TotalEnergies CEO Says EU May Drop Mandatory Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate

Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies, stated at the Davos Forum that the European Union might abandon its mandatory blending requirements for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), similar to its recent softening of the 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine vehicles. He noted that although TotalEnergies has the capacity to produce SAF, airlines are generally unwilling to bear the cost—up to four times higher than conventional jet fuel—resulting in insufficient market demand. His remarks highlight the economic and policy challenges facing the aviation industry on its decarbonization path.