Now’s the time to accelerate bold actions to tackle the climate crisis as it is poised to get worse. Global oceans have recently reached their hottest and most acidic levels on record, which is a consequence of climate change led by rising greenhouse gas emissions. This prompted the international community to come together in the Paris Agreement to set a goal for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. However, if member states fail to achieve this goal by 2050, then we may not be able to live on this planet the same way ever again as the heat currently generated by greenhouse gases will continue to cause global warming and affect future generations for many years to come.
The goal of net-zero emissions can be achieved if we stop or reduce activities that cause further emissions of greenhouse gases which means we need to introduce systematic changes in the technology we use as well as in our policies and behaviours. One of the best and most efficient ways to ensure the achievement of net-zero emissions is to seek solutions that limit global warming to 1.5 °C which today unfortunately has already risen to 1.1 °C. Therefore, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial and must be put into practice immediately. According to reports, the aviation industry produces around 2 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has forecast the number of air passengers to increase to 10 billion by 2050. If there is still no viable solution to reduce greenhouse gases in the aviation industry, then we may approximately 21.2 gigatons of carbon in the future (2021-2050).
For these reasons, Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services Public Company Limited (BAFS), the largest aviation fuelling service provider in Thailand, with close to 40 years of experience and expertise in aircraft refuelling and fuel quality inspection, has adjusted its strategies to serve as an organisation that always grows in parallel with global sustainability and is fully committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thereby helping to make the net-zero emissions goal achievable.
As a major milestone to demonstrate its commitment to tackling climate issues, BAFS recently unveiled its mission to transform fossil fuels into sustainable fuels for the entire aviation business. This has led BAFS to a new strategic collaboration with Mitr Phol Group, the world’s third-largest sugar producer and Thailand’s largest manufacturer of sugar and renewable energy derived from sugarcane, a longstanding company that has been part of Thai people’s lives for more than 66 years.
M.L. Nathasit Diskul, President of Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services Public Company Limited (BAFS), said, “The aviation industry is showing strong signs of recovery. Long-term growth of the global aviation industry has been expected to come mainly from the Asia-Pacific region. However, the overall industry still has to confront significant headwinds. The main challenge is climate change, which will continue to severely affect how we live in the world. Reducing greenhouse gases can start immediately by adopting sustainable aviation fuel; a biofuel that can be mixed with conventional aviation fuel that is produced from similar raw materials used for ethanol and biodiesel production. This is also considered a key measure supported by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to make the net-zero emissions mission achievable by 2050.
“As the leading ethanol producer in Asia and the potential of the Thai agricultural sector to provide raw materials, I am confident that our strategic collaboration with Mitr Phol Group marks an important step for the energy and aviation sectors to achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” added M.L. Nathasit. “This, in turn, will help drive Thailand to become a hub for sustainable aviation fuel production for the region. We not only seek sustainability for the aviation industry and agricultural sector but also hope to play a pivotal role in uplifting the world to a more sustainable direction for future generations.”
The synergy between the two business giants unveils a tremendous effort to achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases. With more than 18 years of success on the road of renewable energy development and biomass power production, Mitr Phol Group is ready to demonstrate its professional expertise in innovation, research and technology, being able to build on the productivity of the agricultural sector and make it more innovative for other businesses.
To this end, the company’s sugar business has been expanded into renewable energy (e.g. biomass power, solar energy, and ethanol), fertiliser, wood substitute, and bio-based chemicals and energy businesses. These innovation-based businesses help create economic opportunities and sustainable environmental development. The low-carbon electricity business is also considered a huge success for the company as the production of biomass electricity comes mainly from molasses, and agricultural wastes, backed by sustainable sugarcane plantation management. The starting raw materials have always remained a top priority for Mitr Phol Group’s sustainability principle, particularly since they help optimise both quality and quantity of products as well as add greater value to the bio-jet industry.
With a commitment to saving the environment in line with the government’s policy on using renewable energy, enhancing the development of technology, creating added value for by-products obtained from the agricultural sector, and using or recycling resources efficiently according to the zero-waste guidelines, Mitr Phol Group has established its ethanol business in the name of Mitr Phol Bio Fuel Company Limited to manufacture, process, and develop raw materials obtained from sugarcane to be high-quality ethanol by making use of molasses left over from sugar production and sugarcane juice as raw materials for the production of 99.5-percent pure ethanol. Since 2005, Mitr Phol Group has successfully operated five ethanol production plants across the country, with a total production capacity of 1.5 litres per day or 500 million litres per year, making it one of the largest ethanol producers in Asia.
Mr. Verajet Vongkusolkit, Chief Executive Officer – Thai Sugar, Energy, and New Business, Mitr Phol Group, unveiled the core objectives of this cooperation, reaffirming that, “Mitr Phol Group’s ethanol business is ready to be upgraded from the production of sugarcane-based ethanol used in the automotive industry to the development of highly innovative fuel for the large-scale aviation industry. Supported by the company’s sustainable ethanol certification plans in line with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) measures determined by the ICAO, this is expected to help evolve sustainable development in reducing greenhouse gas emissions conforming to the net-zero emissions goal set by nations around the globe, including Thailand’s Mitr Phol Group, to be achieved in 2050.”
This has prompted Mitr Phol Group to collaborate with the public, private and social sectors to progress, with further business development based on the principles of sustainability while being able to add value to the country’s economy, society and environment. With BAFS recognised as the No.1 aircraft refuelling service provider in Thailand, possessing a common vision in developing and promoting the use of bio-jet fuel, the specialised expertise of the two business giants represents an essential tool to make the goal of reducing greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emissions achievable in reality.
“To achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions in Thailand, Mitr Phol Bio Fuel and BAFS will conduct a feasibility studies on technology, production, marketing, rules and standards related to bio-jet fuels,” adds Mr. Verajet. “We will drive Thailand towards becoming a strategic hub for sustainable aviation fuel production in Southeast Asia which will help maximise competitiveness for the country. It will also build a circular economy for the agricultural, energy and tourism industries and minimise greenhouse gas emissions for the aviation industry in a more sustainable manner.”
Considered a very significant step in reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, the collaboration between BAFS and Mitr Phol Group also promotes the development and use of clean energy for the aviation industry and enhances sustainability in operating the businesses, serving as another important tool towards the ‘Fly Net Zero’ goal set by the IATA to be achieved by 2050.