Ethiopia is positioning itself to become a producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) after a national feasibility study concluded. The country has the land resources and renewable energy needed to supply the emerging global market.
Experts presented the findings at a multi-stakeholder workshop in Addis Ababa, telling government officials and industry representatives that Ethiopia could manufacture low-carbon jet fuel using agricultural crops, municipal waste, sugar byproducts and renewable energy.
Senior officials from the ministries of Transport and Logistics, Agriculture, the Civil Aviation Authority, universities and private investors attended the validation session, alongside international consultants and donor partners. The study was financed by the European Union through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Launched in December 2024, the research involved field consultations and a March 2025 stakeholder conference reviewing Ethiopia’s technical readiness for domestic SAF production. It builds on three earlier assessments, including a 2019 WWF-South Africa study and two national roadmaps completed in 2021 and 2022, which first identified Ethiopian mustard as a viable aviation fuel crop.
Lead consultant John McKechnie said Ethiopia was selected for deeper analysis because of its strong agricultural base, growing industrial capacity and underused renewable energy potential, factors he said give the country strategic advantages in Africa’s energy transition.
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Researchers found that more than 30 million hectares of land are suitable for cultivating Ethiopian mustard without affecting food production, making it one of the most promising non-food feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel.
