World's First 1,000-Tonne CO₂ Hydrogenation SAF Pilot Plant Passes Operational Assessment

On August 14^th, Sichuan Golden-Elephant Sincerity Chemical Co., Ltd. announced that the world's first 1,000-tonne pilot plant for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) via direct CO₂ hydrogenation successfully completed a 72-hour continuous operational assessment. Jointly built with Professor Wei Fei's team from Tsinghua University and Sichuan Olefin Catalytic Material Co., Ltd., the facility establishes a green technological pathway to convert carbon dioxide into aviation fuel.

The CO₂-to-SAF technology uses byproduct CO₂ and recovered hydrogen from synthetic ammonia and urea plants as feedstocks, directly synthesizing jet fuel using a proprietary catalyst. This process turns industrial CO₂ into high-value products while eliminating reliance on traditional oil‑and‑fat feedstocks required for conventional bio-jet fuels.

The operational assessment was conducted by an expert panel organized by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF). Following on-site inspections and comprehensive evaluations, the panel concluded that the project demonstrates an advanced technical framework, robust management systems, and notable innovation. All core equipment operated smoothly, with all key performance indicators meeting design targets.

To date, the pilot plant has accumulated over 2,000 hours of safe operation. Demonstrating stable CO₂ conversion rates and product selectivity, all catalyst and process parameters exceeded design targets, laying the groundwork to proceed with the design and construction of a 10,000-tonne industrial demonstration facility.