Egypt will take an important step in the development of renewable aviation fuels after the signing of a collaboration agreement between Axens and Green Sky Capital (GSC) to build a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production plant with a capacity of 200,000 tons per year.
The facility will become the first SAF plant in Egypt and the entire African continent. Furthermore, the project is progressing on an accelerated schedule that anticipates the start of operations towards the end of 2027.
A commitment to low-carbon aviation
The plant will use lipid raw materials primarily sourced from locally collected used cooking oil. To achieve this, it will incorporate Axens’ patented Vegan® HEFA technology, one of the most widely implemented solutions internationally for the production of sustainable jet fuel.
The project aims to contribute to reducing air transport emissions by partially replacing fossil fuels with renewable alternatives. It will also strengthen Egypt’s energy transition strategy and promote new value chains linked to the circular economy.
Egypt positions itself as a regional hub for renewable fuels
The new facility will play a strategic role in supplying SAF to the Mediterranean and African markets. Utilizing local raw materials could improve security of supply and reduce dependence on imported resources.
In addition to supplying the process technology, Axens will provide catalysts, adsorbents, training programs, and operational support services designed to optimize the reliability and performance of the plant throughout its lifespan.
Axens and GSC optimize SAF fuel production
In parallel with the development of the facility, both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at the technological optimization of the production platform.
According to the companies, the joint work has already generated significant improvements in SAF production yields without increasing energy consumption or affecting the quality of the by-products obtained during the process.
These optimizations would allow for an increase in the amount of sustainable fuel produced per ton of raw material processed, improving conversion efficiency and reinforcing the economic profitability of the project.
Executives highlight the strategic scope of the initiative
Quentin Debuisschert, CEO of Axens, said the company is honored to supply its Vegan® technology to support Green Sky Capital’s energy transition goals and contribute to the decarbonization of the energy and aviation sectors.
For his part, Ali Shaikh, CEO of Green Sky Capital, highlighted that the collaboration goes beyond the traditional technology licensing model and that the optimization advances achieved could give a significant competitive advantage to SAF’s future production platform.
With this project, Egypt is positioning itself among the countries seeking to accelerate the deployment of sustainable aviation fuels, a segment that continues to gain relevance within global strategies for reducing emissions and developing renewable energy.
Source: Axens
Photo: Shutterstock
