Virgin and Qatar back North Queensland SAF facility

Virgin and Qatar Airways will become “key partners” on a project to create a new SAF production facility in North Queensland. The factory, located in the Charters Towers Region, aims to convert bioethanol derived from sugarcane grown onsite into aviation fuel. Virgin said the facility is expected to produce 96m litres of SAF each year, which will be supplied to nearby airports, with deliveries expected from early 2029. The project is being overseen by industry collaboration Renewable Developments Australia. Its managing director, Tony D’Alessandro, said it would deliver real, long-term emission reductions while building a new industry in regional Queensland. “Our Ethanol to Jet SAF facility in the Charters Towers Region will be a fully integrated production site, generating sustainable fuel from bioethanol derived from locally grown sugarcane,” he added. “Additionally, by repurposing by-products of the SAF production process to generate renewable power onsite, we are setting a new benchmark for sustainability in aviation fuel manufacturing.”<br/>