Samsung and Other Partners Join Forces to Scale Jet Fuel Production from Waste Sources

Honeywell, Samsung E&A, Johnson Matthey, and Gidara Energy have forged a strategic alliance aimed at revolutionising sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. This partnership focuses on delivering an integrated, end-to-end solution that transforms biomass and municipal solid waste into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis process. The vision? To streamline the entire journey, from raw waste to refined fuel, by combining each company’s unique expertise into a seamless, unified system.

At the heart of this collaboration lies a clear division of roles: Gidara Energy brings its cutting-edge gasification technology to convert diverse waste streams into syngas, the essential building block for synthetic fuel. Johnson Matthey provides the sophisticated catalysts and FT technology required to chemically transform syngas into liquid hydrocarbons, fuel ready for aviation use. Honeywell steps in with robust process infrastructure and advanced digital automation, ensuring all stages integrate smoothly and efficiently. Meanwhile, Samsung E&A oversees the engineering, procurement, construction, and overall project execution, serving as the anchor for on-the-ground delivery.

What sets this alliance apart is its unified accountability. Rather than a patchwork of vendors and subcontractors, the companies offer a single, coordinated point of contact, cutting through the complexity that traditionally bogs down SAF projects. Their combined approach aims to slash development timelines by over 15% and trim capital expenditures by up to 10%, addressing two of the biggest hurdles facing SAF adoption.

Samsung E&A’s chief executive, Hong Namkoong, said: “At Samsung E&A, we believe that delivering end-to-end SAF solutions requires more than innovation—it demands strong alliances with world-class technology providers.

“By integrating these advanced technologies and leveraging our proven engineering…we are building a resilient and scalable SAF value chain that will drive the future of sustainable aviation.”

Globally, the alliance plans to target governments and aviation fuel producers eager to adopt lower-carbon alternatives that can be deployed more quickly and cost-effectively. But the backdrop is complex. In the UK, the EU, and beyond, airports face tightening mandates to increase the SAF content in jet fuel to meet legally binding climate targets. However, despite broad industry support, especially for long-haul flights, the promise of SAF is shadowed by controversy.

Supply struggles to keep pace with demand and many production projects have stumbled financially. Critics question whether existing production pathways truly offer meaningful carbon reductions when considering the whole lifecycle. Issues like competition with food crops, deforestation linked to crop-based fuels, and the high energy demands of synthetic fuels risk undermining SAF’s environmental credentials.

As regulatory pressure intensifies, the industry faces a critical pivot point. Reliance on traditional feedstocks, such as used cooking oil or palm derivatives, is increasingly viewed as unsustainable. The race is on to develop next-generation feedstocks and production methods, solutions that can deliver genuine, scalable climate benefits without unintended trade-offs. This alliance, with its integrated and technology-driven approach, aims to be at the forefront of that shift.