Four leading domestic oil refiners -- S-Oil, Hyundai Oilbank, SK Innovation and GS Caltex -- are speeding up their entries into the sustainable aviation fuel market. (Yonhap News)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

Four leading domestic oil refiners -- S-Oil, Hyundai Oilbank, SK Innovation and GS Caltex -- are speeding up their advances into the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market.

As an eco-friendly jet fuel made from discarded cooking oil and household waste, SAF gives off 80%-90% less greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuel.

In January, S-Oil became the country's first oil company to use bio ingredients in the oil refining process. It launched SAF production while receiving three international eco-friendly accreditations: the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, aka CORSIA, ISCC EU and ISCC Plus.

Hyundai Oilbank last month gained accreditation for bio ingredient output and began using the co-processing method in SAF production.

From year's end, SK Innovation will make SAF at its factory in Ulsan via co-processing methods. It seeks domestic and foreign producers of eco-friendly raw materials to secure investment for such materials.

In August last year, GS Caltex began preparation for mass output of SAF after gaining ISCC EU, a global biofuel certification.

The government has shown high interest in SAF projects. From Sept. 5 last year, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy teamed up with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport over three months to have cargo planes flying from Incheon to Los Angeles refuel with SAF and ran trial flights.

A trade ministry official said, "We're preparing to enact relevant enforcement decrees and set quality standards based on collected flight data."

dusrud21@korea.kr