Exciting day at Grandpuits: SARIA and TotalEnergies break ground on the new SAF site

Smiles all around at the zero-crude platform in Grandpuits, 80 km outside of Paris: on August 30, representatives from SARIA and TotalEnergies came together to celebrate the official groundbreaking on the new facility, where we will jointly produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from mid-2025 onwards.

A walk around the construction site, lots of lively discussions, and a few warm words from SARIA Executive Board member Nicolas Rottmann, Valérie Goff, Senior Vice President Renewable Fuels & Chemicals at TotalEnergies, and site manager Michiel Van Raebroeckx were on the agenda.

In his speech, Nicolas Rottmann highlighted the exciting opportunity to work together on this forward-looking project to make aviation greener. The journey has certainly been interesting so far: when a German family business and a French multi-energy group join forces, some “culture clashes” are bound to occur – in a good way, as it gives everyone involved the chance to broaden their horizons and learn from each other.

In addition to the start of construction, there are other milestones ahead. The closing is expected for the fall, as well as a significant ruling on an EU regulation to decide on the range of eligible feedstocks derived from processing of by-products, wastes and residuals for the production of sustainable aviation fuel. This would further increase the leverage of working together for the two groups.

Want to know more about the partnership between SARIA and TotalEnergies and the topic of sustainable aviation fuel? Check out the SARIA website, the initial press release or this video statement by Nicolas Rottmann.

Watch the video to see the dismantling of the old facilities and the areas being prepared for the construction of the new SAF production plant: