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Aramco, TotalEnergies, SIRC Mull Establishment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant in Saudi Arabia

The collaboration seeks to leverage each company's expertise to develop an SAF plant in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom. SPA
The collaboration seeks to leverage each company's expertise to develop an SAF plant in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom. SPA
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Aramco, TotalEnergies, SIRC Mull Establishment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant in Saudi Arabia

The collaboration seeks to leverage each company's expertise to develop an SAF plant in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom. SPA
The collaboration seeks to leverage each company's expertise to develop an SAF plant in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom. SPA

Saudi Aramco, TotalEnergies, and the Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC) have said they signed a joint development and cost-sharing agreement, aiming at evaluating the potential development of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant in the Kingdom.
The announcement coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron's official visit to the Kingdom on Tuesday. The collaboration seeks to leverage each company's expertise to develop an SAF plant in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom.
The evaluation phase will focus on utilizing innovative engineering and technological solutions to recycle and process local waste or circular economy by-products, including cooking oils and animal fats, to produce SAF.
President and CEO of Saudi Aramco Amin Hassan Nasser pointed out that addressing aviation emissions through low-carbon alternatives has become imperative in light of the expected growth in air travel demand, highlighting the crucial role of mega global energy companies like Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies.

"Addressing transportation emissions requires a wide range of approaches, and Aramco is committed to finding innovative solutions and contributing to global efforts to reduce emissions," he said.
Underlying the solid partnership between Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies, Nasser said: "Our goal is to establish a sustainable aviation fuel plant in the Kingdom with SIRC, benefiting both domestic and international airlines, particularly as the tourism and aviation sectors expand."
Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies Patrick Pouyanné expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with Saudi Aramco and SIRC to assess SAF production in the Kingdom. He also stressed the importance of advancing efforts to decarbonize air transport.
SIRC CEO Ziyad Al-Shiha noted that the partnership aligns with the company's commitment to supporting the ambitious sustainability goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, saying: "We are focusing on increasing waste-to-resource conversion rates, and this new collaboration with Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies to assess the feasibility of a renewable aviation fuel plant is a significant step toward advancing the circular economy in the Kingdom."

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Presidential Election: A Crucial First Step toward Saving Lebanon from Economic Crisis

The vacant presidential seat at Baabda Palace after President Michel Aoun's term ended (Reuters)
The vacant presidential seat at Baabda Palace after President Michel Aoun's term ended (Reuters)
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Presidential Election: A Crucial First Step toward Saving Lebanon from Economic Crisis

The vacant presidential seat at Baabda Palace after President Michel Aoun's term ended (Reuters)
The vacant presidential seat at Baabda Palace after President Michel Aoun's term ended (Reuters)

Since 2019, Lebanon has faced one of its worst economic crises in modern history, affecting all aspects of life. The local currency has lost over 95% of its value, driving inflation to record levels and making goods and services unaffordable. Poverty and unemployment have surged.
Amid this, political divisions have paralyzed government action, preventing any effective response to the crisis.
The recent war with Israel added to the burden, causing huge human and material losses estimated by the World Bank at $8.5 billion. This has made Lebanon’s economic and social struggles even harder to resolve, with no president in place to lead the country.
The presidential post in Lebanon has been vacant since President Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022, leaving the country without a leader to address growing economic and financial issues.
This vacancy has stalled government formation, making it difficult for Lebanon to negotiate with international donors like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which demands major reforms in exchange for aid.
Choosing a new president is now a critical priority, not only to regain local and international confidence but also to begin the long-needed reforms.
One major challenge the new president will face is the reconstruction effort, which is estimated to cost over $6 billion. This is a huge financial burden that will require significant resources and effort to secure funding.
Reconstruction in Lebanon is not just about fixing infrastructure or repairing damage; it is a key test of the country’s ability to restore its role on the regional and international arena.
To achieve this, Lebanon needs a president with a clear vision and strong international connections, able to engage effectively with donor countries and major financial institutions.
Without credible and unified political leadership, Lebanon’s chances of gaining external support will remain limited, especially as international trust has been shaken by years of mismanagement and lack of reforms.
Keeping Lebanon’s deepening crises in mind, the people are hoping that electing a new president will offer a chance for economic and political recovery.
The new president, along with a strong government, is expected to rebuild trust both locally and internationally and restore political stability—key factors for stopping the economic decline and encouraging growth.
For instance, reviving Lebanon’s vital tourism sector will require better security and restoring confidence in the country as a safe place for investment.
This can only happen with political leadership that has a clear plan for reconstruction and necessary reforms.
Given Lebanon’s ongoing financial struggles, the new president’s ability to address these challenges will be critical to rescuing the country and guiding the economy toward recovery and sustainable growth.