SARA
SARA is the sole petroleum refiner and integrated fuel/gas distributor serving the French Caribbean territories of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Guyane, operating its own terminals and developing green and blue hydrogen projects for regional energy transition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersLe Mans, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SARA does
SARA (Société Anonyme de la Raffinerie des Antilles) is a French petroleum refining and fuel distribution company that operates the sole oil refinery serving the French Caribbean overseas territories of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Guyane. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Le Lamentin, Martinique, SARA runs an integrated network that includes the Martinique refinery, dedicated storage and distribution terminals in Jarry (Guadeloupe), Cayenne and Kourou (Guyane), and a gas cylinder filling center in Cayenne. Its core products are refined petroleum fuels (gasoline, diesel) and LPG, supplied to the general population and government entities across all three territories under a B2B and B2G model.
The company's underlying technology combines conventional petroleum refining with 50 years of in-house hydrogen production and purification capability, byproducts of which are consumed internally to generate electricity via fuel cells. Since 2015, SARA has been developing renewable hydrogen projects, launching 10 initiatives across its three territories targeting 1,000 tonnes/year of green hydrogen and 4,000+ tonnes/year of blue hydrogen for mobility, agriculture, and industrial customers. The Martinique facility was designated as the regional refinery serving Guadeloupe and Guyane, providing energy autonomy to the Antilles and Guyane. SARA is classified as a SEVESO 3 seuil haut (high-threshold) facility, the most stringent EU safety classification for hazardous industrial sites.
SARA's business model is commodity-based: it generates revenue from per-liter fuel sales and per-cylinder gas sales at its terminals, with monthly price transparency publications shared publicly for all three territories. It has no disclosed subscription, licensing, or SaaS revenue lines. Distribution is fully owned and operated through its terminal network, making it a vertically integrated regional fuel and gas supplier. The company has positioned itself as an "Entreprise à mission" (mission-driven company) and publishes a monthly RSE newsletter, indicating a brand and CSR posture oriented toward public trust and regulatory goodwill rather than demand-generation. Legal representative is Olivier COTTA.
SARA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SARA
- Legal name
- SA DE LA RAFFINERIE DES ANTILLES (SARA)
- Website
- https://sara-antilles-guyane.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- SARA is the sole petroleum refiner and integrated fuel/gas distributor serving the French Caribbean territories of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Guyane, operating its own terminals and developing green and blue hydrogen projects for regional energy transition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SARA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Petroleum Refining and Distribution
- NAICS
- Petroleum Refineries (324110), Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals (424710)
- SIC
- Petroleum Refining (2911), Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hydroskimming Refineries (Topping & Simple Refineries) (EUALAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distillation & Fractionation (Crude, Condensate & NGL Splitters) (EUALAGAD), Gas Processing & NGL Recovery (Dehydration, Sweetening, Cryogenic Recovery) (EUALAGAG), Refined Products Tank Farms & Terminals (TLAGAKAB)
Keywords
Where SARA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Le Mans
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
SARA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Petroleum Refining and Fuel Sales: SARA refines petroleum and sells fuels (gasoline, diesel) and gas to populations in Guadeloupe, Guyane, and Martinique. The Martinique-based refinery serves as the primary production facility, with distribution terminals in each territory.
- Hydrogen Production and Distribution: SARA produces hydrogen from refinery operations and is developing green and blue hydrogen production capacity (1,000 tonnes/year green H2, 4,000+ tonnes/year blue H2 planned) to supply mobility, agriculture, and industry sectors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
SARA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SARA refines crude petroleum at its Martinique refinery and produces gasoline, diesel, and LPG (gas) for distribution to the populations of Guadeloupe, Guyane, and Martinique. Products flow through dedicated storage and distribution terminals on each island, with the Martinique facility also shipping products to the other two territories. The company also produces hydrogen from refinery operations (used internally via fuel cells) and is developing green and blue hydrogen projects for mobility, agriculture, and industrial customers.
Product overview
SARA (Société Anonyme de la Raffinerie des Antilles) operates as an integrated petroleum energy company serving the French Antilles and Guyane regions. The company's portfolio consists of three core pillars: petroleum product refining and distribution through its Martinique refinery, hydrogen production as a byproduct of refining operations now being developed for clean energy applications, and storage terminal infrastructure across Guadeloupe (Jarry), Martinique (Le Lamentin), and Guyane (Cayenne and Kourou). SARA also provides monthly fuel price transparency services and engages in energy transition initiatives including hydrogen mobility and renewable hydrogen production projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Petroleum Products (Carburants et GPL) Refined petroleum products including gasoline, diesel, and LPG (gas) produced at the Martinique refinery and distributed via dedicated storage terminals in Guadeloupe (Jarry), Martinique (Le Lamentin), and Guyane (Cayenne and Kourou) to serve populations, businesses, and government entities.
