January 12, 2026 — Antarctic expedition operator Antarctica21 has renewed its strategic alliance with energy company HIF Global, extending the use of synthetic e-Gasoline to power its Zodiac landing craft and positioning the company as the only Antarctic tourism operator currently running excursion boats with e-Fuel.
The initiative forms part of Antarctica21’s ongoing sustainability strategy aimed at reducing emissions associated with polar tourism operations while maintaining safe access to remote landing sites along the Antarctic Peninsula.
Under the renewed agreement, the fleet of 10 Zodiac boats used to transfer guests from the expedition vessel Magellan Explorer to Antarctic shorelines will continue operating with synthetic fuel produced locally in southern Chile. The fuel is manufactured at HIF Global’s Haru Oni e-Fuels facility in Punta Arenas, using renewable energy sources to generate synthetic gasoline through a process combining green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide.
According to the companies involved, the synthetic fuel offers a practical pathway to lowering emissions in sectors where electrification or alternative propulsion systems are not yet widely viable. Because the e-Gasoline can be used in conventional engines, the Zodiac boats require no technical modifications to operate with the fuel.
The collaboration makes Antarctica21 the first and only Antarctic tourism company currently operating landing excursions powered by synthetic fuel in the region, representing an early demonstration of the potential role of e-Fuels within the polar tourism industry.
Antarctica21 CEO Verónica Peragallo highlighted the broader environmental rationale behind the initiative, stating:
“By integrating e-fuels into our operations for a second consecutive season, we reaffirm our responsibility to protect one of the planet’s most fragile ecosystems and to drive a real technological transformation within the maritime and tourism industries, rooted in Chile and reaching the world.”
The partnership with HIF Global is also intended to demonstrate how tourism operators can support innovation in alternative energy technologies. HIF Global develops infrastructure projects that convert renewable electricity into synthetic hydrocarbons that can be used in existing engines and transport systems.
Commenting on the collaboration, HIF Latam CEO Víctor Turpaud said:
“This renewed collaboration is a sign of continuity and ambition. Today, our e-Fuels represent a real solution to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors. Supporting Antarctica21 once again allows us to demonstrate that regional tourism can be a driver of green innovation on a global scale.”
Supporting lower-impact Antarctic exploration
Antarctica remains one of the most environmentally sensitive regions on the planet, and tourism operators working in the area must comply with strict environmental protocols governed by the Antarctic Treaty System and industry bodies such as the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).
Zodiac landing operations are an essential part of Antarctic expedition cruising, allowing passengers to disembark safely from expedition vessels and access remote wildlife sites, glaciers and research stations along the continent’s coastline.
By using synthetic fuel for these operations, Antarctica21 aims to reduce the carbon footprint associated with these activities while continuing to provide close-up exploration experiences for expedition guests.
The company noted that the initiative also forms part of a broader strategy to evaluate the role of alternative fuels across its operations. Future possibilities under consideration include the use of synthetic marine diesel (e-MGO) for ship propulsion and synthetic aviation fuel (e-SAF) for its air-cruise flight operations.
Education and sustainability awareness
In addition to its operational impact, Antarctica21 says the e-Fuel initiative will also play an educational role during its expeditions. Guests travelling aboard the company’s Antarctic programmes will learn about the production and potential applications of synthetic fuels and their relevance to the energy transition.
The company aims to demonstrate that visiting the Antarctic region can be paired with efforts to minimise environmental impact while supporting the development of cleaner technologies.
Founded in 2003, Antarctica21 is known for its air-cruise expedition model, which allows travellers to fly over the Drake Passage from Punta Arenas to Antarctica before embarking on small expedition ships. The company operates boutique voyages with a limited number of passengers, including journeys aboard vessels such as Magellan Explorer.
With polar tourism continuing to grow, the adoption of alternative fuel solutions is increasingly seen as an important step in reducing the environmental footprint of operations in remote and fragile ecosystems.
For Antarctica21, the continued use of e-Fuel represents an early demonstration of how new technologies could help reshape expedition travel in the years ahead.
Source: Official Antartica21 Press Release, 12 January 2026.
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