logo
ATOBA Energy and Air Moana Forge Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Deployment in French Polynesia

ATOBA Energy and Air Moana Forge Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Deployment in French Polynesia

Business Wire7 days ago
LYON, France & PAPEETE, French Polynesia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ATOBA Energy and Air Moana have signed an agreement to implement scalable solutions for the supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
This strategic collaboration aims to ensure long-term SAF availability while supporting local initiatives to develop sustainable fuel production in Tahiti.
"ATOBA is an ideal partner for Air Moana thanks to its deep industry knowledge and technology-neutral sourcing solutions, well suited to remote regions like ours" said Lionel GUERIN, CEO of Air Moana
Share
It marks a major step forward in the decarbonization of aviation in the Pacific region.
As part of this agreement, ATOBA Energy will work with Air Moana to build a resilient and competitive SAF supply chain, aligned with Air Moana's progressive sustainability goals from 2026 to 2035. The strategy will combine the 'book and claim' method (certificate-based) with physical SAF deliveries.
The partnership also includes the ambition to support French Polynesia's SAF roadmap, with ATOBA bringing its expertise in SAF production technologies, market analysis, and implementation strategies.
'We are very proud to collaborate with Air Moana, as this partnership reflects the core of ATOBA's mission: to be a flexible, pragmatic, and customer-focused SAF provider,' said Arnaud NAMER, CEO of ATOBA Energy.
'Providing a hybrid approach of certificates and physical deliveries allows us to meet the needs of airlines while developing the SAF value chain. This is our first step in rolling out our ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region.'
Air Moana has expressed its intention to enter into a 10-year SAF offtake agreement to progressively increase its supply of sustainable fuel between 2026 and 2035, with decarbonization targets aligned with the European SAF mandate.
'We are proud to partner with ATOBA to bring cleaner skies to French Polynesia,' said Lionel GUERIN, CEO of Air Moana.
'This Memorandum of Understanding reflects our long-term vision and our commitment to leading the sustainable transition of aviation in the Pacific. ATOBA is an ideal partner for Air Moana thanks to its deep industry knowledge and technology-neutral sourcing solutions, well suited to remote regions like ours. We are proud to be both the first ATR operator and the first Pacific-based airline to launch such a project.'
About ATOBA Energy
ATOBA is an intermediary aggregator of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that aims to accelerate the energy transition in the aviation sector by resolving the financial dilemma between airlines and producers.
ATOBA offers long-term SAF contracts at optimized prices to airlines and fuel resellers. The company guarantees security and competitiveness to its partners through diversified supply sources and high-level expertise.
ATOBA's aggregation strategy also helps develop the SAF industry by providing producers with long-term purchase agreements that support their final investment decisions for production plants.
About Air Moana – Te mana no te ma'iti (The power to choose)
Air Moana, a regional airline based in French Polynesia, began operations in February 2023 and currently operates three ATR 72-600 aircraft.
Air Moana's mission is to make the Polynesian skies accessible to as many people as possible while offering a unique travel experience. Air Moana aims to become a key player in inter-island mobility while respecting the environmental balance of French Polynesia.
Air Moana serves the islands of Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea, Moorea, Rangiroa, Fakarava, as well as the Marquesas Islands of Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa from Tahiti.
Air Moana is a family of over 240 passionate and dedicated people, united by the desire to provide the best possible experience. Our commitment goes beyond flying. Through our CSR policy, we aim to enrich the community, reduce our environmental footprint, support the local economy, and promote our territory and its people, playing a key role in the development of French Polynesia's future.
We look forward to welcoming you on board!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

California's major home insurers are likely to raise rates soon. Here's why
California's major home insurers are likely to raise rates soon. Here's why

