Engines
Safran Boss Tells EU Commission SAF Mandates Are ‘Too Shy’
Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, warns that Europe will fall behind the U.S. if it does not heighten its SAF usage and production ambitions.
Safran CEO Olivier Andriès called on the EU Commission to heighten its ambitions on SAF uptake timetables. (Photo: Safran)
Safran CEO Olivier Andriès called on the EU Commission to heighten its ambitions on SAF uptake timetables. (Photo: Safran)

Safran CEO Olivier Andriès has warned the European Commission that the region might fall behind the U.S. if it does not increase its incentives for airlines to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and for the oil industry to advance SAF production capacity.

Speaking at the Clean Aviation Annual Forum in Brussels on Wednesday, the French engine maker’s chief executive rebuffed remarks by Henrik Hololei, director general of the EC’s mobility and transport department, that the ReFuelEU Aviation legislative proposal introducing an EU-wide SAF blending mandate will “de-risk the production of SAF” and ensure that sufficient SAF will be available to help the industry reach its decarbonization goals. Legislators expect the obligation to start in 2025 with a minimum volume of SAF at 2 percent, increasing in five-year intervals to ultimately reach a minimum volume of 63 percent in 2050.