France-based Axens and Hong Kong-listed Wison Engineering have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration on global Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and eSAF projects, including the Fischer-Tropsch pathway, the companies said in a joint statement issued from Shanghai on September 7, 2026.
Under the framework, the two companies will jointly assess practical execution approaches that combine Axens’ process technology expertise with Wison Engineering’s capabilities in standardisation, modularisation, global supply-chain integration and international project execution. The companies said the objective was to develop eSAF solutions offering greater cost and schedule predictability, faster deployment and easier replication across global markets.
Axens is a process technology, catalyst, equipment and services provider for the energy transition, refining, chemicals and gas industries, developed by IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN), and offers a broad portfolio of low-carbon solutions including SAF. Wison Engineering, established in 1997 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2012, provides engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services and integrated technology solutions across oil and gas processing, petrochemicals, C1 chemicals and new energy sectors.
According to the companies, the collaboration is intended to help selected SAF project developers improve cost predictability and control, streamline early project development timelines, strengthen schedule certainty, address barriers to bankability, and support readiness for final investment decision (FID) and commercial deployment.
Hengwei Liu, Chief Technology Officer of Wison Engineering, said the challenge for SAF and eSAF projects was no longer technology alone but turning proven technologies into predictable, bankable and scalable industrial projects. He said combining Axens’ process technology with Wison’s engineering and supply-chain capabilities was aimed at reducing development complexity and shortening the path from technology to FID and commercial deployment.
Jacques Rault, Executive Vice President for Technology and Technical Support at Axens, said the partnership was intended to address project development challenges including execution complexity, investment risk and schedule uncertainty. He said Axens’ Carboverseo and Gasel technologies, covering reverse water-gas shift, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and upgrading, combined with Wison’s modular execution capabilities, would give customers a more integrated pathway from project definition to commercial operation.
