(Johannesburg, South Africa) – South African company Sasol Ltd. and Danish company Topsoe A/S are ending their joint venture, Zaffra BV. The joint venture, headquartered in the Netherlands, was founded in 2023 to produce sustainable aviation fuels (eSAF) using Sasol's Fischer-Tropsch process and Topsoe's technologies. The official statement says the companies wanted to "realign the organizational structure of their partnership for the next phase of market development."
Further cooperation planned
The plan to "prepare for an orderly transition from Zaffra" is an "organizational decision." Sasol remains committed to the Sasol-Topsoe partnership and the SAF initiative, says Simon Baloyi, President and CEO of Sasol. "Zaffra has helped to lay an important foundation for this market." As the SAF market continues to evolve, "it is important" that the partnership model evolves with it, says Elena Scaltritti, Topsoe President and, since June 1, the company's new CEO. "We will adjust the organizational structure for selected projects and priority initiatives to guide the partnership into its next phase of development." The planned winding-down process will be carried out in a "disciplined and orderly" manner. Sasol and Topsoe will work with Zaffra's customers, value chain partners, employees, and other stakeholders "to protect important relationships, reduce uncertainty, and support continuity during the transition." No specific data, plans, or details regarding the Zaffra liquidation were mentioned.
Zaffra CEO Jan Toschka and MB Energy CEO Jonathan Perkins signing an agreement to study the European market for eSAF on June 10. © MB Energy Group
As recently as mid-June, Zaffra and the Hamburg-based MB Energy Group announced their intention to explore the Europe-wide commercialization and market development of eSAF. MB Energy was identified as a potential customer for Zaffra's global portfolio. The initial focus of the collaboration was to be on "Brandenburg eSAF." To this end, Zaffra and the energy supplier Enertrag SE established the joint venture Concrete Chemicals GmbH, which was to build "Germany's largest eSAF production facility" at the PCK refinery in Schwedt, with an annual production capacity of 30.000 tons. In January, a commitment of €350 million in funding for this project was announced. The investment decision was planned for 2027, with commissioning scheduled for 2030 ( as previously reported ).
The future of this project remains unknown, as does the future of the collaboration with the Spanish company Moeve SA. Zaffra and Moeve had agreed in July 2025 to examine the possibilities of eSAF production in Spain. The energy and chemicals group, owned by the Abu Dhabi-based fund Mubadala and the US private equity firm Carlyle Group (CG.O.), changed its name from "Cepsa" (Compañía Española de Petróleos SAU) in 2024 and, since 2022, has sold large parts of its oil production and business activities in Abu Dhabi and South America to increasingly focus on sustainable energy and hydrogen (as we reported ).
The chemical and petroleum company Sasol and the technology provider Topsoe, active in the fuel segment and high-temperature electrolysis, among other areas, have been working together for more than 30 years. Both companies agree that this will not change as a result of Zaffra's demise. Under a framework agreement (Single Point Licensor, SPL) concluded in 2019, the companies will "continue to offer integrated technology solutions to customers."
Photo above
Sasol headquarters in Sandton, South Africa. © Sasol Ltd.
