Qatar-based Al Mana Holding is investing $15.6 million to set up a facility in Egypt that will convert used cooking oil into biodiesel, according to a statement from the Environment Ministry. The plant will be located in the Integrated Waste Management City in Tenth of Ramadan and will have the capacity to process 100 tons per day, Enterprise AM reported.
The move comes amid growing global demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), driven by international aviation mandates aimed at reducing carbon emissions. By expanding local biodiesel production, Egypt is seeking to strengthen its position as a potential regional supplier of SAF feedstock. The initiative aligns with broader government efforts to establish dedicated SAF facilities to serve international airlines refueling in Cairo.
However, sourcing raw material remains a key challenge. Egypt consumes about 2.8 million tons of edible oil annually, resulting in an estimated 2.6 million tons of used cooking oil. To secure sufficient supply, Al Mana Holding plans to compete in the collection market by introducing a mobile application that will reward households for properly disposing of used oil. The company also intends to develop storage and logistics networks to collect used oil directly from food manufacturers and fast-food chains.
The project is expected to support waste recycling efforts while contributing to cleaner fuel production in line with global sustainability trends.
