A Saudi energy group is poised to create hundreds of North East jobs as part of a £1bn aviation fuel project.
Alfanar group plans to invest £1bn into the Lighthouse Green Fuels Project, amid aims to become the first in the UK to produce sustainable aviation fuel from waste at scale.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to meet with Alfanar today during a visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to discuss the war in Ukraine and energy security.
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The project is set to create more than 700 construction jobs on Teesside as well as 240 full-time roles when fully operational.
The Lighthouse Green Fuels Project will convert household and commercial waste into sustainable aviation fuel and liquid hydrocarbon naptha. Fuel made at the plant has the potential to produce 80% less greenhouse gas than its fossil fuel equivalent.
The firm was previously awarded £2.4m by the UK Government as part of its Green Fuels, Green Skies competition to take forward the project, which will convert household and commercial waste into 180m litres of SAF and liquid hydrocarbon naptha.
Mayor Ben Houchen welcomed news of the project, saying: “I’ve been working closely with Alfanar for a long time now and this absolutely fantastic news further cement our region as the global go-to place to develop ground-breaking green energy technology – delivering the cleaner, safer and healthier jobs of the future.
“Alfanar’s commitment to the region and its workers is fantastic to see, with hundreds of high-quality, well-paid jobs set to come for people right across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool as it plays its part in helping us become a clean energy powerhouse.
“It also ties into our ambitions to make Teesside Airport the UK’s first hydrogen-ready airport, and an early adopter of these sustainable aviation fuels. Hydrogen-powered vehicles and a refuelling station are on the ground now and projects right across our area from the likes of bp, Kellas Midstream and Northern Gas Networks are showing how we’re capitalising on the UK’s low carbon ambitions.
“Critically, at a point where we need to be thinking outside of the box to cut down on tradition jet fuel emissions to keep our aviation sector soaring, this investment and innovative project will help us become a pioneer in the aviation fuels of the future.”
