Zaffra
Zaffra is a joint venture between Topsoe and Sasol.
ID: 860699496832-51
Lobbying Activity
Response to Proposal for a Regulation on Military Mobility
24 Oct 2025
Zaffra is a joint venture between Topsoe and Sasol, established to develop large-scale production of synthetic aviation fuels (eSAF) that enable both the decarbonisation and long-term resilience of aviation. Headquartered in Amsterdam, Zaffra is advancing a European project pipeline across Germany, Spain and the Nordics, combining the industrial experience of its shareholders with the agility of a new entrant. Our mission is to make e-fuels a bankable and scalable solution for clean aviation and strategic energy security. In this context, we are pleased to co-signwith Arcadia eFuels, Norsk e-Fuel and SkyNRGthe attached Joint Contribution to the Military Mobility Package consultation on the role of synthetic aviation fuels in Europes defence preparedness. Our submission addresses a critical and often overlooked issue: Europes long-term military dependency on liquid fuels is increasing even as refining capacity in Europe continues to decline. Between 2009 and 2024, refinery capacity fell by more than 150 million tonnes, and further reductions are expected by 2040. While civil demand for liquid fuels is projected to decrease with the energy transition, military demand is set to grow as defence budgets rise and new equipment is procured under the ReArmEU initiative and NATOs 5% GDP investment target. Europe remains over 94% import dependent for its oil products, making this trend a growing vulnerability for military logistics and operational readiness. Synthetic aviation fuels (eSAF)produced from renewable electricity, water, and captured COoffer a strategic, low-carbon, and domestically producible alternative. They are fully drop-in compatible with existing aviation infrastructure and compliant with NATOs Single Fuel Policy (F-34/Jet A-1). Distributed e-fuel production across Europe would enhance supply resilience and create strategic dual-use assets that serve both civilian decarbonisation and military energy security. With 41 large-scale eSAF projects currently in development, Europe is well positioned to lead globally. Yet none of these projects has reached Final Investment Decision (FID) due to high capital intensity and the absence of stable long-term offtake mechanisms. As the EU strengthens its defence capabilities and advances the European Preparedness Union, aligning defence energy policy with industrial decarbonisation policy offers a unique opportunity to reinforce both strategic autonomy and climate goals. We therefore invite the Commission to: - Integrate long-term military fuel supply resilience into the forthcoming Joint Communication on Military Mobility; - Consider defence energy requirements in the upcoming revisions of the Renewable Energy Directive and ReFuelEU Aviation; - Launch a strategic dialogue between defence institutions and sustainable fuel producers; and - Explore defence procurement and investment instruments to support domestic synthetic fuel capacity. By bridging the energy transition with Europes defence agenda, the EU can establish a resilient, low-carbon fuel supply chain that underpins operational readiness while advancing European industrial leadership. We would be pleased to discuss these recommendations further and explore how Zaffra and our partners can contribute to the development of a framework that strengthens both energy security and climate neutrality.
Read full responseMeeting with Matthieu Moulonguet (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra) and Arcadia eFuels ApS and Norsk e-Fuel AS
29 Sept 2025 · Exchange of views on sustainable aviation fuels
Response to Sustainable transport investment plan
4 Sept 2025
Electro-synthetic aviation fuel (e-SAF) is far more than a decarbonisation tool. It offers Europe a chance to reinforce industrial strength, secure cleantech leadership, and build energy resilience, while fostering a more open and competitive jet fuel market that ultimately benefits passengers. Developing a domestic e-SAF industry would diversify Europes fuel supply and anchor innovation, skills, and prosperity within the Union. Project developers already stand in the starting blocks. Technology is ready, capital is available, and the cost impact for passengers is reasonable, as explained in the full submission. Crucially, fossil kerosene itself will become more expensive as EU ETS costs and penalties mount, doubling effective fuel costs by 2035 compared to today. In other words, inaction will be costlier than scaling SAF. The current deadlock lies not in technology but in market design. Airlines hesitate to commit to long-term offtake at todays anticipated e-SAF prices; yet financiers will not release capital without such agreements. Oil majors could self-finance such investments but have shown little interest, instead reinforcing their dominance of the European jet fuel market. To resolve this, the EU needs market orchestration. A government-backed intermediary can bridge the gap by signing long-term contracts with producers, reselling to airlines under shorter agreements, and covering the difference with targeted public funds. This mechanism is temporary: once the market scales and price discovery matures, the intermediary will no longer be needed. Time is of the essence. Most projects in the pipeline are led by SMEs and developers that lack the balance sheets to wait indefinitely. Without early policy support, many will collapse before reaching financial close, leaving the field to global incumbents and non-European competitors. The Sustainable Transport Investment Plan is therefore a make-or-break moment: it must establish the framework that enables Europe to capture the benefits of e-SAF and, more broadly, to illustrate how industrial policy can reconcile climate ambition with security and sovereignty. Building a strong e-SAF sector would exemplify Europes capacity to turn the green transition into industrial sovereignty a new source of resilience, prosperity, and leadership.
Read full responseMeeting with Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Commissioner) and
17 Jul 2025 · Implementation Dialogue on ramping up renewable and low-carbon maritime and aviation fuels production in the EU
Meeting with Ruth Reichstein (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)
5 Jun 2025 · sustainable Aviation Fuels
Meeting with Ruth Reichstein (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)
5 Jun 2025 · to follow
Meeting with Barbara Brandtner (Director Competition)
5 Jun 2025 · Discussion on support mechanisms for the uptake of synthetic aviation fuels (e-SAF).