Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”), together with Dubai Municipality, the Government of Dubai municipal body in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Emirates National Oil Company, a state owned oil and gas company in UAE (hereinafter, “ENOC”); and BESIX, a Belgian construction group, have agreed to conduct a feasibility study on the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (“SAF”)*1 by processing municipal solid waste (“MSW”) in Dubai (hereinafter,  “Feasibility Study”).

As the aviation industry works toward the reduction of CO2 emissions, the International Civil Aviation Organization (hereinafter, “ICAO”) has introduced a framework for a CO2 emission reduction system*2. SAF has great potential as a next-generation low carbon jet fuel to replace conventional jet fuel, with SAF demand expected to grow. UAE, home to Dubai International Airport (one of the world’s largest hubs), has developed a national SAF strategic roadmap and is strengthening its support for SAF production efforts in the country.

In addition, the conversion of MSW to fuel has been attracting attention as an innovative pathway not only to secure material for SAF production but also to address social issues related to waste management and enable a sustainable economy.

Through the FS, Marubeni and its partners in this initiative will investigate and examine the feasibility of establishing a supply chain for the production of SAF derived from MSW in Dubai, which is currently disposed of in a landfill. 

Based on its long-term climate change vision formulated in March 2021 and its green strategy in the medium-term management strategy GC2024 formulated in February 2022, Marubeni aims to make medium- to long-term contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts, including the decarbonization of the aviation industry.

*1 Jet fuel that is not derived from fossil fuels and whose total life cycle CO2 emission volume is lower than fossil fuels. There are several pathways in which wood biomass, vegetable oil, used cooling oil, and other materials, in addition to municipal solid waste, are utilized as source materials for such fuel.

*2 In 2016, the ICAO adopted the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation  (hereinafter, “CORSIA”). Under CORSIA, airlines are obligated to procure CO2 emission credit and offset carbon emissions if their CO2 emission volumes exceed the given limits, so that their CO2 emission amounts in their entirety do not increase from the ones recorded in 2021.

ENOC Overview
Name:	Emirates National Oil Company
Head Office:	Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Establishment:	1993
Representative:	Group CEO, H/H Saif Humaid Al Falasi
Main Business:	Production, supply, and sales of oil and gas
Website:	https://www.enoc.com/en/
BESIX Overview
Name:	BESIX
Head Office:	Brussel, Belgium
Establishment:	1909
Representative:	Global CEO, Pierre SIRONVAL
Main Business:	Construction, property development, and concessions
Website:	https://www.besix.com/