The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Japan’s JGC Corporation have signed a Letter of Intent to collaborate on the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects across Africa — a move that could help accelerate the continent’s transition to greener air transport.
According to Engineering News, the agreement was signed on Monday (6) on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), held in Yokohama in August, by Solomon Quaynor, AfDB Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, and Shoji Yamada, Representative Director and President of JGC Corporation.
SAF refers to jet fuel produced from renewable resources such as vegetable oils, waste, or captured carbon, which can significantly reduce the aviation industry’s carbon footprint.
The Letter of Intent establishes a framework for joint promotion, knowledge exchange, and co-financing opportunities in SAF development and other green aviation initiatives across the continent.
Under the agreement, the AfDB will facilitate coordination with public sector aviation stakeholders, identify potential projects in development, and explore financing mechanisms — including support for feasibility studies and debt or equity financing. Meanwhile, JGC Corporation will conduct demand and technical feasibility studies, assess implementation opportunities based on local infrastructure and resources, and help transfer Japanese clean energy technology to African markets.
The initiative aligns with AfDB’s sustainable transport, mobility, and energy transition strategy, which aims to decarbonize key sectors of the African economy while supporting industrial growth and innovation.
Quaynor emphasized that the partnership represents an important step to reduce emissions and increase competitiveness in Africa’s aviation sector. “The adoption of sustainable aviation fuel in Africa is a crucial component of the journey to reduce the continent’s carbon dioxide emissions,” he said.
“Moreover, it should enhance sector competitiveness over time. This partnership with JGC will help unlock new opportunities for green aviation and position Africa as a pioneer in the sector,” he added.
JGC President Shoji Yamada stated that the company is eager to apply its engineering expertise to Africa’s decarbonization efforts. “We are proud to collaborate with the African Development Bank in promoting sustainable aviation fuels in Africa,” Yamada said, adding that “by leveraging our expertise in facility engineering and sustainable energy, we aim to contribute to the continent’s decarbonization efforts while simultaneously promoting local economic growth and innovation.”
If successful, the partnership could mark a significant step in Africa’s clean energy transition, positioning the continent to play a leading role in the global sustainable aviation market, which is expected to grow exponentially over the next decade.
Source: Diário Económico
