Key Takeaways
- KBR (NYSE: KBR) has been selected to provide technology licensing and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) services for a proposed Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant on Singapore’s Jurong Island, utilizing its PureSAF℠ technology.
- The project is a joint venture between Keppel Ltd.’s Infrastructure Division and Aster Chemicals and Energy, with a planned annual production capacity of up to 100,000 tons of SAF, contingent on final investment decision and regulatory approvals.
- PureSAF℠, developed by Swedish Biofuels AB and engineered for commercial scale by KBR (which holds exclusive worldwide licensing), is a feedstock-flexible technology designed to produce 100% drop-in jet fuel compatible with existing aircraft and infrastructure without blending.
- KBR CEO Stuart Bradie emphasized the technology’s role in supporting Singapore’s ambition to become Asia’s leading SAF hub and decarbonizing its aviation ecosystem through a cost-optimized, low-carbon solution.
- Alongside the SAF project, KBR has entered into a Memorandum of Intent with Keppel’s Infrastructure Division to collaborate broadly on decarbonization initiatives, including waste-to-energy, plastic recycling, biofuels, SAF, and AI-driven digitalization.
Project Announcement and Strategic Partners
HOUSTON, June 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced it has been selected to provide critical technology licensing and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) services for a proposed Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant under development on Singapore’s Jurong Island. The facility is being spearheaded by a partnership between Keppel Ltd.’s Infrastructure Division and Aster Chemicals and Energy (Aster). This selection follows Keppel and Aster’s earlier joint announcement this year to assess the development of the SAF production facility. The collaboration positions KBR as the key technology provider for what is intended to be a significant contributor to regional sustainable aviation fuel supply chains, leveraging its proven PureSAF℠ process for the project’s foundational engineering and licensing framework.
PureSAF Technology Overview and Capabilities
The core technology selected for the Jurong Island SAF plant is KBR’s PureSAF℠ process. Originally developed by Swedish Biofuels AB, this technology has been engineered and scaled for commercial production by KBR, which holds exclusive worldwide licensing rights. PureSAF℠ is distinguished by its feedstock flexibility, meaning it can process a variety of sustainable raw materials (such as waste oils, fats, greases, and potentially non-food biomass) depending on regional availability and cost advantages. Crucially, the technology is engineered to produce SAF that meets the stringent technical specifications for a 100% drop-in jet fuel. This means the fuel produced can be used directly in existing aircraft engines and airport fueling infrastructure without requiring any blending with conventional fossil jet fuel, offering a seamless pathway for airlines to reduce their carbon footprint immediately upon adoption.
Project Scale, Timeline, and Regulatory Context
The proposed SAF plant on Jurong Island is designed for substantial scale, with a targeted annual production capacity of up to 100,000 tons of SAF. This capacity represents a meaningful contribution to the growing global demand for sustainable aviation fuels, particularly within the strategically important Asia-Pacific market. However, the realization of this capacity is explicitly subject to two critical milestones: a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) by the project partners (Keppel and Aster) and the successful acquisition of all necessary regulatory approvals from relevant Singaporean authorities. The FEED phase, for which KBR is responsible, is a vital pre-FID stage that involves detailed engineering, cost estimation, and risk assessment to define the project scope accurately and inform the investment decision.
Supporting Singapore’s SAF Hub Ambition
KBR’s leadership highlighted the strategic alignment of this project with national sustainability goals. Stuart Bradie, KBR President and CEO, stated, "We are looking forward to working with Keppel and Aster on this key project and to support Singapore’s ambition of becoming Asia’s leading SAF hub and advancing the ongoing efforts to decarbonize the country’s aviation ecosystem." He further elaborated on the technology’s value proposition, noting that "KBR’s PureSAF is a feedstock-flexible, bankable technology that is designed to deliver a 100% drop in jet fuel, ready to power aircraft without blending. We are constantly innovating our SAF solution to make it compatible with feedstock availability in different regions and to enable the aviation industry to transition to low-carbon jet fuel with a cost-optimized approach." This underscores KBR’s focus on delivering not just a technical solution, but one that is economically viable and adaptable to diverse global contexts, facilitating broader industry decarbonization.
Broader Decarbonization Collaboration with Keppel
Beyond the specific SAF plant FEED contract, KBR has deepened its strategic relationship with Keppel through a separate agreement. KBR has entered into a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) with Keppel’s Infrastructure Division to collaborate across a wider spectrum of decarbonization and energy transition technologies. The MoI specifically outlines joint efforts in areas including waste-to-energy solutions, plastic recycling technologies, biofuels (beyond just SAF), and AI-driven digitalization initiatives aimed at optimizing energy systems and reducing emissions. This expanded partnership signifies a mutual commitment to leveraging combined expertise in engineering, technology, and infrastructure development to tackle multiple facets of the global decarbonization challenge, positioning both companies at the forefront of the energy transition in Asia and globally.
KBR’s Legacy in Clean Fuel Solutions
The press release reinforces KBR’s established pedigree in the clean fuels sector, noting its "over a 100-year history of providing clean fuel solutions." It positions the company as remaining "at the forefront of pioneering decarbonization initiatives through continuous process innovation and by harnessing low-carbon technologies to effectively reduce emissions." This historical context underscores that the PureSAF℠ technology and the Jurong Island SAF project are not isolated efforts but part of KBR’s long-standing commitment to developing and deploying technologies that support the global shift away from fossil fuels, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors like aviation. KBR’s approach emphasizes iterative innovation to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and applicability of its low-carbon solutions.
About KBR: Company Overview
KBR describes itself as a global provider of science, technology, and engineering solutions serving governments and companies worldwide. The company employs approximately 36,000 people across its global operations, serving customers in more than 85 countries with a physical presence in over 28 nations. KBR highlights its integrated business model, stating it works with customers to deliver not only technology but also "value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results." The company’s core promise is encapsulated in its slogan: "At KBR, We Deliver." Further information about the company can be found at its website, www.kbr.com.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure
As is standard in corporate press releases, the document includes a cautionary section regarding forward-looking statements. It clarifies that statements within the release concerning future events, such as the technology licensing and FEED services for the SAF plant, are forward-looking and subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. These risks include factors detailed in KBR’s SEC filings (like Annual Reports on Form 10-K, quarterly 10-Qs, and current reports on Form 8-K), which could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from projections. The release advises readers not to unduly rely on these statements, which are valid only as of the date of the release, and notes that KBR undertakes no obligation to update them publicly except as required by law. This section serves as a necessary legal disclaimer but does not alter the substantive announcement of the project selection.
Conclusion
KBR’s selection to provide technology licensing and FEED services for the Keppel-Aster SAF plant on Jurong Island represents a significant advancement in the development of sustainable aviation fuel infrastructure in Asia. By deploying its proven, feedstock-flexible PureSAF℠ technology capable of producing 100% drop-in jet fuel, KBR is directly supporting Singapore’s strategic goal of becoming a regional SAF hub and contributing to the decarbonization of air travel. The project’s scale (up to 100,000 tons/year), coupled with the broader MoI between KBR and Keppel covering multiple decarbonization fronts, illustrates a growing partnership focused on delivering practical, scalable low-carbon solutions. While subject to standard investment and regulatory hurdles, the announcement underscores the accelerating momentum behind SAF adoption and KBR’s continued role as a key technology enabler in the global energy transition.