Taking a step toward advancing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) partnered with the Philippines Department of Transportation and Boeing to host the first Philippines SAF Summit in Manila last week. The event aimed to explore the potential of SAF through policy development and industrial innovation, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the future of the SAF industry in the country, reports Ethanol Producer Magazine.
The one-day summit gathered a diverse group of participants, including representatives from Philippine government agencies, universities, international organizations, and leaders from the fuel, bioenergy, and aviation sectors. Discussions focused on critical topics such as feedstock availability, SAF technologies, international certification processes, financing options, and methods for analyzing the environmental impact of SAF.
Caleb Wurth, USGC Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Oceania, highlighted the importance of the summit, stating, “SAF offers the Philippines a chance to produce energy locally by using its resources and expertise. This summit emphasized the opportunities SAF presents for the country, which is in a strong position to benefit from this growing industry while reducing emissions in its aviation sector.”
The Philippines is the largest ethanol trading partner of the U.S. in Southeast Asia, with annual gasoline consumption nearing two billion gallons. Since the introduction of its E10 mandate in 2013, ethanol production in the country has surged by nearly 450%, bringing economic benefits to rural areas, lowering fuel prices for consumers, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by over 1.75 billion pounds of carbon dioxide each year. In June 2024, the Philippine government further demonstrated its commitment to biofuels by approving a discretionary E20 policy, complementing the existing E10 mandate.
As an archipelago of 7,641 islands with a population of 115 million, the Philippines consumed approximately 740 million gallons of jet fuel annually before the COVID-19 pandemic. While jet fuel demand has not yet fully recovered, it is gradually rebounding. The country remains a major importer of jet fuel, making SAF an attractive option for enhancing fuel security and capturing economic value.
The U.S. Grains Council continues to work closely with the Philippine government and its biofuel and fuel industries to promote the increased use of ethanol in the country’s transportation sector. The SAF Summit marks a pivotal moment in the Philippines’ journey toward becoming a global leader in sustainable energy and reducing its carbon footprint.
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