Latvian sustainable fuel developer NorSAF has signed a permanent licensing agreement with KBR for the deployment of PureSAF® technology, establishing the foundation for what could become Europe’s first commercial-scale facility capable of producing 100% drop-in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The project, planned for the Port of Liepaja in Latvia, aims to produce both SAF derived from advanced bioethanol and eSAF produced from green hydrogen and biogenic CO2.
PureSAF technology, originally developed by Swedish Biofuels AB and exclusively licensed by KBR for commercial deployment, differs from conventional SAF pathways because it produces a fuel that closely replicates the chemical composition of fossil jet fuel.
This allows the fuel to be used in existing aircraft engines and fueling infrastructure without modifications. While the technology is currently certified for blending up to 50% with conventional jet fuel, industry participants anticipate that certification for 100% drop-in use could be achieved in Europe in 2026, subject to ASTM approval processes.
The agreement grants NorSAF exclusive rights to deploy the technology, creating a strategic platform for the company’s long-term sustainable aviation fuel ambitions. Project development and eventual construction remain dependent on securing support from strategic partners and additional investment.
Supporting Europe’s aviation decarbonization and energy security goals
The planned facility is expected to produce 100,000 tons of SAF and eSAF annually, with operations provisionally targeted to begin in 2031. The project aligns with the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulations, which require increasing levels of sustainable aviation fuel use across the aviation sector through 2050.
NorSAF plans to source feedstocks entirely within Europe, combining renewable electricity, green hydrogen and captured biogenic carbon dioxide to create a closed-loop production process.
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According to the company, the resulting fuel could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 83% compared with conventional jet fuel production while strengthening Europe’s energy independence and industrial resilience.
Project leaders say the development could transform the Port of Liepaja into a regional sustainable fuel hub, positioning Latvia as an important contributor to Europe’s emerging SAF value chain.
NorSAF is also working alongside aviation partner Avia Solutions Group, whose subsidiary Baltic Ground Services brings experience in sustainable aviation fuel supply and distribution, helping create a pathway from production to airline customers across Europe.
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