Kenya Airways has signed a memorandum of understanding with Rubis Energie to explore the development of Africa’s first dedicated sustainable aviation fuel refinery in Kenya, marking a significant step in the continent’s push toward greener aviation.
The agreement was announced during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, a joint French and African initiative bringing together leaders from business, energy, and infrastructure sectors.
According to the airline, the proposed refinery would process used cooking oil, vegetable oils, and other waste-based feedstocks into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), helping reduce carbon emissions from air travel while strengthening Kenya’s position in the emerging clean aviation economy.
The move comes as airlines worldwide face mounting pressure to decarbonise operations under the UN-backed Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which allows SAF adoption as an eligible compliance pathway for reducing aviation emissions.
For Kenya Airways, the project signals a strategic shift from compliance to long-term competitiveness as African carriers increasingly prepare for stricter global climate regulations and rising demand for low-carbon travel.
If realised, the refinery could position Kenya as a regional SAF production hub at a time when Africa’s aviation sector is expected to expand rapidly over the next two decades. The initiative also aligns with broader efforts to develop local value chains around renewable energy, waste recovery, and industrial decarbonisation.
Industry observers say the partnership reflects growing momentum across Africa to capture opportunities in the global energy transition, particularly in sectors such as aviation that are considered difficult to decarbonise.
