Key Takeaways
• On May 9, 2025, LanzaJet and BioD began a feasibility study for Colombia’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant.
• Colombia aims to integrate SAF into its energy mix by 2029, using LanzaJet’s Alcohol-to-Jet technology and local agroforestry residues.
• Government and Ecopetrol initiatives align with CORSIA standards, positioning Colombia as a regional leader in sustainable aviation fuel.
LanzaJet and BioD have set out on a project that could change how aviation fuel is made in Colombia 🇨🇴 and possibly all of Latin America. On May 9, 2025, these two companies announced they would begin a careful study, called a feasibility study, to find out if Colombia can support its first plant producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This marks a big step in the region’s efforts to use cleaner fuels in airplanes.
What Is Sustainable Aviation Fuel?
Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, is a type of fuel made from resources that can be renewed, like plant materials or waste from the farming industry. Unlike regular jet fuel, which is made from oil, SAF creates less carbon dioxide when burned. This helps fight climate change and keeps the air cleaner.
SAF is not only better for the environment. It also helps rural communities because it can be made from things like leftover crops. This means SAF production can create jobs and bring new opportunities to areas outside big cities.
Why Did BioD Choose LanzaJet’s Technology?
BioD, a Colombian energy company, wanted to find the best way to make SAF from alcohol. They spent three years looking at more than 20 different options from around the world. After this long search, they picked LanzaJet’s Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology. This technology changes ethanol, a type of alcohol that is often made from plants, into jet fuel suitable for planes.
According to LanzaJet’s CEO, Jimmy Samartzis, “This feasibility study is an important milestone for Colombia and for the growth of SAF across Latin America. We’re proud to bring our leading ATJ technology to this partnership.” For BioD, this partnership is not just about making a new fuel. It’s about putting Colombia at the front of sustainable aviation in the region.
What Will the Feasibility Study Look At?
Before any plant is built, the two companies need to answer a lot of questions. The feasibility study will look at:
- How the technology works in local conditions
- If it is possible and cost-effective to make SAF in Colombia 🇨🇴
- What kind of equipment and workers are needed
- Where the plant could be built and what local support is available
BioD’s project leader, Carolina Betancourt, explained, “This is not just theory — it’s about building the future starting today. Our commitment is to produce SAF in Colombia using agroforestry residues and energy crops eligible under CORSIA, creating a positive impact on both the local economy and the environment.” The term CORSIA refers to international rules about carbon emissions from airplanes. By following these rules, SAF made in Colombia could be used by airlines all over the world.
Project Goals and Timeline
BioD and LanzaJet’s goals for the SAF plant are very clear:
- Show that Colombia can be a leader in making SAF in Latin America
- Start adding SAF into Colombia’s national energy mix by 2029
- Support the country’s move to more diverse and modern energy sources
- Fit with the Colombian government’s official SAF plan
If all goes according to plan, by 2029 Colombia could have its first working SAF plant, helping the country’s airlines switch to cleaner fuels.
How SAF Fits Into Colombia’s Larger Goals
Colombia 🇨🇴 is not starting from scratch when it comes to alternative fuels. Over the last few years, different groups in the country have started to invest in SAF and similar projects.
- In October 2024, Ecopetrol, which is Colombia’s national oil company, produced 20,000 barrels of SAF at its Cartagena refinery.
- Ecopetrol plans to spend between $500 and $700 million to build a bigger SAF plant at Barrancabermeja, aiming to start production by 2030.
- This new plant could make around 6,000 barrels of SAF every day.
(Sources: LanzaJet official project page, Bioenergy Times)
These moves are helped by the government’s SAF roadmap, which was launched in January 2025. This roadmap is a step-by-step guide to growing the country’s SAF industry, helping Colombia phase out some of its use of oil-based fuel in planes over the next several years.
Why Is This Important for Colombia?
Moving towards SAF has many clear benefits for Colombia:
- Protecting the Environment: Planes burn a lot of fuel and release gases that warm the planet. Using SAF reduces these emissions.
- Job Creation: Making SAF in Colombia would need local workers, both in the plant and in the fields growing the energy crops. It could also use leftover pieces of plants and trees, giving farmers and foresters more ways to make money.
- Stronger Rural Economy: By using agroforestry residues (leftovers from trees and crops), rural areas that are often left behind can become important suppliers for this new industry.
- Meeting International Standards: With CORSIA and other rules, airlines everywhere are supposed to lower the amount of CO₂ their flights create. Using SAF helps Colombia’s airlines and airports follow these rules.
