Recently, the People's Government of Huadu District, Guangzhou City and China National Aviation Fuel Group Limited formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement.

Focusing on the resource utilization of kitchen waste grease, both sides will jointly build an SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) industrial system covering source recovery, transit processing and civil aviation terminal application. They will establish a standardized collection-transportation and full-process traceability system, a regional raw material distribution center, a trading and settlement platform as well as core carbon trading nodes to fully boost the development of the SAF industry, and explore a replicable and promotable city-level "Huadu Model" for SAF application. This in-depth cooperation between the central enterprise and local government is a landmark measure for Huadu District to strengthen its leading aviation industry and accelerate regional green and low-carbon transformation.

Joint Efforts of Central Enterprise and Local Government

Fully Promote the Construction of the SAF Industrial Chain

As Asia's largest comprehensive aviation fuel service provider, China National Aviation Fuel Group Limited owns a nationwide aviation fuel storage, transportation and refueling network and mature experience in the commercial operation of SAF, standing as a leading force in promoting and applying green fuels for civil aviation in China. Leveraging the resource endowments of both parties, this cooperation clarifies the construction of a resource guarantee system featuring full collection, unified procurement and exclusive sales, and realizes integrated closed-loop management of sorting, collection, transportation and disposal of kitchen waste oil. It focuses on developing an industrial chain of "source classified collection – professional transshipment – centralized primary processing – resource-based refining into SAF – consumption in civil aviation scenarios" to steadily advance the full industrial chain layout of SAF.

Different from traditional single-production SAF projects, this project innovatively integrates urban waste treatment and the development of aviation green energy. It establishes a full-process traceability supervision mechanism to smooth the connection of all links including sorting, collection, transportation, disposal and utilization of kitchen waste oil, and continuously improves industrial supporting facilities. Meanwhile, plans are made to construct raw material distribution centers, trading and settlement platforms and carbon trading nodes to extend the value of the industrial chain and facilitate the standardized, market-oriented and low-carbon development of the SAF industry.

Rely on Solid Airport Industrial Foundation

Lay a Solid Foundation for Project Implementation

This strategic cooperation takes full advantage of Huadu District's unique geographical advantages and mature aviation industrial ecosystem. As the northern growth pole of Guangzhou and the location of a large air-rail dual hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, relying on Baiyun International Airport, a world-class aviation hub, Huadu has formed a complete industrial cluster with coordinated development of aircraft maintenance, aviation logistics and airport operation.

At present, 11 airlines including China Southern Airlines, Air China and Hainan Airlines have settled here. In the aircraft maintenance sector, Huadu District has gathered aircraft maintenance and component enterprises such as GAMECO, ST Aerospace and Hangrun Technology, with its industrial scale rising steadily. The operating revenue of Huadu's airport-related industries grows by an average of 20% annually, reaching a new milestone of 110 billion yuan in 2025 with robust industrial momentum. In the aviation logistics sector, well-known domestic and foreign enterprises including FedEx Asia Pacific Hub, DHL and SF Express have settled one after another, and the construction of carriers such as the Airport Smart Logistics Park is advancing steadily.

In addition, Huadu District issued the “Measures of Huadu District for Promoting High-quality Development of the Aviation Industry” in 2025, forming an all-round policy support system covering air route operation, aircraft maintenance, aviation manufacturing and airport services. The sound industrial foundation, high-quality business environment and comprehensive policy guarantees provide strong support for the landing, operation and expansion of China National Aviation Fuel Group Limited's full SAF industrial chain project.

Mutual Empowerment

Stimulate New Momentum for Green Development

The landing of this project marks a new sector added to the SAF industrial layout of Guangzhou and even Guangdong Province, bearing multiple far-reaching significance for the upgrading of Huadu's aviation industry, improvement of urban governance and regional low-carbon development. On the one hand, it fills the gap of green aviation energy in Huadu and upgrades the airport-related industrial ecosystem; on the other hand, it turns kitchen waste grease into valuable resources, eliminates potential food safety hazards, and helps the civil aviation industry cut carbon emissions, thus truly achieving a win-win situation for circular economy and green development.

Next, Huadu District will cooperate with China National Aviation Fuel Group Limited to accelerate project implementation, continuously deepen cooperation between the central enterprise and local government, drive industrial upgrading with high-quality central SOE projects, and offer an outstanding Huadu model for exploring the integrated development path of "waste resource utilization plus green aviation development".