Taviroj Songkumpol, THAI Chief, Corporate Strategy of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, together with Suchat Ramarch, President, PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited, OR, jointly signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for pilot flights and future cooperation between PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited and Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, with Songpon Thepnumsommanus, Senior Executive Vice President, Energy Solutions Business, OR, and Rut Rugsumruad, THAI Director, Corporate Finance, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, presenting as witnesses, at the Multiverse Meeting Room, Energy Complex, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
Taviroj said THAI partnered with OR to operate flights utilizing SAF, the lower carbon emission fuel comparing to the existing fossil fuel, in order to encourage the progress of studies and production of SAF among organizations involved. Through different manufacturing processes, used cooking oil, sugarcane ethanol, and waste can be produced into SAF, which releases 80 percent less carbon dioxide than regular aviation fuel throughout its life cycle. SAF became widely used owing to its compatibility in mixing with Jet A1 regular aviation fuel where no engine conversion is needed.
THAI is committed to achieve the 2050 net zero emission goal domestically and internationally: regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the European Union.
Suchat stated that this time collaboration between OR and Thai Airways is concreted through the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the aviation industry for pilot flights of Thai Airways. In December, there will be an official launch event in Phuket Airport. What’s important is that the initiative reflects OR SDG, especially of the “G” or “GREEN,” which aims at ensuring healthy environments to achieve carbon neutrality within 2030. Moreover, OR has been a counterparty in MOU on studying, developing of, and investing in SAF, signed between the PTT Group, PTT Public Company Limited, Thai Oil Public Company Limited (Thai Oil), PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), and IRPC Public Company Limited (IRPC) on November 9, 2022, with determination to be part of energy transition, growing the business alongside sustainable surroundings and forging towards the Net Zero goal within 2050.
OR, as a lead in the energy transition and among businesses that prioritize growth alongside global sustainability, is committed to minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and being a contributor to the Net Zero goal. Thus, we have worked towards expanding the proportion of biofuel use, instead of fossil fuels, leveraging leftovers, as well as biofuel raw materials in the production of SAF. This energy solution promotes and revalue biological products available in the country and maximizes economic benefit, serving as a driver for the development of sustainable energy innovations to diversify Thailand’s economic development, along with promoting a good quality of life and sustainability for the community, society, and the country in the future.