Jakarta, ThedailyID — Brisbane Airport has become the first airport in Australia to use used cooking oil as part of its aircraft fuel supply, marking a milestone in the country’s transition toward more sustainable aviation.
According to City News QBN, the airport now uses sustainable aviation fuel blended with conventional jet fuel. Viva Energy produces the fuel blend through its Pinkenba Terminal.
The company stores, blends, certifies, and delivers the fuel through Brisbane Airport’s existing jet fuel infrastructure. As a result, airlines can use the fuel without changing their normal operations.
The project also included upgrades to a 3.3-million-liter storage tank. In addition, Viva Energy built a certification and accounting system to track the fuel’s environmental benefits.
Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt said recent instability in the Middle East highlighted Australia’s need to strengthen fuel security.
“Initially, we faced significant challenges in securing fuel supplies and strengthening supply across the country,” Wyatt said on Monday.
He added that managing fuel distribution during periods of high demand remains equally important.
Although Australia navigated the recent energy challenges successfully, Wyatt said the experience reinforced the importance of transitioning to lower-carbon fuels.
“We strongly believe renewable fuels are part of the solution. The Pinkenba facility represents a small but important step in that journey,” he said.
Furthermore, Wyatt explained that the Brisbane project forms part of a broader strategy. The company is also developing sustainable aviation fuel import facilities in Victoria and expanding projects at its Geelong refinery to process biogenic feedstocks as alternatives to crude oil.
He said Australia could potentially replace up to one-third of its crude oil with biogenic feedstocks if the government adopts supportive policies.
Meanwhile, Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff described the initiative as a major breakthrough for Australia’s aviation industry.
He said the ability to distribute sustainable aviation fuel directly through the airport’s existing infrastructure benefits airlines, passengers, and the broader aviation sector.
Following Brisbane’s lead, several other airports across Queensland also plan to begin purchasing the fuel.
