SOCAR Türkiye, a subsidiary of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic, has signed an agreement with Turkish Airlines to expand cooperation into the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The move supports Türkiye’s target of cutting aviation emissions by 5% by 2030, reports Anewz.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday by SOCAR Türkiye CEO Elchin Ibadov and Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi. The agreement builds on the companies’ existing partnership in conventional aviation fuel supply and will now include SAF.
SOCAR Türkiye said the deal will also serve as a foundation for larger-scale projects aligned with regional sustainability goals.
“We are putting our sustainability commitments into practice with real projects in Türkiye,” the company said in a statement. “With the production capacity of our STAR Refinery, advanced processing technologies, and strong R&D, we are well positioned to compete in SAF production.”
Türkiye’s civil aviation authority has set new mandates requiring airlines and fuel suppliers to adopt SAF to meet the 2030 emissions target. The policy is also in line with the UN International Civil Aviation Organization’s global emissions reduction scheme, which becomes mandatory in 2027.
The rules will require airlines to use SAF on international flights involving Türkiye, while domestic refiners such as Tupras and SOCAR will be required to produce it.
SAF is made from renewable, non-petroleum feedstocks such as municipal solid waste, woody biomass, fats, and oils. Compared to conventional jet fuel, it can cut carbon emissions by up to 80% in its pure form and can be blended with conventional fuel up to a 50% mix.
