Samsung E&A has secured a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility by DG Fuels in St. James Parish, Louisiana. Under the agreement with DG Fuels LLC, Samsung E&A will design and engineer key elements of the US$3 billion project’s hydrogen production and power systems. This will lay groundwork for a final investment decision (FID) expected in 2026, and construction of what could become a landmark SAF plant in the US. Samsung’s FEED contract costs about US$15.7 million and will take approximately 10 months to complete. The engineering company also eyes a main project contract after the FEED is complete.

Project Factsheet for DG Fuels, Samsung E&A SAF Facility in Louisiana

Developer: DG Fuels

FEED Contractor: Samsung E&A

Location: St. James Parish, Louisiana

Technology Use: Blue and green hydrogen

Annual Production Target: 600 000 tons of SAF annually

Project Cost: US$3 billion

Target FID Date: Q3 2026

Expected Completion Date: 2028

Project Timeline

2023 to 2024: DG Fuels plans for a SAF production facility in St. James Parish, Louisiana.

November 2025: DG Fuels appoints Samsung E&A as a contractor for the hydrogen, power and related systems on the St. James SAF project. The term sheet paved way for FEED work.

December 2025: Samsung E&A wins FEED contract from DG Fuels.

Q3 2026: Target date for FID.

2028: Expected date for commercial production start.

Project Outlook

The Louisiana SAF project represents the growing decarbonization efforts in aviation. The hard-to-abate sector is responsible for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions. DG Fuels’ facility in Louisiana, planned on a large industrial site along the Mississippi River, aims to produce sustainable jet fuel using a combination of blue and green hydrogen. Blue hydrogen will be from fossil feedstocks with carbon capture while the green hydrogen will be from renewable-powered electrolysis. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis will be used to convert syngas into synthetic jet fuel.

Samsung’s FEED work will focus on these hydrogen and power generation systems. When done, the study will have established detailed designs needed to progress toward construction. Other low carbon production processes also taking place in Louisiana include CF Industries’ low-carbon ammonia production facility in Ascension Parish.

Also worth noting is the policy environment around this development. Corporate offtake agreements and supportive federal incentives, including SAF tax credits under US climate law continue to grow the interest on SAF projects.