Cairo: Egypt has launched a feasibility study to assess the domestic production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), marking a key step in the country’s efforts to reduce aviation emissions and build a low-carbon aviation sector.
Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh Elhefny inaugurated a two-day workshop to prepare the study in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) under the ACT-SAF programme, with support from the European Union, Egypt Oil & Gas reported.
The study will examine Egypt’s potential to produce SAF, a cleaner alternative to conventional jet fuel made from renewable and waste-based feedstocks. It is expected to provide the scientific and economic basis for a national roadmap for SAF production and utilisation.
The initiative forms part of Egypt’s strategy to advance sustainable development, accelerate the transition to a green economy and achieve the objectives of Egypt Vision 2030. It also supports the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s plans to improve the environmental and operational performance of the country’s aviation sector in line with international standards.
Elhefny said the project demonstrates the value of international partnerships in supporting the aviation sector’s transition towards cleaner fuels through the exchange of technical expertise and knowledge.
He said the feasibility study would support the development of a national roadmap aligned with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the global market-based mechanism established by ICAO to address emissions from international aviation.
According to the minister, the study will assess Egypt’s domestic capabilities, identify investment opportunities and develop a framework to encourage private-sector participation while strengthening cooperation with financial institutions and industry partners. The initiative is also expected to help Egypt integrate into the emerging global sustainable aviation fuel value chain.
Elhefny expressed confidence that the workshop would result in a practical action plan to support the production and use of SAF in Egypt.
The feasibility study builds on Egypt’s broader efforts to expand the use of low-carbon aviation fuels. In 2024, the government established the Egypt Sustainable Aviation Fuel (ESAF) initiative to lead the country’s transition to cleaner aviation fuels and support its climate commitments.
The move also follows a recent meeting between Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi and Civil Aviation Minister Sameh Elhefny to review progress on securing jet fuel supplies and advancing domestic SAF production.
