On May 14, 2026, Syntholene Energy Corp confirmed two executive moves and published further information about an independent technical review that supports its development roadmap. The company added HY Lee to its advisory board and appointed Grant Tanaka as interim corporate secretary, effective May 8, 2026. At the same time, Syntholene expanded on the findings and scope of the independent technical and economic assessment prepared by Robert Rapier, which the company announced on May 7, 2026. Together these items position Syntholene to accelerate commercialization steps for its geothermal-integrated fuel technology.
HY Lee joins with extensive experience in large-scale energy and industrial project execution. During his tenure at KEPCO he acted as the lead executive and contract manager on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, a $24.4 billion program in the United Arab Emirates made up of four APR-1400 reactors with roughly 5.6 gigawatts of capacity. That program has been noted for its adherence to schedule and budget relative to global nuclear projects. Mr. Lee’s background includes close engagement with engineering and sovereign investment networks across Asia and the Middle East.
What HY Lee brings to the company
Management says Mr. Lee’s experience in multinational project coordination and strategic industrial partnerships is intended to help accelerate commercialization of synthetic aviation fuel. CEO Dan Sutton highlighted that Mr. Lee contributes proven program discipline and familiarity with complex stakeholder environments. Syntholene is pursuing a geothermal-integrated production pathway and the company expects Mr. Lee’s network—particularly his connections with major engineering firms and sovereign investment circles—to support customer engagement, partner sourcing and large-scale project execution as the firm scales its modular production approach.
Administration change: Tanaka named interim corporate secretary
Effective May 8, 2026, Grant Tanaka, Syntholene’s chief financial officer since May 2026, assumed the dual role of interim corporate secretary. Mr. Tanaka brings operational and corporate experience across North America, Mexico, Africa and the Middle East. The company noted that former corporate secretary Jen Hanson resigned to pursue other business interests. Management framed the internal appointment as a continuity measure intended to preserve governance, disclosure and administrative rhythms while ensuring financial leadership remains aligned with day-to-day operations and strategic milestones.
Independent assessment by Robert Rapier
Syntholene provided additional context about the independent review performed by Robert Rapier, a chemical engineer with degrees in chemistry, mathematics and chemical engineering who is widely recognized for technical analyses in the synthetic fuel sector. The thermally integrated electrolysis platform review was conducted over a roughly three-month engagement and covered a technical inspection, market review for hydrogen and synthetic fuels, and a structured risk assessment with mitigation options. The company paid a fixed fee of US$6,000 for the work; the engagement was not contingent on any outcome and Rapier acted at arm’s length.
Scope and key elements
The assessment examined the thermally integrated electrolysis platform from multiple angles: technical feasibility, integration of heat sources, hydrogen production pathways and the implications for producing ultrapure synthetic jet fuel. Rapier’s review also surveyed the commercial landscape for eFuels and hydrogen, identifying market opportunities and potential sensitivities such as feedstock access, operating scale and competitive technologies. The report was designed to validate assumptions and highlight areas where additional testing or design refinement could reduce execution risk during demonstration and scale-up.
Independence, compensation and access
Syntholene emphasized that the Rapier review was a fixed-fee engagement—US$6,000—and not tied to success milestones, underlining the consultant’s independence. The company stated that Rapier’s analysis included both technical modeling and economic appraisal, culminating in a summary of findings that Syntholene has made available to stakeholders. While the report supports the company’s development pathway, management also framed it as one input among many in their validation and commercialization process.
About Syntholene and forward-looking considerations
Syntholene is developing a Hybrid Thermal Production System intended to produce ultrapure synthetic jet fuel at substantially lower cost than current competing approaches; the company targets a manufacturing cost up to 70% lower than the nearest alternative. Construction has begun on a geothermally-integrated high temperature electrolysis demonstration facility in Husavik, Iceland. Founded by operators with backgrounds in advanced energy infrastructure, nuclear technology and process engineering, Syntholene stresses that prospective outcomes are subject to technical, market and financing risks. The company reiterated typical cautionary language about forward-looking statements and future-oriented financial information (FOFI), advising readers to consider assumptions and uncertainties when evaluating projections.
