AFRAA, AfriSAF team up to promote SAF in Africa

Copyrights 2009 [email protected]

The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and AfriSAF announced signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a comprehensive framework for collaboration to accelerate the deployment and production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) across Africa.

The agreement was formally signed by Abderahmane Berthé, secretary-general of AFRAA, and Kwame Bekoe, CEO, AfriSAF.

“This collaboration with AfriSAF marks a major step in supporting African airlines on their decarbonisation journey … Through this partnership, AFRAA will lead African airlines agenda on decarbonisation, ensuring the region’s maximum contribution towards global carbon neutral growth by 2050,” said AFRAA’s Berthé.

The two sides will work together to support SAF adoption, develop bankable SAF production projects, strengthen feedstock supply chains and promote policies that enhance aviation safety, security, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

“Africa has one of the world’s largest untapped volumes of sustainable biomass suitable for SAF production… This MOU catalyses a new era of SAF development on the continent,” said Bekoe.

The multi-pronged approach will include advocacy and policy support, capacity building and training, SAF project development, resource mobilisation and feedstock mapping and sustainability.

Expanding sustainable, traceable feedstock supply chains using AfriSAF’s digital traceability platform, and advocating for recognition of African SAF pathways under international sustainability schemes.

Earlier in April, former Airbus business development director Kwame Bekoe announced the launch of digital marketplace AfriSAF to connect feedstock owners with buyers while providing logistics and support services to build a robust feedstock economy.

AfriSAF aims to establish clean energy production across Africa, beginning with mature pathways and readily available feedstocks that meet EU Annex IX B standards.