By Maitane Sardon

Total SE said Thursday that it has started producing sustainable aviation fuel at two of its French sites as part of its goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The French oil-and-gas giant said it is producing biofuel made from cooking oil that it will deliver to French airports starting this month.

From 2024, the company will produce SAF at a refinery it is converting into a zero-crude platform for biofuels and bioplastics in Grandpuits, France.

"By producing sustainable aviation fuel at our French sites today, we are able to respond to strong demand from an aviation industry looking to reduce its carbon footprint, while adapting our industrial resources," Total's President of Refining and Chemicals Bernard Pinatel said.

The company didn't disclose the amount of SAF it expects to produce in 2021 or its future targets but said producing the fuel will allow it to respond to French legislation that requires aircrafts to use at least 5% biojet fuel by 2030. Total plans to create a dedicated business unit for renewable biofuels in May this year.

To make the biofuels, the company will only use animal fat, used cooking oil and other waste and residue, it said.

Write to Maitane Sardon at maitane.sardon@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 08, 2021 04:40 ET (08:40 GMT)

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