Inside KQ, Rubis futuristic plan for Africa’s first sustainable aviation fuel refinery
Kenya Airways and Rubis Energy Kenya have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop what is set to become Africa’s first dedicated Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) refinery.
In a major boost for Africa’s green aviation transition, the planned refinery, to be based in Nairobi near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, will produce low-carbon aviation fuel.
The production will use locally sourced waste materials such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and vegetable oils, marking a major milestone in Kenya’s growing green industrial agenda.
The pact was signed during the Africa Forward Summit in the presence of Presidents William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron, signaling deepening cooperation between Kenya and France in clean energy investment and sustainable technologies.
The refinery will use modular technology developed by Dragonfly and is expected to produce up to 32,000 tonnes of SAF annually.
The project is estimated to cost between €60 million and €70 million, with developers targeting operational launch within the next 24 months.
According to Kenya Airways Acting Group MD and CEO George Kamal, the initiative addresses the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions from the aviation industry, one of the world’s fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gases.
“Currently, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport consumes approximately 2.9 million litres of jet fuel daily,” Kamal said.
He added: “Sustainable Aviation Fuel remains the most commercially viable and technologically mature pathway for significantly decarbonising aviation.”
He added that Kenya currently relies entirely on imported jet fuel, making local SAF production a strategic move for both climate action and energy security.
The aviation industry is under increasing pressure to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
SAF is widely viewed as one of the most practical near-term solutions because it can work with existing aircraft and airport infrastructure while significantly lowering lifecycle emissions.
Rubis Énergie CEO Jean-Christian Bergeron said the project aligns with the firm’s global strategy to expand low-carbon energy solutions while creating long-term economic opportunities in Africa.
“Our focus will be on technology transfer and building local expertise so that the refinery and its supply chains are operated and managed by Kenyans,” stated Bergeron.
Beyond emissions reduction, the project is also expected to stimulate Kenya’s circular economy by creating value from waste streams that would otherwise go unused.
Dragonfly CEO Karl W Feilder noted that the modular refinery model allows production facilities to be built closer to both feedstock sources and fuel consumers, reducing transport costs and lowering the project’s carbon footprint.
If successful, the Nairobi facility could position Kenya as a regional leader in sustainable aviation and green fuel innovation at a time when African countries are increasingly seeking climate-resilient industrial growth pathways.
