The African Development Bank and Japan’s JGC Corporation will work together to advance development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects across Africa.
At a conference on African development held in Yokohama, Japan last month, the partners signed a Letter of Intent to build a framework for developing SAF and other green aviation initiatives to decarbonise air transport in Africa.
SAF refers to jet fuel produced from renewable resources such as plant oils, waste materials, or captured carbon.
As part of the deal, AfDB will work with different government and public groups involved in aviation to find, plan, and fund new projects.
“Adopting SAF in Africa is a crucial component of the journey to cutting the continent’s carbon dioxide emissions,” said Solomon Quaynor, AfDB Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization.
African aviation contributes around 3% of global aviation CO2 emissions and has one of the fastest growing air traffic markets globally, with average annual passenger volume growth rates of 8.45% between 2010 and 2019.
The continent faces challenges in decarbonisation, including reliance on older, less fuel-efficient aircraft and the high cost of SAF – arguably the biggest hurdle faced by the sector.
This can be at least partially solved through investments and the development of new infrastructure, an area that JGC looks to explore.
“By leveraging our experience in plant engineering and sustainable energy, we aim to contribute to Africa’s decarbonisation efforts while fostering local economic growth and innovation,” said Shoji Yama, President of JGC.
Morocco is positioning itself as one of Africa’s early movers in SAF production. Speaking at last week’s World Power-to-X Summit in Marrakech, Faouzi Annajah, Founder and CEO of French–Moroccan hydrogen start-up NamX, said, “It’s not ready now. If you want to produce e-fuels, you need hydrogen, and if you want to produce hydrogen you need energy. The price is too high now and [there is] very small demand.”
Still, Morocco’s plans to produce hydrogen and e-fuels at scale could create major export opportunities to Europe and across the wider MENA region. The country has already designated large areas for green hydrogen projects – a vital feedstock for e-SAF.
“We have to work together – as startups, in deep tech and as investors,” added Annajah.
