North Sea Port becomes hub for sustainable aviation fuel and chemicals production
Terra Mater will utilize its proprietary 2X Alcohol-to-Jet technology, developed in Ghent, for this venture.
North Sea Port and Ghent-based Terra Mater BV are collaborating with the Brazilian group Petrom to produce sustainable aviation fuel and basic chemicals.
Under the agreement, Petrom, a major Brazilian petrochemical group, will supply Terra Mater with the necessary bio-based raw materials for five years. These materials will be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and sustainable chemicals. On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the three parties signed an agreement in São Paulo as part of the Belgian economic mission currently visiting Brazil.
“With our technology, we contribute to the goal of making aviation emission-free by 2050. Achieving this requires a massive leap in the production of sustainable aviation fuels,” said Kapil Shyam Lokare, CEO and co-founder of Terra Mater.
The company has been testing its 2X Alcohol-to-Jet technology at a pilot plant at the Kluizendok in the Ghent section of the port area. This technology enables the conversion of various waste streams and alcohols into sustainable jet fuel and basic chemicals, which are utilized in green applications. Terra Mater is now prepared to scale up production.
The agreement strengthens the already close ties between North Sea Port and Brazil. South America’s largest country consistently ranks in the top five of the port's most significant trading partners. Last year, goods throughput between the two amounted to 4.5 million tons, primarily driven by raw material imports.
North Sea Port serves as a key gateway to the European market for Brazilian fruit juice. In addition, the port and Brazil collaborate extensively in biofuels. North Sea Port hosts Belgium’s largest biofuel cluster, while Brazil is a global leader in biofuel production and usage.
