cella and Bio-Oils, the biofuel arm of Asian Apical Group, have formed a joint venture to launch a new biofuel facility. Set at La Rábida Energy Park in Huelva, the project will supply the majority of the raw materials needed to produce the incoming fuels. The venture will source organic waste such as agricultural residues and used cooking oils through a global, long-term agreement with Apical, ensuring a steady stream of feedstock and reinforcing the circular economy at the site.
The facility is designed to create substantial employment opportunities, with anticipated direct and indirect job creation totaling close to 2,000 during both construction and operation. It will house two pre-treatment units and will feature flexible production capacity. The plant aims to produce 500,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel for land, sea, and air transport. Commissioning is planned for the first half of 2026, marking a significant milestone for regional energy and transport decarbonization efforts.
Second-generation biofuels emphasize using waste streams that would otherwise end up in landfills, transforming them into valuable energy. By adopting this approach, the partners project that the new facility will prevent around 1.5 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, a reduction representing roughly 30 percent of the emissions in the province of Huelva, according to statements from the companies involved. This aligns with broader regional and national goals to cut greenhouse gases and improve air quality while supporting sustainable growth in the energy sector.
Biofuels are increasingly recognized for their potential to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 90 percent compared with conventional fuels. They are especially important for decarbonizing transportation sectors that are hard to electrify, including heavy-duty road transport, maritime freight, and aviation, where alternative solutions remain limited and the need for scalable clean fuels is urgent.
Another major project taking shape in Andalusia
At a recent industry event held at La Rábida Energy Park, Maarten Wetselaar, chief executive of Cepsa; Óscar García, chief executive of Bio-Oils; and Yeo How, chair of Grupo Apical, presented updates on the mega-project. The remarks were delivered in the presence of Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, president of the Junta de Andalucía, underscoring regional political support for the plan. In related developments, Cepsa is leading a broader investment strategy under the umbrella of Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi state investment fund, to advance Europe’s largest green hydrogen initiative in Andalusia. The initiative carries a substantial budget and aims to propel decarbonization over the coming decade.
The plan includes more than 3,000 million euros earmarked for the construction of two green hydrogen production facilities at the Campo de Gibraltar (Cádiz) and Palos de la Frontera (Huelva) energy parks. Additional investment, exceeding 2,000 million euros, is allocated for the commissioning of renewable energy infrastructure, including wind and solar assets, to power these industrial complexes and support a broader shift toward low-emission energy. These coordinated efforts reflect a strategic push to diversify energy sources, advance clean fuels, and strengthen regional energy resilience, all while pursuing ambitious decarbonization targets across multiple transport modes.