Prime Highlights :

• Keppel Ltd. and Aster plan to develop a commercial-scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant on Jurong Island.
• The project aims to support aviation decarbonization and strengthen Singapore’s position as a regional SAF hub.

Key Facts :

• The plant could produce up to 100,000 tonnes of SAF per year using Ethanol-to-Jet (EtJ) technology.
• Feasibility studies are complete, and the project is entering the FEED phase for technical design and financing.

Background :

Keppel Ltd. and Aster have signed an agreement to jointly assess the development of a commercial-scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant on Jurong Island, Singapore. If built, the facility could become one of the first large Ethanol-to-Jet (EtJ) SAF plants in Asia, with a planned production capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes a year.

The project supports Singapore’s plan to position itself as a key SAF hub in Asia by 2026. It also forms part of wider efforts to cut carbon emissions across the aviation sector, as airlines seek cleaner fuel options to meet climate goals.

The partners plan to use Jurong Island’s existing industrial facilities and logistics network. This will help cut development costs, speed up the project timeline and create new opportunities for sustainable fuel production in the region.

Keppel and Aster have already finished the feasibility study for the project. They will now move into the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase. In this stage, they will work on the plant’s technical design, review financing options and prepare for the final investment decision.

The plant will use EtJ technology to convert low-carbon ethanol into SAF. The project is being coordinated with Singapore’s Economic Development Board and Enterprise Singapore, reflecting strong public sector support for the initiative.

Cindy Lim, chief executive officer of Keppel’s Infrastructure Division, said the partnership brings together Aster’s refining and chemical expertise with Keppel’s experience in developing and operating complex energy and environmental assets. She added that the goal is to deliver a bankable and scalable solution that produces SAF close to where airlines need it.

If approved, the project could play a key role in building a reliable SAF supply in Asia and strengthening Singapore’s position in the sustainable fuels market.

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