Indonesia launched its mandatory B50 biodiesel mandate, raising palm-oil-based FAME content from 40% to 50%, framed as energy independence amid Middle East conflict. As the world's largest palm oil producer, the move pulls supply into fuel and away from export markets.
Singapore's Parliament backed an S$800 million transport research package, RIE2030, spanning AI and autonomy. Within its maritime portion, funding is earmarked for alternative-fuel safety research, including leak detection, supporting the shift to biofuel, methanol and ammonia bunkering.
ONE marked the maiden voyage of ONE Solidarity, a methanol- and ammonia-ready container ship, not yet burning either fuel but built for future conversion. It reflects a wider trend of carriers ordering dual-fuel-ready tonnage rather than committing to a single alternative fuel pathway.
Beijing Shougang LanzaTech listed on the HKEX, raising $75 million, converting industrial waste gas into ethanol, a certified feedstock for ethanol-to-jet SAF. With four commercial facilities and real revenue, it gives the carbon-recycling sector its first public valuation benchmark.
MPA awarded five-year methanol bunkering licences to Global Energy Trading, Golden Island and PetroChina International, selected from 13 applicants on reliability, safety and sustainability certification. Global Energy Trading was already Singapore's methanol bunkering pioneer since 2023.
Singapore Airlines reaffirmed its SAF commitment despite a Middle East-driven fuel cost shock, continuing its voluntary SAF trial with Scoot and Changi Airport Group even as CAAS deferred the mandatory levy's start date. SIA has hedged 47% of expected fuel needs but hasn't reintroduced surcharges.
CAAS deferred Singapore's SAF Levy by three months, citing Middle East-driven cost pressures on airlines and passengers. Underlying targets remain unchanged, a 1% SAF uplift for 2026 rising to 3-5% by 2030, with only the revenue collection timeline moved back.
Aether Fuels and FlyORO signed an MOU to explore SAF supply-chain and blending for Project Beacon, Aether's waste-carbon SAF facility at Aster's Pulau Bukom refinery, targeting 2,000 tonnes annually by 2028. FlyORO's modular blending platform aims to skip costly new fixed terminals.
KBR will provide licensing and FEED for Asia's first commercial-scale ethanol-to-jet SAF plant, developed by Keppel and Aster on Jurong Island, targeting up to 100,000 tonnes annually. AtJ draws on ethanol instead of the contested used cooking oil feedstock HEFA-based SAF depends on.
IMO 2020 looked like a global regulation story. The better reading is more practical: marine fuel rules work when the bunkering system can absorb them. That matters now because shipping is heading into a much harder fuel transition.
Southeast Asia sits on one of the world’s largest concentrations of bio-based feedstocks suitable for advanced biofuels and SAF. Yet much of the region still risks replicating a familiar pattern: exporting low-value feedstocks while importing back high-value refined products at substantial premiums.
Europe’s latest energy package is not a biofuels strategy. In AccelerateEU, the European Commission is responding to a familiar European problem: fossil fuel dependence. The trigger this time is renewed pressure from the Middle East, higher import costs and concern over transport fuel availability.
