FatHopes Energy (FHE), in collaboration with Bin Zayed International (BZI) Group, has appointed Technip Energies, through its market leading consulting company Genesis, along with Wison Engineering Ltd., to undertake the Technical Feasibility Study (TFS) for its proposed Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) refinery. This marks a significant step forward in the development of one of Southeast Asia’s most ambitious renewable fuel projects.
The appointment signals the project’s transition into the next phase of technical development, as FatHopes Energy advances toward building a large scale SAF production facility aimed at supporting the aviation industry’s global decarbonization goals.
Both engineering firms will independently conduct Technical Feasibility Studies to evaluate and optimize the refinery’s design and technical configuration. Upon completion, one consultant will be selected to proceed with the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase. The FEED outcomes will then support the project’s Final Investment Decision (FID), before advancing into the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) phase.
The engagement follows a rigorous Request for Proposal (RfP) process launched in Q3 2025, which attracted submissions from leading engineering firms across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the United States. The evaluation process concluded in November 2025 after detailed technical and commercial assessments.
Technip Energies and Wison Engineering Ltd. were selected based on their global engineering expertise, strong SAF and energy transition track records, and their ability to support complex energy infrastructure developments. By appointing two leading engineering firms, FatHopes Energy will benefit from independent technical perspectives that strengthen project robustness and execution readiness.
The Technical Feasibility Study, expected to be completed by Q2 2026, will establish the core engineering and economic parameters required to advance the project. Deliverables will include the refinery’s Master Plot Plan, Site Fit Assessment, and the engineering framework for the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) production pathway.
The study will further define process flow configurations, mass and energy balances, and technology licensor recommendations for key process units, including the Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) unit, Hydrogen Production Unit (HPU), and Pre Treatment Unit (PTU). In addition, the consultants will develop preliminary equipment specifications, utilities planning, and the project’s initial environmental baseline.
The final deliverables will include a comprehensive techno economic assessment, incorporating capital cost estimates, an operating cost based financial model aligned with Malaysia’s regulatory framework, and a detailed sensitivity and risk analysis to guide investment decisions.
“Bringing in world class engineering partners is an essential milestone in the development of this project,” said Vinesh Sinha, Founder and CEO of FatHopes Energy. “It reflects our commitment to building a refinery that meets the highest global standards while supporting the aviation industry’s transition toward sustainable fuels.”
The current phase builds upon the Independent Feasibility Study (IFS) conducted by FGENexantECA, which validated FatHopes Energy’s ability to scale feedstock supply across Southeast Asia through its established collection network, proprietary digital platforms, and vertically integrated supply chain.
The company’s feedstock strategy continues to evolve beyond Used Cooking Oil (UCO) and Palm Oil Mill Effluent Oil (POME), incorporating additional sustainable residues such as Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE) Oil and Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Oil from the palm value chain. In parallel, FatHopes Energy is exploring algae oil as a future feedstock pathway through collaboration with one of Malaysia’s major carbon emitters.
The Independent Feasibility Study also confirmed that the project’s capital expenditure structure remains highly competitive for a greenfield HEFA SAF refinery, supported by strategic site advantages, including proximity to Port Klang, reliable utilities infrastructure, and access to cost competitive hydrogen.
Located along the Straits of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, the refinery is strategically positioned to support international SAF supply chains while reinforcing Malaysia’s ambition to become a regional hub for sustainable aviation fuel production.
The study further recognized FatHopes Energy’s digital driven feedstock aggregation platform, which integrates vendor collectors, logistics operators, and consumer participation through proprietary applications. This ecosystem enables full traceability and real time greenhouse gas accounting, resulting in strong carbon intensity reductions that exceed CORSIA benchmarks, based on lifecycle assessments conducted with project partners.
As the project advances, FatHopes Energy continues to align its development with the highest international oil and gas engineering standards, ensuring the facility is designed to operate safely, efficiently, and at scale for decades.
To ensure full regulatory readiness and compliance, Wan Husin & Associates Sdn. Bhd. has been appointed as the project’s permitting consultant. The firm will lead the mapping of the complete regulatory approval pathway required for the refinery’s development and brings extensive experience in supporting complex petrochemical projects in collaboration with international engineering companies.
Source: FatHopes Energy