Launch of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production at the La Mède Biorefinery in Provence

Local SAF Supply for Airlines

Following upgrades to its production facilities, the biorefinery will locally produce up to 15,000 tonnes of SAF per year using used cooking oils and animal fats. This fuel will be made available at Marseille-Provence Airport, located just a few kilometers from the biorefinery, and will be used to refuel Air France flights under a supply agreement from the airport.

TotalEnergies’ sustainable aviation fuel requires no modifications to aircraft, logistics infrastructure, or refueling operations. SAF enables a reduction of at least 75%, and up to 90%, in CO₂ emissions over the entire lifecycle of the fuel compared to its fossil-based equivalent.

TotalEnergies Boosts Industrial Appeal in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

The transformation of the La Mède site into France’s first world-scale biorefinery mobilized over 1,200 full-time equivalent local jobs, with more than 65% of contracts awarded to local companies. In parallel, TotalEnergies launched a Voluntary Economic and Social Development Agreement (CVDES) with €5 million in funding to support industrial development, training, research, and innovation in the region. 

Through this initiative, TotalEnergies has supported 14 industrial unit projects in the Fos-Berre area, helping create over 400 jobs, in addition to supporting the creation of more than 2,000 jobs within SMEs in Bouches-du-Rhône.