By Mohamed Attia
Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh el-Hefny officially inaugurated workshop to launch the “Introduction to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)” project.
Organised by the ministry in co-operation with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and with support from the European Union, the workshop operates under the ACT-SAF programme.
This initiative represents a strategic milestone aimed at establishing a strong national SAF industry, helping Egypt diversify its energy sources, reduce carbon emissions, and meet global aviation standards.
During his opening speech, el-Hefny emphasised that hosting this workshop reflects Egypt’s growing standing within ICAO and demonstrates the international community’s confidence in the country’s ability to lead major regional green initiatives.
He noted that working closely with ICAO is a central pillar of the ministry’s strategy to transfer global expertise, build national capacities, and implement best practices.
This co-operation directly enhances the competitiveness and readiness of the Egyptian civil aviation sector to keep pace with rapid global changes.
The minister explained that launching this national feasibility study provides the crucial scientific and economic foundation needed to prepare a national roadmap under the CORSIA mechanism.
He stated that this programme represents an advanced model of international partnership based on knowledge sharing.
This effort directly supports the Egyptian state’s objectives of reducing carbon emissions, aligning with ICAO’s ambitious global target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions in international aviation by the year 2050.
El-Hefny outlined that Egypt possesses key natural advantages that qualify it to become a regional hub for SAF production.
These include its strategic geographic location, expanding green hydrogen and renewable energy projects, and modern aviation infrastructure.
He pointed out that the ministry has already implemented a comprehensive environmental programme through its updated National Action Plan.
This progress was recently highlighted by Cairo and Hurghada airports winning the Airports Council International (ACI) Environment and Sustainability Award, alongside Alexandria International Airport being honoured by ICAO Africa for its green infrastructure.
The opening of the workshop was attended by prominent international aviation figures, including Maria Gonzalez, ACT-SAF Project Coordinator at ICAO; Jacoba van Dijk, Technical Advisor for the project; and Farah Mesmar, representative of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), alongside other key delegates from ICAO and the European Union.
From the Egyptian side, key participants included Reem Orabi, Alternate Delegate of Egypt to ICAO, and Captain Karim Gamil, Advisor to the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority and National Focal Point for the ACT-SAF programme.
The Civil Aviation Authority was also represented by Captain Ahmed Sokkar, Vice Chairman for Airport Safety and Air Navigation; Pilot Mohamed Salah, Vice Chairman for Air Safety; and Ms Salma el-Tahhan, Head of the Central Administration for Air Transport. Pilot Ahmed Matar, Assistant Chairman of the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, also actively participated in the event.
The workshop featured extensive participation from various national ministries and research bodies, reflecting a unified domestic approach.
Key contributors included the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Specialised institutions also took part, including the Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute, the Egyptian Organisation for Standardisation and Quality, the Waste Management Regulatory Authority, and the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Private sector and energy partners join the initiative
The event saw strong involvement from the financial, energy, and private sectors, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the EgyptAir Holding Company. Energy and refining partners like Misr Petroleum, Assiut Oil Refining, Cairo Oil Refining, Amreya Oil Refining, and Nasr Petroleum participated alongside the National Authority for Waste Information and Data Management.
Private sector entities, including Qalaa Holdings, Icaro, Biodiesel Egypt, the Chamber of Travel and Tourism Companies, and the Egyptian Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Biofuel Company (ESAF), also joined to support the initiative. Following the workshop, ICAO and EU experts will continue working in Egypt for ten days to collect data and finalise the technical details of this national feasibility study.
