Egypt has awarded its first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production license to the Egyptian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Company (ESAF), a subsidiary of the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM), marking a historic milestone in the country’s green energy transition and aviation sector decarbonization efforts.
The agreement was signed between ESAF and Honeywell UOP on Thursday in the presence of Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi, launching Egypt’s inaugural SAF project to be built in Alexandria. The facility will convert used cooking oil into up to 120,000 tons of jet fuel annually, with the potential to cut an estimated 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Minister Badawi described the project as a significant milestone for Egypt’s petroleum sector and a key step in reducing aviation emissions while expanding investments in green energy. Khaled Hashem, President of Honeywell’s Middle East and North Africa operations, emphasized the company’s commitment to deploying advanced, low-carbon technologies in Egypt.
Honeywell’s UOP license represents one of the leading global technologies for producing sustainable jet fuel from used oils, including used cooking oil. The technology offers a conversion efficiency of approximately 80% through advanced hydrogenation processes that produce fuel meeting international aviation specifications while contributing to emissions reductions.
Honeywell UOP has been commercially operational since 2016 and is capable of converting non-edible oils, animal fats, and waste feedstocks into renewable jet fuel. This technology has powered the world’s first 100% SAF production facility and supports multiple pathways, including eFining for methanol-to-jet conversion.
SAF is a renewable fuel derived from non-petroleum sources that helps lower emissions from aviation. The fuel can be mixed with conventional jet fuel in varying proportions, typically between 10% and 50%, depending on the type of feedstock and production method. The International Civil Aviation Organization reports that more than 360,000 commercial flights have utilized SAF at 46 airports, primarily located in the United States and Europe.
Egypt is accelerating its shift toward low-carbon aviation fuels as part of its broader climate and energy-transition strategy. The government established ESAF in 2024 to lead the country’s transition toward cleaner aviation fuels and support national climate goals.
Source: egyptoil-gas.com