San Francisco Chronicle​

time6 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

California's major home insurers are likely to raise rates soon. Here's why

California home insurance companies could begin requesting rate increases within weeks, after state regulators approved a key step that will undergird new rate filings. Insurance rates have soared in California in recent years, but insurers say they still don't reflect the cost of doing business in the expensive, wildfire-prone state. To prevent insurers from further pulling back coverage or leaving the state, the California Department of Insurance recently enacted a set of reforms, called the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, that will make it easier for insurers to justify rate increases — though the state plans to ensure that the carriers continue to cover, and even expand, in parts of the state considered at risk for wildfires. A key step in the reform process occurred last week, when the Department of Insurance said it would allow insurers to use a catastrophe model to evaluate future risks. Previously, insurers have only been allowed to use backwards-looking information as the basis for rate increase requests — and thus could not take global warming or other predicted future changes into account. Insurers and regulators have long said that a more accurate assessment of future risks is critical for them to remain viable in California. California is an outlier: Other states already allow carriers to forecast risks using catastrophe models. The newly approved model was created by the New Jersey company Verisk. Two other catastrophe models, made by Moody's and Karen Clark, are now under review, according to Deputy Insurance Commissioner Michael Soller. 'I'm expecting (that) within a matter of weeks we could have our first filing from a major carrier,' Soller said in an interview Thursday. Exactly how much rates are likely to rise in the immediate future is unknown, and will undoubtedly vary by insurer. Mercury, a Los Angeles-based insurer that is one of California's largest carriers, said it is currently preparing a rate change request for homeowners insurance using the Verisk model. 'The move is a direct result of the ongoing implementation of (Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's) Sustainable Insurance Strategy, which the company believes will provide California homeowners with more insurance options and lead to a more resilient insurance marketplace,' the company said. The use of catastrophe models is one of several key changes made by Lara under his Sustainable Insurance Strategy. Another key change is allowing insurers to partially pass on the cost of reinsurance (insurance for insurance companies) to policyholders — something not previously allowed in California, though it is common in other states. As soon as they file for updated rates, insurance companies will be required to tell regulators if they plan to write new policies, and if so, how many new policies. Insurers will also be asked to describe how they'll be seeking new policies to write — for example, if they'll offer full coverage to customers whom they partially cover under a companion policy to California's FAIR plan. (The FAIR Plan is California's insurer of last resort and covers only damage from wildfires, whereas traditional insurers include other risks such as liability and plumbing problems.) There have been virtually no rate increase requests filed after the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January. In prior years, large rate increase requests tended to flow in after major fires, Soller said. But this time, insurers have been waiting for the catastrophe models to be approved. 'It's why we are doing this,' Soller said, noting that really large rate increases after wildfires are 'not a sustainable path for us.'

Trump's new EU trade deal, briefly explained
Trump's new EU trade deal, briefly explained

Vox

time6 minutes ago

  • Vox

Trump's new EU trade deal, briefly explained

President Donald Trump shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as he announces a trade deal with the EU on July 27, 2025, in Turnberry, Scotland.This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: The US and the European Union have arrived at a new trade deal, just days before President Donald Trump's threatened deadline to impose substantial new tariffs. What's in the agreement? Only the broad strokes of the deal have been announced so far, but it sets a new tariff rate of 15 percent on many imports from the EU, half the 30 percent rate that had been threatened. It also includes a promise of mutual tariff-free trade on some products, including aircraft and some generic drugs, and a European commitment to buy $750 billion in US energy over the next three years. Other points are still under negotiation, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, including whether European wine and other spirits will receive an exemption from the 15 percent tariff. How is Trump's trade war faring elsewhere? Earlier this month, Trump sent a new round of tariff demand letters to US trade partners, with a new deadline of August 1 (this Friday) to reach a trade deal and head off drastic tariffs. Since then, the US has reached a number of new agreements, including a deal with Japan last week — but many more are still outstanding. Among those is a deal with China, which negotiators met to discuss on Monday; a mutual suspension of tariffs between the two countries is set to expire on August 12, but is likely to be extended an additional 90 days as talks continue. The Logoff The email you need to stay informed about Trump — without letting the news take over your life. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. What else should I know about the tariffs? Hovering over all Trump's tariff threats and trade deals is the question of whether any of this is legal. One court, the US Court of International Trade, already ruled against the tariffs in May; now, an appeals court will hear the case on Thursday, and it will likely wend its way to the Supreme Court after that. And with that, it's time to log off… I greatly enjoyed the latest entry in my colleague Benji Jones's unofficial 'wildlife motion cameras' series, about artificial watering holes in the jungles of Guatemala (and don't miss his earlier piece, about animals along the US-Mexico border, here).

