Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt signs landmark deal for first sustainable aviation fuel production project
Eng. Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, witnessed the signing of a technology licensing agreement for Egypt’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production project between the Egyptian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Company (ESAF) — a subsidiary of the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM) — and Honeywell UOP.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Tamer Heikal, Chairman of ESAF, and Matt Spalding, Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions for Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, in the presence of Eng. Ibrahim Makky, Chairman of ECHEM, and Khaled Hashem, President and CEO of Honeywell Middle East and Africa.
Following the signing, Minister Badawi stated that the project — to be located in Alexandria — is the first of its kind in Egypt and represents a major step by the petroleum sector toward green energy transition and reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector.
The facility will convert used cooking oil into sustainable aviation fuel with an annual capacity of 120,000 tons, helping reduce approximately 400,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year.
The minister emphasized that the project is a national economic and environmental priority, delivering significant returns while supporting Egypt’s climate commitments.
Khaled Hashem expressed Honeywell’s pride in the strategic partnership, highlighting mutual trust and shared commitment to adopting cutting-edge low-carbon fuel technologies. He affirmed Honeywell’s dedication to providing world-class expertise to ensure the plant meets the highest international standards.
Honeywell UOP’s technology is globally recognized as a leader in SAF production from waste oils, achieving conversion efficiencies of up to 80% through advanced hydroprocessing, producing fuel that fully complies with international aviation specifications while maximizing economic viability and emissions reduction.