- Green and Blue Hydrogen Projects Hydrogen produced and purified from refinery operations and from renewable/low-carbon production projects, supplied to mobility, agriculture, and industrial customers across the French Caribbean.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,000 tonnes/year of green hydrogen and 4,000+ tonnes/year of blue hydrogen targeted through 10 projects
Companies that use SARA
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SARA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SARA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SARA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Air Liquide SA: Air Liquide is a global industrial gases and hydrogen leader, actively developing green/blue hydrogen production and mobility infrastructure across Europe and overseas territories. Comparable to SARA's emerging hydrogen ambitions as both target hydrogen for mobility, industry, and energy transition applications.
- Linde plc: Linde is a global industrial gases leader producing and distributing hydrogen (including green/blue variants) for industrial, mobility, and energy applications. Comparable to SARA's emerging hydrogen production and distribution ambitions, particularly for industrial offtake.
Broad incumbents
- Repsol S.A. Repsol is an integrated Spanish energy company operating refineries while investing in renewable hydrogen, biofuels, and decarbonized mobility. Comparable to SARA's refining-plus-renewable-hydrogen positioning as a regional integrated refiner.
- TotalEnergies SE: TotalEnergies is a global integrated oil major with refining operations in France and a substantial retail network in the French Caribbean (including service stations and terminals). Comparable to SARA as both operate French-anchored refining and Caribbean fuel distribution, though TotalEnergies is vastly larger and more diversified.
- Cepsa (Compañía Española de Petróleos): Cepsa operates refineries in Spain and has launched green hydrogen and biofuel projects tied to its refining infrastructure. Comparable to SARA's strategy of leveraging refining know-how and infrastructure to develop renewable hydrogen.
- BP p.l.c. BP is a global integrated oil major actively pivoting toward hydrogen and energy transition, with hydrogen projects in refining hubs globally. Comparable to SARA's strategy of leveraging refining assets to develop hydrogen production for mobility and industrial decarbonization.
- Société des Pétroles Shell (Shell plc): Shell is a global integrated oil major with refining capacity and significant hydrogen investment programs (green/blue hydrogen, hydrogen mobility). Comparable to SARA's combined refining-plus-hydrogen strategy at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
Direct peers
- Rubis SCA: Rubis is a French company specialized in downstream petroleum distribution (fuel, LPG, bitumen) with significant Caribbean presence including French overseas territories. Highly comparable to SARA as both serve Caribbean fuel markets with overlapping logistics and LPG distribution activities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SARA social profiles
Digital presenceSARA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SARA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SARA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SARA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SARA
What does SARA do?
SARA refines crude petroleum at its Martinique refinery and produces gasoline, diesel, and LPG (gas) for distribution to the populations of Guadeloupe, Guyane, and Martinique. Products flow through dedicated storage and distribution terminals on each island, with the Martinique facility also shipping products to the other two territories. The company also produces hydrogen from refinery operations (used internally via fuel cells) and is developing green and blue hydrogen projects for mobility, agriculture, and industrial customers.
Is SARA a public or private company?
SARA is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was SARA founded?
SARA was founded in 1970. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is SARA based?
SARA is headquartered in Le Mans, France, in the Europe region.
How does SARA make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Petroleum Refining and Fuel Sales are the primary driver. The others are hydrogen Production and Distribution.
Who are SARA's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Air Liquide SA and Linde plc. Broad incumbents are Repsol S.A., TotalEnergies SE, Cepsa (Compañía Española de Petróleos), BP p.l.c. and Société des Pétroles Shell (Shell plc). Rubis SCA is listed as a direct peer.
Does SARA have an API?
No public API is recorded for SARA.
What industry is SARA in?
SARA's product category is Petroleum Refining and Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUALAGAA, Hydroskimming Refineries (Topping & Simple Refineries), with a secondary code of EUALAGAD, Distillation & Fractionation (Crude, Condensate & NGL Splitters). Its NAICS code is 324110 and its SIC code is 2911.