Cepsa announced yesterday the signing of an agreement with Bio-Oils, a subsidiary of the Asian giant in the Apical sector, to create a joint company with which to promote the construction of the second generation biofuels plant that the energy company has planned in the Energy Park from La Rábida, in Huelva.
Cepsa had already anticipated the goal of investing 1,000 million euros in the development of the plant, which, according to the company, is the largest in the sector in southern Europe and will produce 500,000 tons of biofuel per year. The alliance of companies presented yesterday means integrating one of the leading companies in the sector into the project and as explained by the Spanish energy company, it also foresees a global agreement with Apical, parent of Bio-Oils, to ensure the majority of the material supply first, from organic waste such as agricultural waste or used cooking oils, which will allow solving one of the main challenges facing the industry: access to raw materials.
"This alliance is a decisive step in our strategy to lead biofuels in Spain and Portugal and positions Andalucia as a European reference in the production of sustainable energies and circular economy. Second-generation biofuels are an immediate solution to favor the energy transition of our customers, as they can be used in conventional engines, while enabling local development and increasing energy autonomy in Europe", assured Maarten Wetselaar , CEO of Cepsa during the presentation of the business agreement that took place at the same La Rábida Energy Park.
The event was attended by Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, president of the Board of Andalusia, Maarten Wetselaar, CEO of Cepsa, Óscar García, CEO of Bio-Oils, and Dada' Yeo How, president of the Apical Group.
This project is part of the strategic plan that Cepsa presented in March 2022 and with which it committed to promote biofuels over other green energy bets, to become a leader in this production in Spain and Portugal. The company led by Wetselaar has set itself the goal of producing 2.5 million tons of biofuels annually, of which 800,000 tons will be SAF, the fuel of the future for airplanes. The project is in line with the Fit for 55 measures of the European Commission, specifically with RefuelEU Aviation, which aims to boost the supply and demand of aviation biofuels in the European Union, and reach a use of a 2 % in 2025, 5% in 2030 and 63% in 2050.
"The agreement will serve to position Spain as a benchmark in the supply of SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) to airlines," the company assures.
