| By Mary Bailey
Sasol Ltd. (Johannesburg, South Africa) and Topsoe A/S (Lyngby, Denmark) announced that they intend to refocus the organizational structure of their Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) partnership for the next phase of market development. Following a strategic review, the companies have decided to prepare for the orderly operational wind-down of their joint venture (JV), Zaffra, while continuing and enhancing their long-standing technology-led licensing collaboration through the Single Point Licensor (SPL) framework, established in 2019.
Sasol and Topsoe have worked together for more than 30 years combining deep technology expertise and a strong track record of jointly commercialising complex, first-of-a-kind solutions. Zaffra was established in 2023 to bring together Sasol’s advanced Fischer-Tropsch fuel technology and Topsoe’s clean fuels technologies in support of emerging SAF opportunities.
Since its establishment, Zaffra has played an important role in strengthening the partnership, building market insight, developing a quality opportunity pipeline and engaging customers and value-chain partners in a rapidly evolving sector.
As the SAF market continues to develop, Sasol and Topsoe have concluded that the next phase of collaboration is best supported through a more focused and flexible structure. This will allow the companies to continue working together where their combined technology offering creates value, while enabling more tailored approaches to selected projects, innovation activities and market-development opportunities.
The decision to prepare for an orderly wind-down of Zaffra is therefore a significant organisational decision, but not a step away from the Sasol–Topsoe partnership or the commitment to SAF initiatives as part of the broader strategy. Rather, it reflects a deliberate adjustment to how the companies will collaborate going forward, with the SPL framework remaining central to their continued technology-led relationship. Six licences are already signed under the SPL framework.
Through the SPL framework, Sasol and Topsoe will continue to offer integrated technology solutions to customers. The companies will also assess whether more targeted structures may be appropriate for selected projects, or priority initiatives where deeper collaboration is required.
“This carefully considered decision reflects the next organisational phase of Sasol and Topsoe’s work together in sustainable aviation fuel development,” said Simon Baloyi, President and CEO of Sasol. “Zaffra has helped establish an important foundation for this market, and we recognise the contribution made by the Zaffra team, customers and partners. We remain committed to building on this foundation through our long-standing technology-led collaboration with Topsoe and to supporting the development of sustainable fuels.”
Elena Scaltritti, President and CEO of Topsoe, added: “Sasol and Topsoe have built a strong and trusted partnership over many years. As the SAF market evolves, it is important that our collaboration model evolves with it. We will continue strengthen our technology-led cooperation through the SPL framework and adjust the organisational structure for selected projects and priority initiatives, to carry the partnership into the next phase of SAF development. We acknowledge the work done through Zaffra and will manage the transition responsibly with relevant stakeholders.”
The contemplated wind-down process will be managed in a disciplined, orderly and compliant manner. Sasol and Topsoe will engage responsibly with Zaffra’s customers, value-chain partners, employees and other relevant stakeholders to protect important relationships, reduce uncertainty and support continuity during the transition.