasol’s selection late last year to deliver their integrated G2L™ e-fuels technology for the SAF demonstration plant, integrating Topsoe’s innovative eREACT™ technology and hydroprocessing technologies with Sasol’s LTFT™ (low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch) technology. Griesemann Gruppe is working alongside Topsoe and Sasol as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor.
eREACT™ is a novel technology for production of low-carbon hydrogen and fuels. The heart of the technology is an innovative electrified reactor design, which can convert a variety of feedstocks into low-carbon hydrogen or other chemicals and fuels.

The G2L™ e-fuels process is an end-to-end Single Point Licensing solution enabling the conversion of renewable feedstocks like captured CO2 and hydrogen to e-fuels. It combines and integrates technologies from Topsoe and Sasol to optimize hydrogen utilization, minimize carbon footprint, maximize yields and provide a reliable solution. The process is fully wrapped by Sasol and Topsoe as a Single Point License.

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Natara (Hartlepool, UK), a manufacturer of flavor and fragrance ingredients, has announced a distribution partnership with Ashapura (Mumbai), an affiliate of Azelis, as per Chemweek.

This collaboration will enable Ashapura to distribute Natara’s premium natural extracts, oils and specialty aroma chemicals to customers across India.

Ashapura is a leading distributor of flavor and fragrance ingredients in the Indian market.

“This cooperation also supports Natara’s global growth strategy, once again partnering with Azelis following recent alliances with Vigon in North America and BLH in Europe,” said Yoram Knoop, CEO of Natara.

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Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, is considering a plan to require international flights from Jakarta and Bali to use a 1% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend starting from 2026, energy ministry official Edi Wibowo said on Thursday, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Indonesia's state energy firm Pertamina this year started producing SAF made partly from used cooking oil (UCO) in one of its refinery units, and is planning to convert two other refineries to process fuel from UCO.

"The regulation for the gradual implementation of SAF is currently being drafted, with a proposal that it will be started in 2026 with an initial implementation of 1%," Edi said.

Under the proposed regulation, Indonesia will seek to gradually increase the SAF blend to 5% by 2035.

Indonesia has the potential to produce 3 MM kiloliters–4 MM kiloliters of UCO annually, according to an estimate from the Indonesia Palm Oil Strategic Studies think tank.

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Total oil exports from Russia and Central Asian countries averaged around 6.3 million barrels per day in August, down by 251,000 bpd or 4% compared to July, OPEC said in its monthly report, as per Interfax.

Exports increased by 212,000 bpd or almost 3.5% year-on-year. Exports via the Transneft system in August fell compared to the previous month by 158,000 bpd or more than 4% to 3.7 million bpd. This is 59,000 bpd or 2% less than in August 2024.

Shipments of oil from Baltic Sea ports fell 5,000 bpd to 1.4 million bpd in August compared with July. Shipments Primorsk rose 140,000 bpd or by 17% to 974,000 bpd but from Ust-Luga they fell 135,000 bpd or 23% to 446,000 bpd.

Exports from Novorossiysk fell 34,000 bpd or 6% MoM in August to 553,000 bpd. Pumping through the Druzhba oil pipeline in August fell compared to the previous month by 120,000 bpd or 49% to 127,000 bpd. This figure is 86,000 bpd or 41% lower than in August 2024. The pipeline's infrastructure came under attack in August, suspending oil pumping towards Hungary and Slovakia.

Exports to China via the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline in August decreased compared to July by 30,000 bpd or 5% to 600,000 bpd. This is 4% or 28,000 bpd lower than in August 2024. Shipments through the Pacific port of Kozmino rose by 21,000 bpd or around 2% to 998 million bpd. This figure is 68,000 bpd or 7% higher than in August 2024.

Total transshipment of oil at the Far Eastern ports of De-Kastri and Aniva in August amounted to 113,000 bpd. Shipments from De-Kastri fell by 109,000 bpd or around 74% while from Aniva they rose 50,000 bpd or more than double.

Exports through Lukoil's terminal in Varandei in the Barents Sea fell 35,000 bpd or 28% MoM to 90,000 bpd but rose 5,000 bpd or 6% YoY.

Oil exports from Central Asia averaged 225,000 bpd, which is 24,000 bpd or 12% more than in July but 3,000 bpd or 1% less than in August 2024.

Total exports from the Black Sea region via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal increased compared to July by 56,000 bpd or around 3% to 1.6 million bpd. Compared to August 2024, shipments were higher by 401,000 bpd or 33%. Exports via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline rose 34,000 bpd or 7% MoM to 551,000 bpd but fell 3% or 18,000 bpd YoY.

Total exports of petroleum products from Russia and Central Asia rose 49,000 bpd or 2% MoM to 2.3 million bpd and rose 239,000 bpd or more than 11% YoY due to higher shipments of fuel oil, offsetting a drop for naphtha exports.

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Braskem SA (Sao Paulo) has fully shut down its chlorine and caustic soda unit at Maceio, Brazil, and is dismantling it for scrap, according to Antonio Freitas, director of the local workers' union, as per Chemweek.

Although the closure marks Braskem’s exit from chlor-alkali production in Brazil, the company will continue to operate its downstream polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and vinyl chloride monomer production lines using ethylene dichloride imported from the US, Freitas said Oct. 16.

Braskem did not respond to requests for comment by Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.

The Maceio unit had capacity to produce 460,000 metric tons per year of caustic soda, according to data from Commodity Insights. Brazil’s remaining caustic soda production capacity totals 1.3 million metric tons per year. Unipar Carbocloro SA is the largest producer, with four plants totaling 607,000 metric tons per year, followed by Dow Inc. with one plant totaling 468,000 metric tons per year.

On Oct. 14, a PVC trader said that two distributors and several Braskem customers had confirmed the closure of the Maceio chlor-alkali unit. The same source noted that “both PVC and polyethylene will be significantly affected,” as the plant closure contributes to ongoing uncertainties surrounding Braskem’s situation.

Caustic soda producers in the US, Brazil’s main supplier, expect an increase in demand owing to Braskem’s exit.

Brazil is the primary destination for US caustic soda exports. Between January and July 2025, it accounted for 53% of the exported volumes, the same percentage as in 2024, according to US International Trade Commission data.

A local market source said that Braskem’s contract customers are already seeking alternatives, exploring options with external suppliers as well as with Unipar, the other Brazilian caustic soda producer. “Everyone will fight for this market share,” the source said.

On Oct. 14, Platts assessed spot export caustic soda at $400 per dry metric ton FOB US Gulf Coast, down $30 on the week.

According to data from the Brazilian government, between January and September, the US accounted for 93% of the volume of caustic soda imported by Brazil.

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