US and EU reach trade deal
US and EU reach trade deal

USA Today

time35 minutes ago

  • USA Today

US and EU reach trade deal

On Monday's episode of The Excerpt podcast: The U.S. has reached a trade deal with the European Union after President Donald Trump's weekend trip to Scotland. USA TODAY National Correspondent Chris Kenning talks about his reporting on farmers facing a fork amid the immigration crackdown. Israel pauses some military action in Gaza amid ongoing starvation concerns. USA TODAY National Correspondent Deborah Barfield Berry discusses a bipartisan push for a new women's history museum. Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text. Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here Taylor Wilson: Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson, and today is Monday, July 28th, 2025. This is USA TODAY's The Excerpt. Today taking a look at the US Trade deal with the EU plus how immigration raids are impacting farms and their workers. And lawmakers across the aisle want a new Women's History museum. ♦ US has reached a trade deal with the European Union. President Donald Trump announced the deal yesterday, days ahead of a self-imposed August 1st deadline. He met with the European Commission's president, Ursula von der Leyen during his trip to Scotland over the weekend where the pair discussed terms and came to an agreement. The deal includes a 15% tariff on most European exports to the United States, similar to agreements struck recently between Trump and other major trading partners, including Japan. The levy is higher than the 10% rate sought by Europeans, but a reduction from the 30% Trump threatened to impose earlier in July. The agreement also includes $600 billion in EU investments in the US and the purchase of $750 billion worth of US energy. ♦ President Trump's immigration raids are hitting farms particularly hard. I spoke with USA TODAY national correspondent Chris Kenning for more. Chris, thanks for joining me. Chris Kenning: Thank you for having me. Taylor Wilson: So Chris, what are we hearing and seeing at farms around the country in this immigration moment? Chris Kenning: Across the country, we've seen these immigration raids, really broiling farms in farming communities, and there have been cases of worker shortages for at least temporarily and farmers who are worried about getting their crops picked. Early this month, we saw raids in California in the Central Valley areas that saw hundreds of folks detained and ranchers and growers and places like Texas and Vermont have also reported times when people weren't showing up for work. And so some farm groups are saying farmers are holding their breath, trying to keep things afloat, not knowing if their folks will show up or just be too afraid that the raid will happen, either the farm or in the city or town where they work. Right now, in places like the San Joaquin Valley, some folks are saying that labor is kind of holding steady, but everyone's on edge, really not knowing what's going to happen. Taylor Wilson: Well, Chris, how many people on US farms actually lack legal status? And just help us understand really why foreign born workers are so critical to farmers. Chris Kenning: There's about 2.6 million people working on farms in the United States, roughly about 42% of them are thought to lack legal status according to the Department of Agriculture. That's actually down from 55% in 2001. So it's kind of declined some, but it's still a pretty sizable number. And if you talk to farmers, they'll say the reason's pretty simple. Congress has not been able to really address comprehensive immigration reform that could find ways to create legal pathways for workers that are here or provide more visas for guest worker programs. And they say the idea that American-born residents will take these jobs is just not realistic. Few people will apply for them, even fewer will stick with it. It's very physically demanding and tough work and so the bodies aren't out there. All these issues come together and then farmers have long dealt with this stuff and now the presence of these ICE immigration forces everywhere has really exacerbated the problem. Taylor Wilson: Chris, what did you hear from some of these migrant workers themselves about how they're facing this moment and what I'd imagine really is just an incredibly anxious time for them? Chris Kenning: So there's a lot of fear, a lot of consternation. People aren't going out as much. People are staying home, but the United Farm Workers officials that I talked to said people are going back just because they have to feed their families, maybe working fewer days, maybe staying in when they're not working. I talked to one gentleman named Gabriel who's a 42-year-old man. He's from Mexico. He works in California's Central Valley. He's worked eggplant, pumpkins, different crops, getting up before A.M. working a full day for about 16,50 an hour. And he said to the majority of his fellow workers are without papers. But while they're still working now, some are considering going home. And even folks who are here on H-2A visas are said to be considering not applying or just wondering if it's just getting too dangerous. Taylor Wilson: You mentioned the H-2A visa, Chris, can you just talk us through what the visa programs and legal paths actually look like for farm workers and what do advocates want to see change in this space? Chris Kenning: The H-2A program is a program that allows agricultural employers to hire foreign workers to fill temporary or seasonal jobs when there's not enough qualified domestic workers. Right now, folks on those visas represent about 13% of the nation's farm workers. A number that's grown over the years. A lot of farmers have issues with it because it is very bureaucratic. It's expensive because farmers have to provide housing and they have to adhere to pay wage premiums, which is meant to keep those workers from pushing down wages for U.S. residents who do similar jobs. Farm worker advocates say it has problems too because it's linked to a certain employer. So a lot of times workers are stuck there and maybe more vulnerable to wage or housing abuses. That's one that people are calling for changes to perhaps to streamline it or make some changes that would allow for more folks to come in on these types of visas. Taylor Wilson: You touched on the Trump administration earlier, Chris. Where does the administration stand when it comes to farms specifically? And is there any sense that they understand some of the realities on American farms that you've outlined in this piece? Chris Kenning: The Trump administration in June said it was going to suspend farm enforcement and it reversed that. But Trump has cited the importance of farm