The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued a call to action to South Africa, urging the nation to leverage its capabilities and resources to expedite the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This appeal was made during the IATA Wings of Change Focus Africa conference held in Johannesburg, bringing together prominent figures from government and industry.
IATA emphasizes that South Africa possesses significant potential to emerge as a leading producer of SAF within the region, fulfilling a crucial demand as airlines strive towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist, stated that the pursuit of SAF production is not solely a strategy to decarbonize aviation but also a pathway for robust economic development, making it a paramount priority for the newly formed South African government. This initiative promises to generate new jobs and industries across agriculture, energy, and transportation sectors, not only contributing to poverty alleviation but also bolstering energy independence.
South Africa’s leadership role in the 2022 ICAO Assembly, where governments endorsed a long-term objective aligned with the aviation industry’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, strengthens the case for prioritizing SAF production. The importance of SAF in reaching this target was highlighted in the ICAO CAAF/3 goal, aiming for a 5% average global reduction in aviation carbon emissions by 2030. Recognizing the global collaborative effort required to decarbonize aviation, IATA stresses the necessity of collaboration among international and regional stakeholders, including governments, development banks, industry players, academia, and other relevant entities to assist countries with SAF development potential in scaling their industries.
Thomsen underscores the readiness of airlines to purchase SAF, with every drop produced already secured and utilized. However, the current production volume falls drastically short of aviation’s requirements. This emphasizes the urgency for governments in countries possessing production potential, like South Africa, to embrace this win-win-win opportunity that fosters economic development, facilitates energy transition, and promotes decarbonized air transportation.
IATA highlights several compelling advantages for South Africa in spearheading SAF production, substantiated by a study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF):
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Abundant Feedstock Potential:
South Africa boasts an ample supply of feedstocks suitable for SAF production, including low-carbon by-products from sugarcane and biomass derived from cleared invasive alien plants (IAPs). Harvesting IAPs offers additional environmental benefits, including enhanced biodiversity and water security. Notably, these feedstocks do not compete with food production, aligning with the sustainability framework of ICAO.*
Significant Production Capacity:
WWF estimates indicate that South Africa has the potential to produce between 3.2 and 4.5 billion liters of SAF annually. This capacity surpasses domestic fuel demand (1.8 billion liters) and opens up export opportunities, contingent upon supportive policies. Reaching higher production levels would necessitate developing capabilities in green hydrogen co-development.*
Existing Refinery Infrastructure:
South Africa benefits from established refinery infrastructure, well-suited for brownfield investments such as plant conversions or co-processing ventures.*
Rich Experience:
With a long history in synthetic fuel production, particularly through the Fischer-Tropsch method, South Africa possesses robust academic and research institutions that support fuel production innovations and technologies. Policies facilitating their involvement in SAF deployment are crucial at this juncture.*
Strategic Geographic Location:
South Africa’s airports, particularly OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport, serve as pivotal hubs connecting flights across Africa and globally.To fully harness South Africa’s SAF potential, IATA recommends that the government adopt a strategic plan focusing on these four critical areas: [Insert specific four critical areas here, as they were not included in the provided text].
