Fueling Tomorrow: Asia SAF Industry Series (Apr 2025)

The webinar, Advancing Hong Kong’s SAF Agenda: Policy Framework & Industry Perspectives (推进香港SAF议程：政策框架和行业视角) will address critical aspects of scaling Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Hong Kong. In the first half, the Business Environment Council (BEC) will outline Hong Kong’s SAF policy landscape, highlighting SAF’s essential role in the city’s decarbonization efforts, existing challenges like high fuel costs and limited economic incentives, and the policy tools under consideration, such as subsidies, levy schemes, and local blending infrastructure.

The session emphasizes phased actions, including prompt initiation, clear near-term objectives, and ongoing review processes. The second half will feature a panel discussion moderated by ASAFA with participants from leading stakeholders such as Ecoceres, Cathay Pacific and BEC, exploring industry perspectives on SAF implementation. The discussion will delve into practical challenges, collaborative approaches, technology innovations, financial models to manage SAF costs, and insights from early project experiences. The webinar will conclude by summarizing key takeaways, reinforcing the importance of ongoing stakeholder collaboration, and identifying actionable next steps to advance SAF adoption in Hong Kong.

The Policy Paper is available at https://bec.org.hk/sites/default/files/publications/SAF%20Strategy%20for%20HK.pdf

Mr Merlin Lao is Head – Policy & Research at BEC. He leads the team to develop clear policy positions on pressing climate and environmental topics in Hong Kong, through undertaking research on latest domestic and international trends, engaging with the Hong Kong SAR Government and connecting insights of the local business sector. He is keen on net-zero transition that not only looks at decarbonisation, but also a more equal and liveable built environment. Mr. Lao is a programme management professional with over 10 years of climate change and environment career experience across private, public and non-profit sectors in East Asia, with major exposure in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea. Prior to joining BEC, he was the senior programme manager at an international non-governmental organisation driving sustainable cities agenda in China, Japan, Mongolia and South Korea, covering topics such as air quality, low-emission development, urban resilience, circular economy and nature-based solutions.

Mr. Nikola Xing is Head of Climate Action at Cathay Pacific since April 2022 and is responsible for climate change related affairs including carbon market、sustainable aviation fuel、climate risk as well as scope 3 emissions. Before joining Cathay, Nikola took part in Guangdong Pilot Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the China National ETS Aviation Sector Task Force as well as EUETS and CORSIA during his previous tenure with China Southern Airlines.  Mr. Xing is also very active in a number of industry working groups devoted to aviation climate change issues, including the ones at International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Mr. Zachary Heng is the Key Account Manager at EcoCeres. EcoCeres is a pure-play renewable fuel producer, with over a decade of experience in biomass utilisation, backed by investors Towngas, Bain Capital and Kerogen Capital. In his current role, he is responsible for the sales & marketing of SAF in the Asia Pacific and Middle East markets. Prior to EcoCeres, Zachary spent 10 years at ExxonMobil where he had spent the majority of his career doing various commercial roles across the fuels business. From 2019-2024, he is responsible for the business growth of Jet A-1 and SAF across ExxonMobil’s aviation network in the APAC region.  

The series aims to provide industry professionals and stakeholders with comprehensive insights and analyses of the latest developments and trends in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) specifically within the Asian context. Targeting fuel producers, policymakers, investors, technology licensers and other key players in the SAF value chain, the webinars will delve into technical and specialized topics that address the complexities of SAF.

Participants can expect in-depth discussions on production technologies, regulatory frameworks, market trends, and investment opportunities tailored to the unique needs and interests of the Asian market. Each session will adopt a rigorous, evidence-based approach, leveraging the expertise of leading experts and practitioners in the field.

The format will include detailed presentations, case studies, and interactive panel discussions, fostering an environment for participants to engage with complex topics and exchange ideas with peers. Ultimately, the series aims to equip stakeholders with valuable insights and actionable intelligence to inform their decision-making and strategic development in the rapidly evolving SAF landscape.