Hong Kong-headed EcoCeres, Inc., an Asia-based innovative biorefinery company, has officially launched its state-of-the-art renewable fuel facility in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia, marking a historic milestone as the country’s first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production plant.
Commissioning and start-up of the plant were successfully achieved in October 2025, and the first cargo of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was shipped to an undisclosed client in Europe in late December 2025.
EcoCeres has grown from a laboratory in Hong Kong into one of the world’s leading producers of SAF, and this new Johor plant shows how regional commitment to sustainability can feed into the global search for climate solutions. With supportive government policies and the dedication of all our partners, we can turn the tide on climate change for future generations, remarked Dr Peter Lee, Chairman of Towngas and Principal of Full Vision Capital.
The Pasir Gudang biorefinery also produces renewable diesel – hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) – and renewable naphtha, with a combined maximum production capacity of 420,000 tonnes per year, reinforcing the company’s position in the global renewable fuels landscape and underscoring Hong Kong’s contribution as a platform for green innovation and investment.
EcoCeres shares the Hong Kong SAR Government’s vision of achieving carbon neutrality and being a superconnector. The Johor SAF plant is a shining example of a Hong Kong company with a global vision putting one of its production facilities in a strategic location in the region, said Eddie Cheung, JP, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
As a technology‑driven company, EcoCeres has developed its own proprietary waste‑to‑fuel processes in Hong Kong and successfully scaled them through its first facility in Zhangjiagang, China, which has helped the company become one of the world’s leading SAF producers by volume.
The Johor plant is a major step forward for EcoCeres’ regional platform and for Malaysia’s renewable fuel industry. It also demonstrates our commitment to reliable supply capability and high product quality as customers’ demand for renewable fuel solutions accelerates. This facility supports Malaysia’s transition towards net-zero while strengthening Hong Kong’s strategic position as a regional hub for financing and scaling sustainable energy projects, enabling the supply of sustainable fuels to global industries. Our waste-to-fuel technology proves that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand-in-hand, said Matti Lievonen, CEO of EcoCeres.
Aligned with environmental commitments
The establishment of this facility is aligned with Malaysia’s commitment to advancing renewable fuel development and adopting waste-to-fuel approaches to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050.
At the same time, it showcases how Hong Kong’s innovation capabilities, capital markets, and professional services ecosystem can enable the deployment of climate solutions across the region, with EcoCeres serving as a prime example of a Hong Kong‑founded company commercialising home‑grown technologies at scale overseas.
By converting waste and residue feedstocks into high-value, low-carbon renewable fuels, EcoCeres supports Malaysia’s transition toward a sustainable and circular economy while addressing the growing demand for renewable fuels across aviation, maritime, transportation, mining, and chemical industries.
The Malaysian government proudly supports EcoCeres’ pioneering facility, which aligns with our National Energy Transition Roadmap and National Agri-commodity Policy (DAKN) 2030. By fostering innovation in renewable fuels, we are creating high-value jobs, reducing carbon emissions, and strengthening Malaysia’s role as a leader in the green economy. This project exemplifies our commitment to sustainable industrial development, said YB Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, Minister of Plantation and Commodities Malaysia.
Committed to expansion
EcoCeres remains committed to expanding its global footprint in renewable fuels, leveraging pioneering proprietary technologies to meet the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions.
From its Zhangjiagang plant in China to the new Pasir Gudang facility in Malaysia, the company is building a regional platform anchored in Hong Kong that turns waste to wonders, supports global decarbonisation efforts, and reinforces Hong Kong’s position as a super-connector for green development in Asia.
In addition to the Malaysian facility, EcoCeres’ Zhangjiagang plan also produces SAF and HVO, bringing its combined maximum global renewable fuels capacity to approximately 770,000 tonnes per year and further enhancing Hong Kong’s role as the headquarters of an integrated regional renewable fuels platform.
