Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (Thai Airways) has recently partnered with PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR) to operate flights utilizing SAF (sustainable aviation fuel), the lower carbon emission fuel compared to existing fossil fuel, to encourage the progress of studies and production of SAF among organizations involved. Using different manufacturing processes, cooking oil, sugarcane ethanol, and waste can be produced into SAF, which releases 80% less carbon dioxide than regular aviation fuel throughout its life cycle. SAF has become widely used owing to its compatibility with Jet A1 regular aviation fuel where no engine conversion is needed.
Taviroj Songkumpol, Thai Chief, Corporate Strategy of Thai Airways, together with Suchat Ramarch, OR president, jointly signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for pilot flights. Moreover, the MOU includes future cooperation between OR and Thai Airways. Also present as witnesses were Songpon Thepnumsommanus, senior executive vice president of Energy Solutions Business (OR), and Rut Rugsumruad, Thai Director, Corporate Finance, Thai Airways.
Thai Airways is committed to achieving the 2050 net zero emission goal domestically and internationally, and comply with regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the European Union.
According to Suchat, this time, OR and Thai Airways have used SAF for pilot Thai Airways flights. “At the official launch event last December, what’s important was that the initiative reflects OR SDG, especially the ‘G’ for ‘green,’ which aims to ensure healthy environments to achieve carbon neutrality within 2030.”
Moreover, OR has been a counterpart in the MOU for studying, developing, and investing in SAF, signed between the PTT Group, PTT Public Company Limited, Thai Oil Public Company Limited (Thai Oil), PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), and IRPC Public Company Limited (IRPC) on Nov. 9, 2022. The goals have been to be part of energy transition, to grow the business alongside sustainable surroundings, and to forge a path towards net zero within 2050.
OR has been expanding the proportion of biofuels to fossil fuels, leveraging leftovers and biofuel raw materials in the production of SAF. This energy solution promotes and revalues biological products available in the country and maximizes economic benefit, serving as a driver for the development of sustainable energy innovations to diversify Thailand’s economic growth, along with promoting a good quality of life and sustainability for the community, society, and the country.
Meanwhile, Thai Airways recently partnered with OR to implement SAF in the Phuket-Bangkok flight, thus releasing 80% less carbon dioxide than regular aviation fuel throughout its life cycle. This SAF flight is a promising starting point towards maintaining environmental sustainability. (Story and photos courtesy of Thai Airways)