Ecopetrol, LATAM Airlines join forces to decarbonize aviation
Both companies will collaborate by exchanging their expertise and capabilities as well as implementing aviation fuel coprocessed with renewable feedstocks.
Ecopetrol and LATAM Airlines have announced a strategic alliance aimed at accelerating the energy transition of Colombia’s aviation sector.
The collaboration is based on the exchange of expertise: the energy company brings its research, development, and fuel production capabilities, while LATAM contributes its experience in flight operations, piloting, and evaluating sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
As the first milestone of this partnership, LATAM will operate over 700 flights using 32,000 barrels of Jet A1 aviation fuel coprocessed with 1% renewable feedstocks, produced by Ecopetrol at its Cartagena refinery.
“Ecopetrol and LATAM are reaching a historic milestone for Colombia by promoting the use of Jet A1 coprocessed with renewable components. This is a first step toward the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in the country and the region,” said Ricardo Roa Barragán, President of Ecopetrol.
The Jet A1 coprocessed fuel will be distributed at the airports of Barranquilla, Medellín, and San Andrés, and will be used on LATAM Airlines Colombia flights.
This coprocessed fuel used in this initiative marks the first milestone in Ecopetrol’s SAF roadmap. Looking ahead, the company plans to establish sustained SAF production through coprocessing at the Cartagena refinery and to develop a dedicated SAF facility at the Barrancabermeja refinery.
