Uganda has taken a significant step towards producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a feasibility study revealing the country’s potential and capacity to produce SAF in the future.
The study, conducted by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), highlights Uganda’s feedstock options, mainly based on waste, including agricultural residues and municipal solid waste.
Speaking at the public presentation of the feasibility study report on Monday, Mr Cesar Velarde, the lead consultant from ICAO’s Office of Environment, emphasised the double environmental benefit of SAF production, addressing circular economy and reducing aviation’s environmental impact.
“This is paving the road for the future of aviation in terms of making sustainable air transport, reducing dependence on energy sources, and providing opportunities in other areas outside aviation, such as agriculture, waste management, and energy industry,” Velarde said.
The study aligns with ICAO’s global aspirational goals to reduce emissions through SAF use. Some countries, including those in the European Union, India, and Brazil, are already implementing mandatory SAF use.
“Uganda’s aviation industry can benefit from SAF production, and it’s an opportunity for other sectors in the country,” Velarde added.
The next step involves a business implementation study to identify a viable SAF production project, attracting industry stakeholders and funding organizations.
“Our study identifies feedstock options that can achieve emission reductions of up to 80-90% in life cycle assessment, contributing to the decarbonisation of air transport,” Velarde explained.
Deputy Director General of UCAA, Ms Olive Birungi Lumonya, highlighted the importance of meeting global carbon emission reduction targets, particularly the 5 per cent goal for Africa.
“We’re happy to note that the visibility study confirms Uganda’s capabilities to manage SAF production. We’ll now focus on developing a business plan and implementing SAF production,” Birungi said.
The feasibility study is a significant milestone in Uganda’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable aviation industry.
She noted that fuel companies such as Tri-star have expressed readiness to adapt their systems for SAF Production.
The feasibility study report outlines Uganda’s potential for SAF Production and the government is expected to take steps to support the industry’s development.
Eng. Ronny Barongo, UCAA’s Director Safety, Security and Economic Regulation, expressed gratitude to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the UK government for their support in conducting the study.
Barongo emphasized Uganda’s commitment to environmental protection and climate change mitigation, highlighting the country’s participation in the ICAO Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) since 2019.
“The delivery of the Uganda SAF Feasibility Study report is both timely and transformative,” he said.
Barongo reaffirmed UCAA’s commitment to championing sustainability, fostering innovation, and ensuring Uganda keeps pace with global advancements in green aviation technologies.
He emphasized the need for coordinated effort, enabling policies, and sustained investment to adopt SAF.
“Uganda is poised to become a regional leader in sustainable aviation, supporting national climate objectives and ICAO’s vision to reduce international aviation’s CO2 emissions by 5% by 2030,” Barongo said.
The study provides a comprehensive assessment of Uganda’s potential to produce and use SAF, guiding collaborative action among government agencies, aviation industry partners, and stakeholders.
It analyzes factors determining the technical viability, economic feasibility, and sustainability of SAF projects in Uganda.