Egypt's Ministers Coordinate on Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
CAIRO – 17 April 2025: Egypt's ministers of petroleum, environment, and civil aviation held a joint meeting at the Ministry of Petroleum's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital to coordinate efforts on the ongoing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production project.
The project, currently being implemented by the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM), forms a core part of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources' strategy to support sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad underscored the importance of aligning efforts across sectors to support Egypt's transition to clean and sustainable energy sources—particularly within the aviation sector, which plays a critical and environmentally sensitive role.
Fouad highlighted that SAF production marks a pivotal step toward reducing the aviation sector's carbon footprint. She emphasized that carbon certificates can only be sold or traded in accordance with specific standards and regulations. The Ministry of Petroleum, she noted, has outlined emission reduction targets as part of Egypt's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and has developed mechanisms for the regulation of carbon certificate sales.
She also referenced the national bioeconomy strategy, which aims to promote biofuel production as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative. Used cooking oil, a key input for SAF production, has been the focus of a comprehensive study conducted by the Waste Management Regulatory Agency, which now classifies it as a valuable resource.
Tamer Heikal, chairman of the Egyptian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Company (ESAF), presented the project's business plan, objectives, and implementation roadmap. Heikal stated that the $530 million project has completed its feasibility studies in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
He emphasized the project's strong economic potential, noting that it will utilize advanced hydrotreating technology to convert used cooking oil into 120,000 tons of SAF annually. The fuel will be used to meet domestic demand and support exports.
The facility is being constructed on a 100,000-square-meter site opposite Dekheila Port. Procedures are currently underway to select a technology licensor and an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor. The project is also progressing in partnership with four international financial institutions.
Heikal added that efforts are in motion to market the SAF to global aviation companies and to secure consistent supplies of used cooking oil. He stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration—particularly with the ministries of environment and civil aviation—to accelerate the project's completion and maximize its returns.
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