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Forging a strategic partnership with SPIC to support SAF production in the Chinese Mainland
Cathay Pacific has teamed up with the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) to drive the further development of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply chain in China. SPIC is one of the largest state-owned energy companies in the Chinese Mainland and a company with the world's largest solar power installed capacity.
SPIC and Cathay Pacific have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering four SAF plants under SPIC. Witnessed by SPIC Chairman Qian Zhimin and Vice President Chen Haibin, Cathay Pacific Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam, and Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer-designate Alex McGowan, the MoU was signed by SPIC International Finance (HK) Co. Ltd. Chairman Yin Guoping and Cathay Pacific General Manager Corporate Affairs Andy Wong at Cathay Pacific's Hong Kong headquarters.
SPIC Chairman Qian Zhimin said: "The signing of our cooperation pact is an important milestone in SPIC's sustainable development pursuits, and a significant contribution by a Chinese enterprise towards supporting sustainable development in the global aviation sector. We hope both parties can build on our collaboration in the certification and purchase of SAF to further cooperate in areas pertaining to the industry supply chain, project development and securing the necessary policy support."
Cathay Pacific Group CEO Ronald Lam said: "We are very excited to be partnering with SPIC to support and accelerate the development of the SAF industry in China. Cathay Pacific has a target of using SAF for 10% of its total fuel consumption by 2030, which is a core component towards reaching our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This collaboration brings together the complementary advantages of SPIC's strengths in the field of clean energy with Cathay Pacific's expertise as an end-user of SAF. We hope this partnership will play an important role in the decarbonisation of the aviation industry.
"Under the MoU, Cathay Pacific will share international experience, and also feedback on the SAF certification process, value chain and overall market know-how to facilitate SPIC in the successful establishment of four SAF plants in the Chinese Mainland.
"Building and strengthening the SAF supply chain is an ambitious goal and one that requires extensive collaborative work with many stakeholders to achieve. We want to send a clear message that SAF is going to be the most important lever for achieving net-zero carbon emissions within the aviation industry, and that there will be clear and stable demand from airlines."
The four SAF plants are expected to be commissioned between 2024 and 2026, and each will have the capacity to produce 50,000 to 100,000 tonnes of SAF annually. The plants will use a pathway similar to "Power-to-Liquids" (PtL) to generate the SAF, converting renewable electricity into liquid fuels.
Cathay Pacific is committed to pioneering the aviation industry's move towards more substantial use of SAF, especially in Asia. In 2014, it was the first airline investor in Fulcrum BioEnergy, from which the airline has already committed to purchasing 1.1 million tonnes of SAF over 10 years, which covers around 2% of its pre-COVID-19 fuel requirements on an annual basis.
The airline also launched the Cathay Pacific Corporate SAF Programme - the first major programme of its kind in Asia - in 2022. The programme provides corporate customers the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint from business travel or airfreight by contributing to the use of SAF, which was uplifted and used at Hong Kong International Airport for the first time as part of the programme. Cathay Pacific plans to scale up the programme in 2023, extending the service to more corporate customers.
About Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the home airline of Hong Kong with over 75 years of history, and is a founding member of the oneworld global alliance. The Cathay Pacific Group also comprises low-cost airline HK Express and express all-cargo carrier Air Hong Kong, connecting people and cargo around the world. Cathay Pacific is a member of the Swire Group and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE). The airline's 2021 Sustainability Report addresses its commitment and progress in the areas of environmental, social and governance. Cathay Pacific is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, including targeting 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel use for its flights by 2030. For more information, please visit www.cathaypacific.com
About State Power Investment Corporation
Established in July 2015 through the restructuring of the former China Power Investment Corporation and State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC), the State Power Investment Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as "SPIC") is a large key state-owned enterprise directly under the central government of China. As one of the five major power generation groups in China and the largest solar power generation enterprise in the world, SPIC ranked 260th among the Fortune Global 500 in 2022 with its businesses covering 46 countries and regions. SPIC has 130,000 employees and 62 subsidiary entities, including five listed in the Chinese Mainland, one listed in Hong Kong SAR and two in the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ).
Entrusted with the important mission of ensuring national energy security, SPIC takes the lead in implementing two National Science and Technology Major Projects - namely, large advanced PWR nuclear power plants and heavy-duty gas turbines - acts as the leading entity for building the Energy Industrial Internet, and is also one of the pilot enterprises for state-owned capital investment designated by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC). For more information, please visit en.spic.com.cn