Today's Edition
MUSTAFA ABDEL AZIM (DUBAI)
The CEO of Lootah Biofuels, Yousif Bin Saeed Al Lootah, revealed that the company’s newest factory for biofuel production, located in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi Zone 3 (ICAD III), will be up and running this January.
Al Lootah said that the production capacity for the new factory, based on an area of 4,575 square metres, will reach around 1.8 million liters per year during the first stage, processing 150,000 liters of cooking oil and converting it into biofuel per month.
In statements to Aletihad, the CEO revealed the company’s plans to establish a new factory for biofuel production in one of the country’s main ports, aside from its existing two factories in Dubai and its new factory in Abu Dhabi. This step aims to meet the increasing demand on biofuel in the UAE, in addition to increasing exports to foreign markets during the upcoming period amid a global rise in demand.
He also stressed that the company, through its factories in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, will be able to cover the biofuel needs of all stations in the UAE.
The company, which successfully provided a lower-cost solution to produce biofuel from used cooking oil, currently produces over 60 million litres of eco-friendly biofuel in the UAE per year, according to Al Lootah, who noted that this clean energy source helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
Fuel Production
Al Lootah predicted a three-to-four-fold increase in the quantities of cooking oil gathered to produce biofuel in the coming period. He also stressed the importance of expanding the use of biofuels within the sustainable transportation system, which currently relies on electricity, hydrogen, and natural gas, among other renewable sources.
He also pointed out that the company looks forward to using edible oils in sustainable aviation fuel production within the upcoming few years.
Al Lootah said that he expects that the percentage of recycled used cooking oil in the UAE to exceed 80% in the next few years, amidst a push towards sustainability and an increasing awareness. According to the CEO, less than 50% of used cooking oil in the UAE, which mainly comes from restaurants and the hospitality industry, is recycled.
External Expansions
Lootah Biofuels has signed a number of agreements and partnerships for cooperation related to recycling used cooking oil, including an agreement to establish its first cooking oil-to-biofuel factory in the Maldives, which will use cooking oil from resorts to operate diesel ship engines, Al Lootah said.
The company also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during COP28 with FatHopes Energy, a Malaysian company specialised in developing sustainable fat, oil, and grease solutions for biofuel production. The MoU aims to develop solutions for the production and distribution of sustainable aviation fuel in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as well as Southeast Asia.
Al Lootah explained that the partnership with FatHopes Energy reflects the company’s commitment to developing sustainable energy solutions for the aviation sector and contributing to achieving climate-neutrality targets set by the world’s civil aviation sector. It also aligns with the goals of the UAE and the vision of its wise leadership, and contributes to achieving tangible progress in producing and distributing sustainable aviation fuel, meeting growing demand in the UAE and the rest of the region.
Aviation Fuel
Lootah Biofuels is capable of producing aviation biofuel in the UAE, Al Lootah said, adding that this aligns with the sustainable aviation fuel roadmap set by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
He pointed out the importance of producing biofuel for the civil aviation sector, which is considered to be among the most fuel-consuming industries, to reduce carbon emissions stemming from aviation. According to Al Lootah, studies show that replacing traditional aviation fuel with sustainable fuel will reduce carbon emissions in the sector by up to 80%.
Al Lootah further noted that the company’s experience and achievements align with the UAE’s current direction, especially the initiatives, strategies, and policies the country has adopted to tackle climate change. This includes the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to achieve a balance between economic needs and environmental targets and increase energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions.
The company was founded in Dubai in 2010 to meet the increasing demand for alternative fuel in the region, in line with the country’s sustainable development vision. Lootah Biofuels aims to provide and develop sustainable solutions to meet long-term energy demands through a rapid growth production capacity and enhanced distribution channels, redefining the quality of bio-diesel fuel and expanding access to sustainable and eco-friendly biofuel.
