FTI Proposes Government Elevate Ethanol to National Strategic Fuel

Cosmo Oil announced on the 17th that it will begin utilizing naphtha co-produced in the SAF manufacturing process together with Maruzen Petrochemical, Ube-Maruzen Polyethylene, and SAFFAIRE SKY ENERGY. At the SAF production facility within Cosmo Oil's Sakai Refinery, naphtha obtained during the production of SAF from waste cooking oil will be utilized as a raw material for chemicals. SAFFAIRE SKY ENERGY will produce the naphtha, Cosmo Oil will supply it, Maruzen Petrochemical will produce basic chemicals, and Ube-Maruzen Polyethylene will produce polyethylene for development into plastic products. The four companies plan to expand supply volumes and develop applications going forward, aiming to contribute to decarbonization in the chemical, textile, and packaging sectors.

Praj Industries and Gevo, Inc. announced the signing of a Development & Commercialization Agreement for Bio-Isobutanol technology in India, with Praj holding exclusive rights to deploy the technology in the country. The partnership will focus on developing commercial opportunities for Bio-IBA, primarily for diesel blending applications aimed at reducing the carbon intensity of one of the world's most widely used transportation and industrial fuels. The agreement builds on more than a decade of collaboration between the two companies to adapt and advance Bio-IBA technology for Indian feedstocks and market requirements. In a separate but aligned development, Praj is currently establishing India's first commercial Bio-IBA demonstration plant for a leading Oil Marketing Company, designed, engineered, supplied and erected by Praj based on Gevo's licensed Bio-IBA technology. According to Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell, India consumed approximately 94.7 million tonnes, or 29.7 billion US gallons, of high-speed diesel in FY2025-26. Gevo Chief Executive Officer Paul Bloom called the agreement an important milestone, while Praj Founder Chairman Dr. Pramod Chaudhari said it establishes a strong foundation for bringing Bio-IBA to the Indian market.

OMV Petrom has expanded its planned green hydrogen production capacity at Romania's Petrobrazi refinery to 55 megawatts following the delivery of a second 35-MW electrolyzer. The new system, consisting of seven 5-MW electrolysis modules supplied by Germany's Neuman & Esser, will combine with a previously delivered 20-MW electrolyzer to produce around 8,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually using renewable electricity. The hydrogen will primarily support OMV Petrom's new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) plant, currently under construction at Petrobrazi. The 35-MW electrolyzer alone is expected to produce around 4,700 tonnes of hydrogen annually and has received approximately €29 million in financing through Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan. These hydrogen projects are part of a broader €750 million investment in sustainable fuels at Petrobrazi, which includes €560 million for the SAF/HVO plant and €190 million for the two green hydrogen facilities. The new plant will have capacity to produce 250,000 tonnes of sustainable fuels annually, with production scheduled to begin in 2028. OMV Petrom has already secured buyers for part of that output, including a five-year agreement with parent company OMV covering up to 360,000 tonnes of SAF and HVO beginning in 2028, with an estimated value exceeding €800 million at recent market prices. More than 80% of the plant's feedstock requirements for its first eight years have also been secured. Petrobrazi currently supplies roughly 35% of Romania's fuel demand and has an annual refining capacity of 4.5 million tonnes.