BioD and LanzaJet’s SAF project is about much more than technology. It is about starting an industry that could help the environment, the economy, and Colombia’s rural families, all at once.
Building a Sustainable Future Together
The project’s motto, “A Gift from the Earth to the Sky,” shows how both companies see the future of flight. They are trying to connect the land and the skies in a way that helps both. This message is key for attracting support from businesses, the government, and everyday people across the country.
Supporting Colombia’s SAF goals could lead to better relationships with other countries and airlines looking for low-carbon fuels. The country might even become a regional supplier, sending its SAF to other parts of Latin America or beyond.
Who Are LanzaJet and BioD?
LanzaJet is known for its Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology. This technology has been tested and is already working in other places. It changes alcohols, like ethanol made from plants, into jet fuel that meets international safety standards. LanzaJet wants to be at the center of the move to cleaner aviation, not just in Colombia 🇨🇴 but around the world.
BioD, on the other hand, is focused on bioenergy. This means using plants and waste products to make fuels instead of only using oil. By teaming up with LanzaJet, BioD is bringing in new ideas and tools that could put Colombia 🇨🇴 at the front of the regional race for sustainable energy solutions in aviation.
How Will This Affect Travelers and Airlines?
If the first SAF plant is built as planned, travelers might not notice right away, but the change could be huge in the long run. Using more SAF in flights means:
- Less pollution from planes
- Airlines can follow new rules about emissions
- Colombia’s airports could attract more flights from foreign airlines that want to lower their carbon footprint
For airlines, using more SAF means fewer worries about new taxes or limits some countries are putting on pollution. For travelers who are concerned about the environment, it can also mean better options when choosing flights.
Potential Obstacles and Open Questions
No big project like this comes without challenges. Building an SAF plant means dealing with questions like:
- Where will all the feedstock come from? Growing energy crops or collecting farm waste in ways that don’t harm food supply or the environment takes careful planning.
- Can Colombian farmers and rural businesses keep up with the demand?
- How can costs be kept down so that SAF can compete with normal jet fuel?
- Will airlines and airports be ready to make the switch?
The feasibility study is supposed to answer many of these questions, setting clear steps for the companies to follow if the project moves forward.
Global Context and Regional Leadership
Across the world, airlines and governments are searching for ways to cut down on the pollution that comes from flying. Europe, the United States 🇺🇸, and other regions have started programs or set rules to push for more SAF use. If Colombia 🇨🇴 succeeds, it could become a model for many other countries in Latin America.
LanzaJet and BioD are hoping that by leading in this area, they can help bring more research, money, and jobs to the region. It could also help Colombia’s standing on the world stage when it comes to solving climate change.
The Road Ahead
Over the next few years, all eyes will be on the results of the BioD-LanzaJet feasibility study. If the numbers add up and the community is on board, the next steps will be clear: start building, create jobs, and put the country on the map for sustainable aviation.
For further reference on Colombia’s official energy strategies, including SAF development and requirements, readers can visit the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Colombia.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the partnership between LanzaJet and BioD strengthens Colombia’s position as a leader in clean aviation fuel and shows what can happen when business innovation meets national policy goals. With strong government support, a clear plan, and solid technology, this project offers a bright outlook for sustainable flight — not just for Colombia 🇨🇴, but for the whole region.
The journey is just beginning, but if LanzaJet, BioD, and Colombia’s leaders stay on this path, cleaner skies and stronger rural communities could soon become a reality across Latin America.
Learn Today
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) → A renewable fuel for airplanes, made from plants or waste, with lower carbon emissions than traditional jet fuel.
Feasibility Study → A comprehensive investigation to determine if a project or plan can succeed under specific conditions and requirements.
Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) Technology → A process that converts alcohols, like ethanol, into jet fuel suitable for commercial aviation, reducing fossil fuel use.
CORSIA → International aviation rules regulating and offsetting carbon emissions from flights, encouraging use of sustainable fuels globally.
Agroforestry Residues → Leftover materials from farming and forestry activities, used as feedstock in the production of renewable fuels like SAF.
This Article in a Nutshell
LanzaJet and BioD are exploring Colombia’s potential for sustainable aviation fuel production. Their May 2025 feasibility study could transform the region. By utilizing local resources and advanced Alcohol-to-Jet technology, Colombia could pioneer cleaner skies, benefit rural economies, and comply with global standards by 2029. The journey starts now.
— By VisaVerge.com
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