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Ethiopia has officially begun charting a path toward becoming a producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), following the completion of a national feasibility study confirming the country’s capacity—both in land availability and renewable energy potential—to supply the fast-growing global SAF sector.
At a multi-stakeholder validation workshop held on Thursday, November 27 at Addis Ababa’s Skylight Hotel, experts shared the study’s findings with government officials, industry leaders, and international partners. The assessment concluded that Ethiopia can generate low-carbon jet fuel using a mix of domestic agricultural crops, municipal waste, sugar-industry byproducts, and renewable energy resources.
Senior representatives from the ministries of Transport and Logistics, Agriculture, the Civil Aviation Authority, academia, private investors, the European Union, ICAO, and other development partners reviewed the final results. The study began in December 2024 and included nationwide consultations and a major stakeholder forum in March 2025, where technical teams evaluated Ethiopia’s readiness to enter commercial SAF production.
Building on earlier analyses—including a 2019 WWF-South Africa report and two national studies from 2021 and 2022—the research reaffirmed Ethiopian mustard as a high-potential non-food feedstock. More than 30 million hectares were identified as suitable for cultivating the crop without affecting food production. While field trials indicate promising scalability, additional research is needed to evaluate expansion for commercial use.
Despite strong potential, experts highlighted logistical challenges, particularly the dispersed nature of Ethiopia’s farming communities and limited transport infrastructure, which complicate bulk feedstock collection.
The feasibility study assessed several production pathways: alcohol-to-jet fuel from sugar-sector molasses, waste-to-fuel processes using municipal solid waste, and power-to-liquid synthetic fuels derived from renewable electricity. The country’s sugar industry already produces around 32.5 million liters of ethanol annually, although current supply is limited by higher demand from food and beverage manufacturers. Municipal waste was identified as a dual-benefit opportunity, offering both improved waste management and clean fuel generation.
Electricity-based synthetic fuels emerged as Ethiopia’s strongest long-term prospect, given its abundant renewable energy resources. Power-to-liquid technology is expected to receive certification between mid- and late-2026, creating a window for early national adoption if investments begin soon.
Consultants noted that SAF currently costs roughly twice as much as conventional jet fuel, but prices are expected to decline as global production scales. International benchmarks—such as India’s mandate to begin 1% SAF blending in 2027, rising to 5% by 2030—suggest regulatory pressures will soon accelerate. Experts cautioned that Ethiopian airlines will need to comply with evolving global standards by 2030 to remain competitive.
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To advance the initiative, the government has established a national technical committee on SAF and plans to open a dedicated project office staffed with aviation and energy specialists. Development partners will be invited to support the office and help translate research into investment-ready industrial projects.
Transport officials underscored that aviation remains a major contributor to global emissions and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to meeting international climate targets through sustainable fuel development.
