Topsoe’s advanced technology selected for a sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel project in Uruguay

• Topsoe has been selected by ANCAP to deliver technology and services for a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel plant at the La Teja Refinery in Montevideo.
• The project will use Topsoe’s HydroFlex® technology, proprietary equipment and catalysts enabling the production of 3,000 barrels of SAF and renewable diesel per day.
• The plant is expected to reach FID in 2027, with operations due to commence in 2030.

Topsoe, a leading global provider of advanced technology and solutions for the energy transition, has signed an agreement with Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcohol y Portland (ANCAP), Uruguay’s state-owned energy company. Under this agreement, Topsoe will deliver technology and services for ANCAP’s hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) unit located at the La Teja Refinery in Montevideo.

The project will use Topsoe’s HydroFlex® technology, proprietary equipment and catalysts enabling the production of SAF and renewable diesel.

The project is expected to reach Final Investment Decision (FID) in 2027, with commercial operations due to begin in 2030. Once operational, the facility will use rapeseed oil and beef tallow as feedstock to produce approximately 3,000 barrels of SAF and renewable diesel per day.

The project when operational, will avoid over 390,000 tons of CO₂ emissions - the equivalent of removing around 90,000 petrol-powered passenger vehicles from the road for one year. [1]

Elena Scaltritti, Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe, said:
“This project is an important step forward in advancing Uruguay’s sustainable fuel ambitions and, more importantly, resembles strong momentum for the rollout of renewable fuels across Latin America. This collaboration demonstrates how Topsoe’s proven technologies are contributing to creating progress on a global scale, and we look forward to working with ANCAP to deliver this critical project.”

José Pastorino, Energy Products Manager at ANCAP said:
“The HEFA project is the largest in the portfolio of the refining business for ANCAP. Furthermore, it is the most important project in terms of advancing towards our strategy for a more sustainable future for the energy landscape in Uruguay. We at ANCAP are eager to commence working in the engineering stage and look forward to working in it with Topsoe.”

According to the IEA, aviation accounts for about 2% of CO2 emissions, and aviation emissions are expected to double by 2050 as aviation demand grows[2]. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimates that in Latin America, air travel is expected to more than triple by 2050 and thereby double today’s aviation emissions in the region[3]. This agreement will help to address the growing demand for SAF in the region.

About HydroFlex

With HydroFlex, customers can convert various fats, oils and greases into drop-in renewable jet and diesel that meet all globally accepted specifications for these fuels. Topsoe’s HydroFlex can be deployed in both grassroots units and revamps for co-processing or fully renewable applications.

About ANCAP

Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcohol y Portland (ANCAP) is Uruguay’s state-owned energy company and a key actor in ensuring affordable and accessible energy availability for the population, with a focus on promoting energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

About Topsoe

Topsoe is a leading global provider of advanced technology and solutions for the energy transition.

Built on decades of scientific research and innovation, we are working with customers and partners to drive energy resiliency and to achieve their sustainability goals.

We offer world-leading solutions for transforming renewable resources into fuels and chemicals, and we provide technologies needed to produce low-carbon and conventional fuels and chemicals as well as ensuring clean air.

We were founded in 1940 and are headquartered in Denmark, with over 2,800 employees serving customers all around the globe. To learn more, visit www.topsoe.com.  

For more information, please contact: 
Gabriel Martinez, External Communications Manager
Phone: +45 27 77 99 68 or +1 978 902 8265
Mail: gama@topsoe.com

[1] https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

[2] https://www.iea.org/energy-system/transport/aviation

[3] https://news.mit.edu/2025/toward-sustainable-decarbonization-aviation-latin-america-0121