labor several times, and they've talked about they're looking to make some kinds of changes. It's not clear exactly what those would look like. There's a bill in Congress that would create, among many things, would create a legal pathway for long-time workers, which is what a lot of both farmers and farm workers would like to see, rather than just having it apply to people who are coming for the first time. There's also been discussions by the agriculture secretary to make the H-2A program more efficient. We'll have to see what comes out of that. House Speaker Mike Johnson has told other media that larger immigration overhauls in Congress could face an uphill battle, so we'll have to keep an eye on that. Taylor Wilson: All right. Chris Kenning is a national correspondent for USA TODAY. Folks can find this full story with a link in today's show notes. Thank you, Chris. Chris Kenning: Thank you so much. ♦ Taylor Wilson: Israel will pause military action for hours each day in parts of Gaza and increase aid drops in the enclave as the country continues to face international pressure over reports and images of starving Palestinians. Aid groups have criticized Israeli leaders for months over the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The country cut off supplies to the region at the start of March before reopening aid lines with new restrictions in May. In recent weeks, more than 800 people have been killed while trying to reach food according to the United Nations, mostly in shootings by Israeli soldiers posted near controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution centers, which we discussed here on the show last week. Meanwhile, the World Food Program says a third of the population in Gaza is not eating for days. Beginning today, Israel will pause military action in a humanitarian area along the coast of Gaza for 10 hours at a time, from 10 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. local time each day. You can read more with a link in today's show notes. ♦ Lawmakers are renewing a bipartisan effort to build a Women's History Museum in Washington. D.C. I discussed with USA TODAY national correspondent Deborah Barfield Berry. Deborah, thanks for joining me. Deborah Barfield Berry: Thank you for having me. Taylor Wilson: So what are these calls for a new Women's History Museum? What would this entail? Deborah Barfield Berry: Actually, it's been an effort that's been going for years and years, but they've always renewed it. And this time, a bipartisan group of women from the Democratic Women's Caucus and the Republican Women's Caucus are actually urging one of the House committees to put some money behind it to actually fund the project. Taylor Wilson: Specifically who are the lawmakers involved here and just how rare is it Deborah, to see a bipartisan push like this? Deborah Barfield Berry: Well, there's several lawmakers. There are some Republicans, including Kat Cammack, who's one of the co-chairs of Republican Women's Caucus and also Hillary Scholten and others who are part of the Democratic Women's Caucus. They got together and decided they wanted to push for this effort. In terms of rare, these days, as you know, there's a lot of partisanship on one side or this side of a lot of issues, but this was one of the few issues where women from both sides of the aisle said, we want to push for this together. So they've been doing that in the past, and again, they've continued to do that now. Taylor Wilson: Well, as you mentioned, Deborah, this is not the first we've heard of this. What related bills have we seen over the years and just what led up to this point? Deborah Barfield Berry: As has been the case with many museums, many of the Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, and the Latino Museum as well, it's a process. So it's not just you vote for the museum and it's a go. There are different parts of it, including number one, establishing a museum, establishing perhaps a commission that will study it and see if there should be a museum. Another bill that has to push for having it on a National Mall. And then of course, you need to get funding. So there are always different pieces to it, and that's the same case here for the Women's Museum. There's been different measures along the way. Some of them passed, some of them haven't. It hasn't come through enough where they can say, we got a museum coming. So the women have pushed again to make sure there was some federal funding for the museum. Taylor Wilson: It makes sense. I mean, what hurdles might this effort still face? Deborah Barfield Berry: Well, part of the challenge this Congress is that there has been a big push, particularly by Republican leaders to cut federal spending. So not just this program, but others are coming up against that. There is also some concern about the pushback from the Trump administration and Republican leaders to push back against diversity initiatives or anything that reflects or they think feel like it reflects that. In many of the cases, it's not just about people of color when they push back on diversity. Also, women and women's issues and women programs, women's museum is all about women. So there's concern about whether that too would fall into that category where they're pushing back. Taylor Wilson: Okay, and what's next for this conversation? Deborah Barfield Berry: It was earlier this month that they pushed for or sent this letter to the House Appropriations Committee, but there's also some talk or either some hope from both sides that they could have a meeting with President Trump to push for this, because along the way he's expressed some interest in supporting it, but he's also been part of the pushback against diversity. As for what's next, some of the women lawmakers are not only pushing their colleagues to support funding for the bill, but they're also hoping that they can get President Trump to step in and be a little more vocal about it and maybe use some of his clout to sway Republican leaders to back the funding. Representative Hillary Scholten from Michigan, who also happens to be a Democrat, says she welcomes the audience with President Trump so she can make sure he knows that it's important to support this museum and that if there's any time to do it, now is the right time. Taylor Wilson: We'll see what happens. Deborah Barfield Berry is a National Correspondent with USA TODAY. Thanks, Deborah. Deborah Barfield Berry: Thank you. ♦ Taylor Wilson: Thanks for listening to The Excerpt. You can get the podcast wherever you get your pods, and if you're on a smart speaker, just ask for The Excerpt. I'm Taylor Wilson, I'll be back tomorrow with more of The Excerpt from USA TODAY.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store