Axens, Green Sky Capital sign collaboration for SAF production facility in Egypt

Axens announced June 3 its collaboration with Green Sky Capital for the development of a 200,000-ton-per-year sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility in Egypt, set to become the first SAF production plant in Egypt and across Africa.

The project will produce SAF from lipid-based feedstocks using Axens’ Vegan® hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) technology and is being developed on a fast-track basis with targeted production commencement by the end of 2027.

The facility will support Egypt’s energy-transition ambitions through local sourcing of used cooking oil (UCO) and contribute to the decarbonization of the aviation sector while positioning Egypt as a strategic renewable fuels hub for the Mediterranean and African markets.

As part of the collaboration, Axens will provide its proprietary Vegan® HEFA technology, integrated catalyst and adsorbent solutions, together with operational support and training services to ensure optimized plant performance and operational reliability.

In parallel with the project development, Axens and Green Sky Capital have entered into a broader strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) focused on further enhancement and optimization.

According to Axens, the collaboration has already resulted in significant SAF yield improvements without compromising utility consumption or byproduct performance.

These advancements are expected to materially increase SAF output per ton of feedstock processed, Axens stated, providing the Green Sky Capital platform with a strong competitive advantage vs. conventional SAF plants through improved conversion efficiency and overall project economics.

“We are honored to provide our Vegan® technology to Green Sky Capital in Egypt, supporting them in their ambitious energy-transition objectives,” said Axens CEO Quentin Debuisschert. “With our highly proven proprietary solution adopted by a wide range of operators all over the world, we are pleased to contribute to the industry’s effort and trajectory to decarbonize the energy sector. First of its kind in Egypt where Axens is the leading technology licensor in the field of clean-fuels production, this project integrating Axens’ Vegan® technology is a significant milestone for both Axens, Green Sky Capital and their partners.”

Ali Shaikh, the CEO of Green Sky Capital, added, “Our strategic collaboration with Axens goes beyond a conventional technology-licensing relationship. The joint-optimization work under the MOU is already delivering meaningful SAF yield improvements, enabling higher SAF production per ton of feedstock and creating a significant competitive advantage for the Green Sky Capital platform.”