Cameroon is one of seven African countries identified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as strategic gateways for the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on the continent — a recognition followed, in late August, by a first concrete step.
On 31 August 2026, the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) officially launched a feasibility study on local SAF production, under ICAO's ACT-SAF programme and with funding from the European Union.
The study is set to assess the biomass resources available in the country, suitable production technologies, and the infrastructure, regulatory and investment conditions needed to build a national industry. Its findings are expected to feed into a roadmap aligned with ICAO standards.
These fuels, produced from agricultural residues or used oils, can cut CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared with conventional kerosene over their full life cycle — a strong argument as ICAO's CORSIA scheme, adopted in 2016, is set to impose binding offsetting rules on all member states from 2027.
On the ground, the CCAA aims to secure 500 hectares in Kribi's industrial zone for a future pilot production site. The choice is no accident: the city already has a deep-water port and an expanding industrial logistics base.
Progress on the file was reviewed on 6 August 2026 in Yaoundé by an inter-ministerial working group, a sign the project extends beyond civil aviation alone to involve several government departments.
Everything now hinges on the study's findings, expected in the coming months: they will determine whether Cameroonian SAF production is technically, economically and environmentally viable — and whether Kribi's 500 hectares will one day host the first facilities.
