Ethiopia's Biofuel and SAF Hub: RSB and World Bank Reports

የኢትዮጵያ ማዕድን ኮርፖሬሽን (Ethiopian Mineral Corporation) Launches Major Biofuel Initiative to Cut Fuel Imports #EBR_News Oct 24, 2025 የኢትዮጵያ ማዕድን ኮርፖሬሽን (Ethiopian Mineral Corporation) has partnered with Sunbird bioenergy Africa to develop a large-scale biofuel project that will convert cassava into bioethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), potentially creating up to 120,000 jobs and producing 600 million liters of renewable fuel annually. The partnership brings Sunbird's proven expertise in large-scale bioenergy projects across Africa to Ethiopia. The company currently operates in Zambia and Sierra Leone, with developing projects in Congo, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, specializing in converting agricultural feedstocks into renewable fuels and low-carbon power. The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the project directly supports Ethiopia’s strategy to reduce its dependence on imported fuel, save foreign exchange, and meet its national blending mandate which is set to increase from E10 to E20. By using cassava sourced from both commercial farms and smallholder out-growers, the initiative also aims to strengthen rural economies and introduce a new cash crop for farmers. According to Richard Bennett CEO of Sunbird bioenergy Africa, ''Ethiopia will have the capacity to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), positioning it as a potential regional leader in green aviation.'' Ethiopian Airlines has expressed strong interest in the initiative, which aligns with global industry shifts toward low-carbon fuel alternatives. A 10% SAF blend target could reach 530 million liters annually by 2029. The project is expected to have significant environmental benefits, including reducing household reliance on charcoal and kerosene, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting Ethiopia’s commitment to a green economy. Tewodros Getachew the CEO of የኢትዮጵያ ማዕድን ኮርፖሬሽን (Ethiopian Mineral Corporation) appreciation to Sunbird Bioenergy Africa for its confidence in Ethiopia and called upon key government institutions, including the Ethiopian Investment Holdings, the Ministry of Water and Energy, and the Ministry of Agriculture, to continue their support for the full implementation of the project. #Ethiopia #Biofuel #RenewableEnergy #GreenEconomy #SustainableAviation #EMC #SunbirdBioenergy #JobCreation #EBR #Ethiopia #Ethiopian #EBRNews #EBR_News #EthiopianBuisnessReview Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://lnkd.in/ebVxnmpW) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) X (Twitter) (https://x.com/EBRnews)

🌍✈️ Unlocking Sub-Saharan Africa’s Potential: Biomass Feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) 🚀🌱 The latest IATA report on global feedstock assessment for SAF [see link below] highlights a unique and game-changing opportunity for Sub-Saharan Africa. By 2050, over 300 million tonnes/year of bio-SAF from biomass is technically feasible globally—with agricultural residues, forestry byproducts, and even municipal waste playing a major role. Sub-Saharan Africa, endowed with vast agricultural resources and untapped biomass, stands poised to become an engine of SAF growth, fueling sustainable aviation and broader industrial transformation. Regional investment in feedstock logistics, technology rollout, and supportive policies can position Africa as a leader in the green jet fuel revolution. Why it matters: * Massive capacity for crop and waste-derived biomass feedstocks * Job creation across the bioeconomy value chain * Opportunity for cross-sector collaboration between farmers, refiners, airlines, investors, and governments * Strategic role in decarbonizing aviation and boosting climate resilience We call on African governments, development agencies, airlines, investors, and research partners to join hands and drive policy, investment, and innovation for SAF market scale-up, ensuring a fair transition and sustainable growth. 📄 Read here https://lnkd.in/gvKZHfK8 #SustainableAviationFuel #SAF #IATA #Biomass #Bioeconomy #CircularEconomy #GreenAviation #AfricaRising #SubSaharanAfrica #ClimateAction #NetZero #EnergyTransition #AgriLiving #Renewables #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #Biofuels #FlightToNetZero #Aviation #AgTech #CarbonMarkets #FutureOfFlight Tagging key stakeholders for visibility and action: International Air Transport Association (IATA) AfriSAF African Development Bank Group UN Environment Programme African Union The World Bank The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) Gemcorp Capital Boeing Airbus AgriLiving Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Worley SAF Association SAF One Praj Industries Let’s seize the biomass SAF opportunity and engineer Africa’s sustainable future! 🚀🌍

South Africa is taking a bold step toward decarbonizing its economy by partnering with KKOG Global SA on a large-scale biofuel project that uses hemp instead of the traditional corn and soybean, a move expected to cut carbon emissions by up to 2.5 million tons per facility each year and position the country as a continental leader in green energy transition. https://lnkd.in/dyhKwVjX KKOG GLOBAL SA Edouard Rene Joseph

Biofuel self-sufficiency in Ethiopia? Ethiopia is embarking on a major biofuel initiative to reduce reliance on imported fuels and drive its green transition through a 23,000-hectare agricultural biorefinery developed by the state-owned Ethiopian...

𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬 Ethiopian Airlines is embarking on a potentially transformative shift in its fuel supply chain, targeting a five percent replacement of imported fossil-based aviation fuel with domestically sourced Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Experts say this bold initiative, if realised, could place Ethiopia in the vanguard of a small group of African countries building indigenous biofuel capacities. Yet, the move, while environmentally commendable, is fraught with commercial, logistical, and structural uncertainties that could determine its viability. The core of the SAF push rests on a tripartite collaboration between Ethiopian Airlines, the Ethiopian Minerals Corporation (EMC), and Sunbird Bioenergy Africa, a London-based renewable energy developer with experience in large-scale bioethanol production in Sierra Leone and Zambia. Their partnership lays out plans for a biorefinery to produce 40 million litres of SAF and 60 million litres of bioethanol annually. The primary feedstock will be cassava, complemented by molasses from sugar factories such as Metehara, Fincha, and Kessem. The project is touted as part of a broader energy transition strategy in which biofuels will serve multiple sectors, including clean cooking, transport fuel, and aviation. Its success would not only substitute 100 million dollars in annual fuel imports but also create 10,000 jobs across a 10,000hct farming zone. With further scaling, Sunbird envisions Ethiopia hosting up to 20 bio-refineries. Globally, SAF is expected to contribute 65pc of the emission reductions needed for the aviation industry to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, according to the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). Yet, production remains nascent, with Africa accounting for a negligible share. Only five active projects and 0.6 million tonnes projected by 2030. Ethiopian Airlines has already dipped its toes into SAF, using a 30pc SAF blend for an Airbus A350 delivery flight in 2023, but scaling up remains constrained by several issues. According to Tewodros Getachew, CEO of the Corporation, the new partnership intends to blend cassava with sugar molasses for fuel production. “Since they're working more extensively now, it is a good opportunity,” he told Fortune. A critical obstacle remains cost. SAF is two to three times more expensive than conventional jet fuel. In Africa, jet fuel already costs 17pc more than in other regions due to logistical, financing, and tax inefficiencies. Analysts like Yonatan Menkir warn that without tax exemptions, subsidies, or carbon credits, the price differential will be passed on to passengers. read more - https://lnkd.in/edvX_KdH

China allows more biofuel firms to export green aviation fuel, sources say This perfectly makes sense: why export Used Cooking Oil (UCO) if you can create more value from producing Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) for export to the EU? However, this will be a temporary situation as UCO is a limited resource and new technologies will have to commercialized that can convert (local) residual biomass waste streams into SAF…and for this value chain local for local production seems to make much more sense. What do you think? Source: https://lnkd.in/ea-Uw9BX #saf #aviation #biofuel #usedcookingoil #uco #export #localforlocal #competition #refueleu

