T H E 1 2 T H U Case Study N I T E SASOL | AMEX GBT D N A T I O N S G Sustainable Aviation Fuel L O B A L C Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), made from American Express Global Business Travel O M P renewable energy and sustainable carbon (Amex GBT), together with Shell and A C T - sources such as renewable biomass, waste Accenture, recently launched Avelia, one of the A C C resources and industrial carbon, has the world’s first blockchain-powered book-and- E N T potential to deliver the performance of claim digital platforms for SAF. Avelia is the U R petroleum-based jet fuel, but with a fraction largest pilot at launch with one million gallons E C E of its carbon footprint. SAF could have a of SAF to start – a meaningful step in the right O S T U massive impact on the future of transportation, direction for the industry. However, nearly 100 D but significant investment, R&D, and innovation billion gallons of jet fuel were consumed in Y are still required to make the widespread use 2019 (prior to pandemic), proving that progress of SAF a reality. requires acceleration by all. Sasol, the integrated energy and chemicals CEOs in the industry agree that government company from South Africa, is investing further must step up to create the infrastructure in catalyst research for production of SAF. for the SAF industry to take off. As Paul According to Sasol’s Executive Director and Abbott, CEO of Amex GBT, notes: “Sustainable President and CEO, Fleetwood Grobler, “Sasol’s technologies and innovations, such as proprietary, commercially proven Fischer sustainable aviation fuels, are the only way Tropsch technology, agnostic to the source of we can make significant progress. And that the carbon or hydrogen, and our expertise in won’t happen unless there is massive catalysts makes us the ideal partner to help the investment in infrastructure, primarily from world decarbonise the aviation sector and make governments, to drive long-term structural it sustainable over the long-term”. This process change.” Indeed, public-private-partnership may eventually allow for sourcing of carbon is mission critical. through direct air capture of CO . 2 84 85