European Commission supports development of SAF in Africa

In alignment with the EU Green Deal and the global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions in international aviation by 2050, the European Commission is fostering the global development and production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to decarbonize air transport.

The EU extends its SAF efforts beyond Europe through its Global Gateway initiative, focusing especially on African countries.

The European Commission and the African Civil Aviation Commission organized a high-level meeting Sept. 8 to address financing barriers and explore solutions for the financing of SAF and other cleaner energies in Africa.

The meeting was joined by high-level representatives from both organizations and from the International Civil Aviation Organization, the African Union, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

During the meeting, the financial institutions expressed their strong intent to collaborate on financial support for the production and development of SAF and cleaner-energy solutions in Africa.

The European Commission said this collaborative effort reinforces the EU’s commitment to nurturing its partnership with the African Union, leading into the EU-AU Summit in November.

“The EU is proud to strengthen its partnerships with African states and institutions to build momentum towards decarbonizing aviation on the path to net zero,” said Magda Kopczyńska, the EU’s director-general for mobility and transport, in opening the event.

“The commission will continue to advance to global the production of SAF as well as renewable and low-carbon fuels, in line with ICAO’s ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative,” Kopczyńska added. “In doing so, we also contribute to socioeconomic development in our partner countries. I look forward to continuing this dialogue at the upcoming 42nd ICAO Assembly.”