Biomethane: Powering Italy’s circular energy future Italy is fast becoming a European frontrunner in biomethane.    Already the continent’s third-largest biogas producer and benefitting from a highly attractive Feed-in-Tariff incentive scheme, it generates around 2.2 billion cubic meters (BCM) annually with the potential to reach 7 BCM by 2040, entirely without relying on dedicated energy crops. Produced through the fermentation of organic biomass, biomethane is a renewable substitute for natural gas that can fuel transport, heat homes, power industries, and supply key materials for the biochemical sector.    Beyond clean energy, its benefits ripple through the economy and environment:    • Reduces emissions: A typical 500 sm³ biomethane plant can cut about 9,380 tons of CO₂ and 754 tons of nitrates each year.    • Closes the nutrient loop: Residual materials are transformed into high-quality organic fertilizers, enriching soils and reducing chemical inputs.    • Supports circular land use: Crops like maize, cereals, or reed grass can serve as feedstock while maintaining productive farmland.    With over 20 years of experience in developing and operating scaled agricultural value chains, RRG NBS is critically positioned to tackle one of the key risks related to capital formation in the bioenergy industry. In the past 18 months RRG NBS has developed a leading a biomethane development company in Italy in partnership with one of the world’s leading biogas upgrading, biomethane injection, power-to-gas systems technology providers. In June 2025, RRG NBS has syndicated its share to a leading infrastructure investment fund that will fund BioHold equity to develop the identified pipeline in Italy. RRG NBS maintains a pivotal advisory and development role and is supporting the development of a pipeline of 20+ assets. The unique partnership enables the platform to support and accelerate its value creation strategy by: (i) fast-tracking its biomethane conversion plan; (ii) building its greenfield projects; and (iii) executing an M&A consolidation strategy in one of the most attractive markets in Europe.    We hope this work helps pave the way for a more circular and resilient energy future - updates to come as the platform expands. #biomethane #naturebasedsolutions #decarbonization #biogas

``` Thailand Takes Flight Toward Sustainable Aviation with Biofuel Standards! Thailand’s upcoming jet biofuel standard, effective January 2025, offers a pragmatic leap in cutting aviation emissions by up to 80%. With its vast biomass resources, Thailand is an ideal candidate for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). However, there’s significant competition for these resources, as biomass is also being allocated for power generation, biomethane production, and bioplastics. Arbitration will be necessary to ensure the feasibility of these projects. For leaders steering energy and transportation sectors, this move underscores the vital role of SAF sourced from non-competitive crops, ensuring real carbon footprint reduction without compromising food security. Beyond regulatory compliance, this initiative signals a strategic opportunity to lead Southeast Asia’s green transition and meet growing market demands for eco-conscious air travel. Yet, the road ahead must balance ambition with scalable fuel supply chains to truly transform aviation sustainability. How ready is your organization to adapt to such transformative standards? #SustainableAviation #ClimateAction #Biofuels #GreenLeadership #AviationIndustry From Agent J, until Next time! Remember climate change will affect our lives; we must adapt, we must act! ```

Last week, Reuters reported that China has approved more biofuel firms to export sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) — expanding its capacity and signalling clear intent to dominate the regional market. It’s a reminder that while Australia continues to debate the economics of SAF, other nations are already scaling up. China isn’t waiting for perfect market conditions — it’s acting on a strategic calculation: that controlling the supply of low-carbon fuels will deliver long-term competitive advantage in a regulated global aviation market.   Australia — and Queensland in particular — must now respond with equal clarity. SAF remains expensive, four to six times the cost of conventional jet fuel, and the commercial risks are real. What’s needed is a market-enabling framework that de-risks early investment and catalyses private sector innovation; getting ahead of slow moving national policy.   Queensland is well-positioned to lead. The Queensland Government’s decision to prioritise biofuels as one of three strategic focus areas for future fuels is a welcome signal to investors. The state has the right fundamentals: agricultural feedstocks, waste streams, renewable energy, and export-ready infrastructure. What’s missing is a coordinated investment architecture — one that aligns incentives, clarifies regulatory pathways, and supports scalable commercial models.   A Queensland Sustainable Fuels Partnership could serve as a lean, time-bound platform to do just that — not as a bureaucracy, but as a mechanism to unlock private capital and accelerate market formation. It could help define realistic blending targets, streamline certification, socialise mapped regional feedstock availability, and build industrial precincts to provide scale and focus.   The opportunity is clear: Queensland can become a net exporter of low-carbon fuels, strengthen national fuel security, and drive agricultural sector growth — all while positioning itself as a competitive player in the global energy transition. The role of government here is not to build the industry, but to enable it — by reducing friction, aligning stakeholders, and letting markets do the rest.   China’s move shows what’s possible when industrial policy supports market ambition. Queensland has taken the first step. Now it must follow through — not with subsidies or protectionism, but with smart policy that lets competitive advantage emerge. The costs are high today — but so are the returns for those who move early. https://lnkd.in/gKjB9FqC Matt Rennie Simone Rennie Rennie Dr Kimberly Camrass Shaun Ferris Raechel Paris James Boyle Rupert Maloney Joanne Paterson Jo Sheppard Salvo Vitelli Michael Hart Jeroen Wassenaar Eamon McGinn Flyn van Ewijk Dr Mahdi Mason Fiona Walmsley Adrian Kwintowski Matthew Doyle Ming Long AM Sam Stewart

Smart, grounded thinking from Georgine Roodenrys on where Australia needs to head with sustainable aviation fuel. Her post highlights an important point — while others are moving quickly to secure supply chains for low-carbon fuels, Australia is still debating how to respond. The opportunity here isn’t about policy preference; it’s about national competitiveness and regional growth. Building a home-grown fuels sector would strengthen our energy security, create skilled regional jobs, and open new markets for Australian agriculture. What Georgine gets right is the balance: the role of government isn’t to build the industry, but to enable it — by reducing friction, clarifying regulation, and giving private capital the confidence to invest. That’s the kind of practical, market-driven approach that turns good policy into regional prosperity. A timely reminder that the next chapter of Australia’s clean-industry story won’t be written in Canberra boardrooms — it will be built in the regions that know how to make and move things. Georgine Roodenrys Eamon McGinn #EnergyTransition #Queensland #Regions #Biofuels #PrivateInvestment #NationalInterest