Girma Wake, the Board Chair of Ethiopian Airlines Group, has confirmed that the company is taking steps to develop aviation fuel that will not harm the environment. He stated that Ethiopian Airlines Group had completed a study to create environmentally friendly aviation fuel locally and was in discussion with both the government and private sector to implement such plans. This helps the company to keep up with industry developments by exploring new methods and strategies.

Girma stated: “ICAO recently issued a plan that states that the aviation industry must be carbon neutral by 2050. Ethiopian Airlines should also fulfill that target. We are also discussing on how to start and grow this sustainable aviation fuel (SAF0) at Boeing aircraft. This SAF must be produced in a special way; the input is agricultural products. We need factories that will allow us to convert it into jet fuel, so we are talking with fuel suppliers and companies that have the technology, and we will find a way to produce this fuel in Ethiopia.”

The company intends to fulfil ICAO's pledge to achieve net zero emissions by the year 2050. Girma Wake also mentioned that his office was receiving support from other industry leaders, such as Boeing, Airbus, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

According to IATA, SAF is a liquid fuel currently used in commercial aviation which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 80%. It can be produced from a number of sources (feedstock) including waste oil and fats, green and municipal waste and non-food crops.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Additional source: International Air Transport Association