Thailand is set to enter a new phase of sustainable aviation as the Department of Energy Business prepares to introduce new standards for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and make blending mandatory in jet fuel from next year, reports The Nation.
Under the new framework, Jet A-1 fuel specifications and quality requirements at both production and sale stages will be divided into three categories: conventional Jet A-1 fuel, fuel produced through co-hydroprocessing, and conventional Jet A-1 blended with pure SAF.
The department has also defined standards for SAF itself. Feedstocks and production processes must comply with ASTM D7566 norms, and, at this stage, production will be limited to HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) technology. The new regulations will come into force on January 1, 2026.
Sarawut Kaewtathip, Director-General of the Department of Energy Business, said the regulations aim to ensure that SAF produced and supplied in Thailand meets recognised international standards. He said the move is in line with the government’s policy to promote cleaner and more sustainable aviation fuels.
He added that the initiative supports Thailand’s long-term goals of achieving carbon neutrality and net zero emissions. He also said the policy is consistent with efforts by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which is encouraging airlines worldwide to adopt SAF as a key step toward reducing emissions from aviation.
Globally, similar measures are already being implemented. In Europe, the European Union has enforced mandatory SAF blending for flights departing from EU airports, with a 2 per cent blending requirement in place since 2025.
Thailand already has SAF production projects underway. Bangchak Corporation is building a SAF plant using HEFA technology, with used cooking oil as the primary feedstock. The plant will have a capacity of one million litres per day, or about 6,289 barrels per day, and is expected to be completed and begin commercial operations in the second quarter of 2026.
PTT Global Chemical (GC) is also producing SAF using co-processing HEFA technology, again based on used cooking oil. This project is already operating commercially, with an initial capacity of 16,438 litres per day, or about 103 barrels per day.
Sarawut said the two new regulations represent Thailand’s first phase of SAF adoption. He explained that the focus is currently on HEFA technology, as Alcohol-to-Jet technology, which uses ethanol as a feedstock, is still under development and has not yet reached full commercial scale.
