Vice Chairman of VCCI Vo Tan Thanh highly appreciates Tapetco's pioneering initiative to promote SAF in Vietnam.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), produced from waste oil, agricultural by-products, biomass, urban waste, etc., can help reduce carbon emissions by 80% compared to traditional fuels. However, in reality, sustainable aviation fuel is still very new in Vietnam.

Speaking at the workshop "Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Carbon Reduction in the Aviation Fuel Supply Chain," according to Mr. Vo Tan Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), it can be seen that the global aviation industry is moving towards sustainable development and the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

The Vice Chairman of VCCI stated that the use of sustainable aviation fuel, or alternative fuels made from bio-based materials, can help reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to using traditional fuels. However, the production cost of this type of fuel is quite high. This is clearly a significant challenge.

In reality, at the end of last year, Virgin Atlantic Airways successfully conducted the world's first flight using 100% sustainable fuel. According to estimates, if a flight uses 100% SAF, the airfare increases by nearly 50% compared to flights using traditional fuel. Therefore, the Vice Chairman of VCCI emphasizes: "The world is moving, and Vietnam cannot stand aside from this trend."

Tapetco's CEO, Luong The Tung, asserts that the goal of emissions reduction is challenging but cannot afford to be slow in the green transformation journey.

From a corporate perspective, Mr. Luong The Tung, CEO of Tapetco Company, informs that according to research data, the aviation industry accounts for about 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is considered one of the most challenging sectors to reduce emissions. However, Mr. Tung emphasizes that "difficult" does not mean "allowed to be slow" in the journey of energy transition to green.

Mr. Tung further explains that the use of SAF, or alternative fuels made from bio-based materials, can help reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to using traditional fuels. However, SAF is still a very new concept in Vietnam, not only for companies operating in the aviation sector or supplying aviation fuel but also for regulatory authorities.

Currently in Vietnam, the roadmap for green energy transition in the aviation sector is very specifically regulated by Decision No. 876/QD-TTg dated July 22, 2022. Mr. Luong The Tung, CEO of Tapetco Company, states that the goal from 2035 onwards is to use a minimum of 10% sustainable fuel for some short-haul flights; 100% of passenger and other vehicles in newly invested airports will use electricity and green energy.

By 2050, the plan is to use 100% green energy, sustainable aviation fuel for aircraft to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

Scene at the Workshop "Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Carbon Emission Reduction in the Aviation Fuel Supply Chain"

Mr. Kelvin Lee, Deputy Director of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), stated that Net Zero is the goal that 320 member airlines of IATA are aiming for (IATA members account for 83% of global air transport volume). In Vietnam, three airlines, Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Bamboo Airlines, are also IATA members and are pursuing the Net Zero goal.

The motivation to achieve the net zero roadmap includes three factors: aircraft technology, energy and infrastructure, and operational processes. Among these, the key factor to implement this roadmap requires huge financial resources and policies to encourage investment in new technologies and new types of fuels.

To achieve the net zero emissions goal by "2050", the Deputy Director of IATA emphasized that IATA identifies sustainable aviation fuel SAF as the main driver of the aviation industry, the biggest contributor to emissions reduction.

"SAF is the main driver of the aviation industry. If the blend ratio of SAF can be increased from 50 - 100%, Net Zero can be achieved very quickly. In addition, manufacturers of new-generation aircraft will definitely prioritize SAF fuels, so this issue will develop rapidly. If the blending ratio is higher, some adjustments can be made to suit engines using traditional fuels," Mr. Lee said.

According to Mr. Kelvin Lee, policies regarding SAF in countries around the world vary widely in terms of policy direction trends. "We believe there needs to be more flexibility in setting national SAF targets, depending on the SAF production capacity of each country and region," an IATA representative suggested.

Similarly, Mr. Maxim Breugelmans, CEO of Betterfuels, emphasized that due to the relatively high price of SAF, policymakers need to incentivize pricing mechanisms.

To make SAF policies effective, it is necessary to increase supply and enhance the price competitiveness of SAF compared to traditional aviation fuels. Additionally, there needs to be systematic policies to create demand for SAF, support research and development of new production technologies, and accompanying supply chains.

Therefore, Mr. Breugelmans suggested that countries should prioritize implementing encouraging measures such as: Establishing a functioning market through incentivizing policies, promoting new entrants and diversifying SAF production activities, supporting innovative initiatives, reducing costs, and supporting production facilities using new technologies...