Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, convened a meeting at the Ministry‘s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital to discuss the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Joining him were Minister of Civil Aviation, Mohamed Abbas Helmy, Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Trade and Industry, Ahmed Samir, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, El Sayed El Quseir, and Minister of Public Business Sector, Mahmoud Esmat. The gathering aimed to establish effective coordination and cooperation mechanisms among the ministries for this initiative.

El Molla explained that the oil and gas sector has taken steps during the recent period to produce SAF for the first time and has begun preparing studies for the first project to produce it from an edible type of oil as feedstock.

Moreover, the sector developed a vision and proposed a strategy for its implementation through the Egyptian Petrochemical Holding Company (ECHEM), with the assistance of international institutions to prepare studies and complete the initial stages of preparing for the project and arranging financing.

At the meeting, a presentation outlined the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ (MoPMR) initiative to undertake the inaugural project for producing sustainable aviation fuel. It provided insights into the ongoing studies conducted in collaboration with international institutions, detailed the project strategy, discussed preparatory measures for implementation, and highlighted the agreement to procure essential raw materials.

For her part, Fouad affirmed the Ministry of Environment’s readiness to cooperate with the Ministries of Petroleum and Civil Aviation in developing a general framework for a strategy to produce and use sustainable fuel for aircraft, whether from used food oils or from crops from which it is derived.

Meanwhile, Helmy outlined his ministry’s vision aimed at using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the civil aviation sector in accordance with what was approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

In addition, El Quseir pointed out that there are different sources for producing sustainable aviation fuel, whether used food oils or oils produced from jatropha plants and others.