Egypt’s Ministers of Petroleum, Environment, and Civil Aviation met at the Ministry of Petroleum’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital to coordinate efforts on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production project, led by the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM).
The project is a key pillar of the Ministry’s strategy for sustainable development and environmental protection. Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration to drive Egypt’s transition to clean energy, highlighting SAF’s role in reducing aviation emissions. She noted that carbon certificate trading must comply with specific regulations and align with Egypt’s emission reduction targets under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Fouad also referenced the national bioeconomy strategy promoting biofuel production, noting that used cooking oil, a key SAF input, has been officially classified as a valuable resource.
Tamer Heikal, Chairman of the Egyptian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Company (ESAF), presented the $530 million project’s roadmap. Developed with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the project will produce 120,000 tons of SAF annually using advanced hydrotreating technology. The facility, under construction near Dekheila Port, will supply both domestic and international markets.
Partnerships with four international financial institutions are supporting the project, and selection processes for a technology licensor and EPC contractor are underway. Heikal emphasized the importance of ensuring a steady supply of used cooking oil and maintaining strong collaboration between ministries to accelerate project completion.
