S-Oil Corp., South Korea’s third-biggest refiner by crude oil input capacity, said Thursday it has obtained certifications to domestically produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the first time among local refiners.

S-Oil has acquired three types of International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) certifications, required to produce SAF, from the global certification body Control Union, the company said in a statement.

The three ISCC certificates are ISCC Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation; ISCC EU, which certifies the production of low-carbon fuel products as stated in the European Union’s Renewal Energy Directive; and ISCC PLUS, which is an eco-friendly product certification in the voluntary market, it said.

“The latest acquisition of the certifications will help the company contribute significantly to protecting land through the use of bio-based raw materials and conserving biodiversity, not to mention cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation area,”
S-Oil President Ryu Yul said in the statement.

In particular, ISCC EU is a certification that companies must acquire to export biofuels in the European market.

Given this, S-OIL is expected to effectively pursue market expansion of its fuel business as it becomes capable of producing biofuels that comply with the renewable energy guidelines of the EU.

S-Oil said it is “in talks” with its potential airline customers, including national flag carrier Korean Air Co., for the supply of SAF and the production will begin depending on contracts.

Saudi Arabia’s state-controlled Aramco holds a 63.4 percent stake in S-Oil.

Source: Yonhap News Agency