Building of a SAF Supply Chain Starting from Plantation of Non-edible Oil Feedstock Trees - Investigating the possibility of CO₂ fixation and securing bio-fuel through Pongamia pinnata tree cultivation in Australia

As a specific measure to reduce CO₂ emissions in the aviation industry, there is a growing social demand to achieve a stable supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). SAF is produced from non-fossil fuel derived raw materials, and one of the challenges is to secure raw materials that are less competitive with food crops, while there are multiple technological processes and raw materials for this purpose. In these circumstances, Pongamia pinnata, a legume that grows throughout Southeast Asia and Oceania, is a non-edible oil feedstock with high oil yield efficiency and is expected to be leveraged as an SAF feedstock.

On February 1, 2023, Idemitsu and J-Oil Mills announced that they would jointly undertake a study on building a biomass business, including SAF production, plastic recycling, and bio-chemical utilization by securing bio-based raw materials in order to achieve a circular economy. As part of this effort, we have reached an agreement to initiate this study with BMRG who are engaged in a wide range of natural resource management activities in Queensland, including forestation, cultivation, and harvesting.

The project will study the planting and management of Pongamia pinnata trees, CO₂ fixation and offsetting through the planting, building an SAF supply chain (harvesting, separation of oil , transportation, and SAF production), and forest investment, aiming to start small-scale cultivation verification in Queensland by the end of 2023.

Pongamia pinnata  (Trees, nuts and seeds, oil)

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  Pongamia (tree)

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  Pongamia (seeds/fruit)

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  Pongamia (oil)

On March 8, 2023, the signing ceremony of the MOU between the three companies was held in the presence of Queensland State Government Treasurer Cameron Dick (back row, left side).
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<Company Outlines>

The Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) is the peak body for natural resource management within the Burnett Mary region in Queensland. Established in 2001, it is one of 54 national, not-for-profit regional bodies providing an essential link between the community and various programs procured by Government and other funding sources. BMRG’s vision is “to protect and enhance the agricultural and natural environment of the Burnett Mary region for future generations”. To achieve its vision, BMRG has developed strong relationships with the Australian Federal Government, the Queensland State Government, local governments, and others.

Idemitsu is working to implement diverse and environmentally friendly low-carbon energy, resource-saving, and circulation solutions in society while fulfilling its responsibility to provide a stable supply of energy, mainly fossil fuels including petroleum, under its 2030 Vision "Your Reliable Partner for a Brighter Future" and 2050 Vision "Shape the Change". As part of this plan, Idemitsu plans to establish a green supply chain for biomass-derived fuels and chemicals, such as SAF, biodiesel, and bio-chemicals, by 2030. Additionally, while leveraging the business foundation that has been developed through coal mining operations over the past 40 years in Australia, we will continue to proactively contribute to Australia’s energy transition and create low-carbon and decarbonized businesses.

J-Oil Mills is developing a wide range of businesses centered on edible oil and fat products, aiming to realize good taste, health, and low burden by extracting value from plant-derived raw materials, in order to achieve its medium-term business plan "Transforming for Growth" until FY2026 under the vision "Joy for Life®︎- Bringing joy to the future by food -". J-Oil Mills has also positioned reducing environmental burden as one of our materiality, and have set a goal of becoming carbon neutral by reducing CO₂ emissions by 50% compared to FY2013 by FY2030 (Scope 1 and 2) and to zero emissions by FY2050.^​​

【参考】
出光興産とJ-オイルミルズによるバイオマス事業構築に関する共同検討について
～「油（あぶら）」を接点とした共創により、サーキュラーエコノミーを実現～
https://www.idemitsu.com/jp/news/2022/230201.html
https://www.j-oil.com/press/article/230201_003798.html https://pdf.irpocket.com/C2613/fhjD/S9VI/kYfQ.pdf