Kenya is set to host Africa’s first dedicated sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) refinery following a new partnership between Kenya Airways and Rubis Energy Kenya, a subsidiary of French energy company Rubis.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday, will see both companies collaborate on the development of a refinery expected to produce about 32,000 metric tons of sustainable aviation fuel annually.
The project is projected to cost between €60 million and €70 million, equivalent to roughly $70 million to $82 million.
The refinery is planned to be located near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a key aviation hub in Kenya and one of the country’s largest consumers of aviation fuel.
The deal was signed in the presence of Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron during Macron’s visit aimed at strengthening economic and strategic cooperation with African nations.
Before this development, Africa’s sustainable aviation fuel industry had largely focused on pilot programmes, imported biofuels, and certification initiatives rather than large-scale production facilities.
Although South Africa’s Natref refinery had previously secured sustainability certification related to SAF production pathways, and Kenya Airways had carried out test flights using imported SAF, the continent had yet to establish a dedicated commercial refinery for sustainable aviation fuel.
Sustainable aviation fuel is increasingly seen as an important solution in reducing carbon emissions within the global aviation industry.
Unlike conventional Jet A1 fuel derived from crude oil, SAF is produced from renewable materials such as used cooking oil, agricultural waste, biomass, and other environmentally friendly feedstocks.
The fuel can be blended with traditional aviation fuel and used in existing aircraft engines without requiring major technical changes.
Industry experts say SAF has the potential to significantly cut carbon emissions compared to conventional jet fuel, depending on the production process used.
The planned refinery is expected to strengthen Africa’s clean energy and aviation sectors, especially as the continent still depends heavily on imported aviation fuel and remains behind Europe and North America in SAF production capacity.
The project also highlights growing interest across Africa in adopting greener aviation solutions as airlines and governments respond to increasing global environmental regulations.
For Kenya Airways, the partnership may help lower long-term fuel costs while boosting its environmental sustainability profile in an industry where fuel expenses remain a major operational challenge.
The agreement also expands France’s involvement in Africa’s energy transition sector, with European countries increasingly seeking partnerships in strategic industries such as energy, infrastructure, transport, and logistics.
If successfully completed, the refinery could establish East Africa as a leading hub for sustainable aviation fuel production on the continent and support future export opportunities as global demand for cleaner aviation fuel continues to rise.
