Phelan Green, through its clean fuels subsidiary Phelan eFuels, has announced the selection of Honeywell’s renewable fuel process technology for its planned electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) facility in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, South Africa.
Phelan eFuels will deploy Honeywell UOP’s Fischer Tropsch (FT) Unicracking process technology, which utilizes FT liquids and waxes derived from CO₂ to produce eSAF that complies with international aviation industry standards.
Paschal Phelan, Chairman of Phelan Green, stated:
“We selected Honeywell’s Fischer Tropsch Unicracking process technology because it provides a proven, bankable pathway to produce sustainable aviation fuel at scale. This project is a major milestone for Phelan Green and for South Africa’s emerging eFuels economy, and demonstrates our commitment to industrial development, job creation, and innovative energy projects that are at the cutting edge of emission reduction.”
The new facility forms a core component of the Phelan Green Hydrogen Project, a R47 billion (approximately US $2.5 billion) private investment formally recognized by the South African government as a nationally strategic green industrial development. Once operational, the project will be among the world’s first commercial-scale eSAF production facilities, supplying more than 140,000 tons of eSAF to the European Union and United Kingdom markets.
Rajesh Gattupalli, President of Honeywell UOP, commented:
“Honeywell’s technologies are designed to enable scalable, efficient, and flexible production of low-carbon fuels. In this case, our Fischer Tropsch Unicracking process technology will help support Phelan eFuels’ goal to encourage commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel production in South Africa.”
Construction of the Saldanha Bay facility will commence in the fourth quarter of 2026 and will support thousands of local jobs across multiple phases, helping position South Africa as a competitive export hub for next-generation aviation fuels.
