Business Environment Council Launches Hong Kong Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition to Step Up Decarbonisation of Aviation Industry

Business Environment Council Limited (“BEC”) announced the official launch of the Hong Kong Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition (“HKSAFC”) with a launch ceremony held on 29 January. Developed in partnership with Cathay as co-initiator and as a response to the latest Policy Address by the HKSAR Government, HKSAFC aims to spearhead the decarbonisation of the aviation industry and position Hong Kong as a regional and global hub for sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”).

HKSAFC is a programme aiming to drive the establishment of a government-led mechanism with multi-stakeholders to deliver a SAF roadmap and solutions for the aviation industry; deliver forefront research and policy papers on SAF strategies in Hong Kong; and scale up SAF supply and adoption in Hong Kong with competitive costs. HKSAFC Partners represent various positions across the SAF value chain, including technical agencies and airport regulator, SAF producers and fuel suppliers, air transport service end-users and non-profit organisations. All partners will take part in regular meetings and roundtables on a quarterly basis, contributing to a SAF Ambition Statement and a policy submission to the Government set to be released by end 2024.

Mr Liu Chun San, JP, Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics, said at the launch ceremony, “The Government fully endorses the direction of using SAF to decarbonise the aviation sector which helps maintaining the leading position of Hong Kong International Airport (“HKIA”) in green and sustainable development. Apart from the environmental benefits, ensuring the sufficient supply of SAF at HKIA would help consolidate Hong Kong’s international aviation hub status. Most airlines now have their own sustainability goals or requirements imposed by their base-governments on the use of SAF. The availability of SAF at airports will be, if not has been, one of the major considerations of airlines in flight planning and expansion.”

Mr Simon Ng, Chair of HKSAFC and Chief Executive Officer of BEC, emphasised the importance of SAF in decarbonising the aviation sector. He said, “Aviation is widely recognised as one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. In the foreseeable future, SAF is considered the most viable way for decarbonising the sector. Through the launch of HKSAFC, BEC will engage with multiple stakeholders to accelerate the deployment of SAF at the Hong Kong International Airport, ensuring its availability and affordability.”

Mr Ronald Lam, Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Group, co-initiator of HKSAFC, said, “Sustainability is a key focus for Cathay, and we are committed to achieving our carbon net-zero goal by 2050. We firmly believe that SAF is a key enabler for the aviation industry to achieve its long-term environmental targets and to support the global transition to a low-carbon economy. I look forward to working with all of the Coalition Partners in the coming months and years, to join the global efforts to tackle the climate challenge.”

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HKSAFC Partners  (in alphabetical order):

1. AFSC Operations Limited

2. Airport Authority Hong Kong

3. Board of Airline Representatives Hong Kong

4. Business Environment Council

5. Cathay Pacific Airways Limited

6. China Aviation Oil (Hong Kong) Company Limited

7. ECO Aviation Fuel Services Limited

8. EcoCeres Limited

9. PetroChina International (Hong Kong) Corporation Limited

10. PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited

11. Shell Aviation

12. Sinopec (Hong Kong) Aviation Co., Ltd

13. Standard Chartered Bank (HK) Ltd

14. Swire Pacific Limited