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LATAM Airlines will seek to reach a 5% of sustainable fuel use 2030 privileging production in South America of PURE. photo boeing
With a call to accelerate efforts to generate the necessary conditions for a more sustainable commercial aviation, the CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, Roberto Alvo, made public the group's aspiration to incorporate sustainable aviation fuel (PURE, in its acronym in English) in your operation, privileging production generated in South America. This is part of the group's sustainability strategy, seeking carbon neutral growth, neutralize the 50% of domestic emissions per year 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality 2050.
LATAM and sustainable fuel
“South America has the potential to be a world leader in the production of sustainable fuels and thereby make a very significant contribution to climate action.. For this to happen, public and private actors are required, like LATAM, collaborate and play their role and dare to lead the energy transition that the world requires. with this ad, the group is giving a clear signal to the market of real interest in buying SAF fuels in the region», said Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group in the framework of the “Wings of Change” event, organized by the International Air Transport Association (THERE IT IS) the days 6 and 7 April in Santiago de Chile.
The executive highlighted the potential of the development of SAF in the region due to the available natural resources and its wealth in renewable energies. Nevertheless, it is currently an immature market with little supply, that still does not have the enabling conditions to develop its potential in the region, that include specific regulatory schemes, promotion of technology and innovation, production support and logistics chain, mechanisms to lower costs, Inter alia.
Currently, the high production costs and the immaturity of the market pose great challenges when considering a mass use of this type of fuel. In this way, the CEO of LATAM made a call to the government authorities, to private companies, academy and the rest of the airlines to collaborate in this matter, to generate incentives to expand production, the use and widespread use of SAF in South America as a way to find solutions to the climate emergency.
What is the SAF?
It is a type of unconventional fuel, produced from renewable raw materials or derived from waste that meet sustainability criteria. The variety of raw materials is wide and can be cooking oils, fats, municipal waste and agricultural residues, among others. What's more, there are other alternatives such as green hydrogen that can also be used to produce PURE, although - for now- is not commercially viable for this purpose given its high cost and low production volume.
According to data from the THERE IT IS, the SAF provides a reduction in emissions of up to 80% compared to traditional fuels, and it is proposed as the most immediate tool to contribute to sustainable mass transport.
South America meets unbeatable conditions in terms of the availability of resources and sustainable raw materials to develop this type of sustainable fuel. For instance, according to WWF data, Brazil It has the potential to produce up to 9 billion liters of SAF, from different sources such as residues from agriculture and the wood industry and 2030 world supply will be 6.500 MM Gal, of which 2.300 MM Gal (a 35%) they will leave that market.
Long-term, it is also expected to be able to propel airplanes using green hydrogen as a direct energy source; However, this technology is still under development and will require modifications to current aircraft.
sustainability strategy
in May 2021, the LATAM group presented its sustainability strategy based on three fronts: Climate change, Circular Economy and Shared Value, which highlights its commitment to the protection of strategic ecosystems in South America in order to be a zero waste to landfill group by 2027, In addition to compensating for 50% of domestic emissions per year 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality 2050.
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