Sasol to Supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel for Antarctica Flights

By Mintesinot Nigussie  |  September 16, 2026

South African energy company Sasol will supply sustainable aviation fuel to Antarctic expedition operator White Desert for flights from Cape Town to Antarctica under a new commercial agreement announced at the Africa Green Hydrogen Summit.

The partnership will see Sasol provide its first commercial volumes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to White Desert, which operates luxury expeditions to Antarctica from South Africa.

The agreement provides a commercial application for locally produced SAF and comes as South Africa seeks to develop lower-carbon fuel value chains linked to its existing industrial and energy infrastructure.

Sasol said the fuel will be produced from sustainable bio-feedstocks. The company views bio-based SAF as an initial step towards the development of e-fuels based on green hydrogen.

The supply agreement was enabled by Natref’s recent ISCC+ sustainability certification, which provides a framework for demonstrating the sustainability characteristics of certified products and their supply chains.

“Today’s announcement shows that South Africa is not waiting on the sidelines of the energy transition,” said Sarushen Pillay, Executive Vice President for Business Building, Strategy and Technology at Sasol. “We are building practical solutions that connect industrial capability, customer demand and innovation.”

White Desert will use the SAF in its aviation operations between South Africa and Antarctica.

Patrick Woodhead, CEO and founder of White Desert, said the company was pleased to source sustainable aviation fuel produced in South Africa for its Antarctic flights.

The agreement forms part of Sasol’s wider strategy to develop SAF and other lower-carbon fuels while using existing industrial capabilities and infrastructure.

Pillay said South Africa’s existing fuels infrastructure, technical expertise and export relationships could support the development of a domestic sustainable-fuels industry.

Sasol is also positioning bio-SAF as a potential bridge to e-fuels produced using green hydrogen, linking the emerging SAF market with South Africa’s efforts to develop a green hydrogen economy.

Source: FSX Business News