Phelan selects Honeywell technology for South Africa eSAF

Phelan Green, through its clean fuels division Phelan eFuels, has selected process technology from Honeywell for its planned electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) facility in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, South Africa

The project will utilise Honeywell UOP’s Fischer Tropsch (FT) Unicracking technology, which converts FT liquids and waxes derived from CO₂ into eSAF that meets aviation industry standards. The technology is designed to enable efficient and scalable production of low-carbon fuels.

“We selected Honeywell’s Fischer Tropsch Unicracking process technology because it provides a proven, bankable pathway to produce sustainable aviation fuel at scale,” said chairman Paschal Phelan.

“This project is a major milestone for Phelan Green and for South Africa’s emerging eFuels economy, and demonstrates our commitment to industrial development, job creation and innovative energy projects that are at the cutting edge of emission reduction.”

The planned facility is a central component of the Phelan Green Hydrogen Project, a R47bn (approximately US$2.5bn) private investment that has been officially recognised by the South African government as a nationally strategic green industrial initiative. Once operational, it is expected to rank among the world’s first commercial-scale eSAF plants, supplying more than 140,000 tonnes of fuel to markets in the EU and the UK.

“Honeywell’s technologies are designed to enable scalable, efficient and flexible production of low-carbon fuels,” said Rajesh Gattupalli, president of Honeywell UOP.

“In this case, our Fischer Tropsch Unicracking process technology will help support Phelan eFuels’ goal to encourage commercial scale sustainable aviation fuel production in South Africa.”

Construction of the Saldanha Bay facility is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. The development is expected to generate thousands of jobs across its various phases, while strengthening South Africa’s position as a future export hub for next-generation aviation fuels.