Africa’s ambitions to lead in clean aviation took a step forward last month as the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Japan’s JGC Corporation signed a new partnership to develop and scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) across the continent.

The agreement, signed during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, sets out a framework for cooperation on research, knowledge sharing and project financing in the emerging green aviation sector. SAF refers to jet fuels made from renewable sources such as plant oils, waste materials, or even captured carbon, designed to reduce the environmental footprint of air travel.

Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation at the African Development Bank, and Shoji Yamada, Representative Director and President of JGC Corporation, signed the Letter of Intent on 21 August in Yokohama.

Under the new framework, the two institutions will collaborate on feasibility and demand studies, assess deployment opportunities, and explore co-financing mechanisms to support the commercial production and adoption of SAF across African markets.

The move aligns closely with the AfDB’s strategy to promote sustainable transport and accelerate the continent’s energy transition. As part of the partnership, the Bank will coordinate dialogue with government aviation bodies, identify potential project pipelines, and examine funding options, including feasibility study support, debt and equity financing.

For its part, JGC Corporation will lead demand assessments for sustainable aviation fuel in Africa, evaluate technical feasibility, and adapt Japanese technology for local conditions — leveraging its extensive experience in plant engineering and sustainable energy solutions.

Quaynor said the partnership represents an important step towards a more sustainable aviation industry in Africa. “Adopting Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Africa is a crucial component of the journey to cutting the continent’s carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, it should boost the competitiveness of the sector over time. This partnership with JGC will help unlock new opportunities for green aviation and position Africa as a pacesetter in the sector.”

JGC Corporation’s President, Shoji Yamada, emphasised the wider significance of the collaboration. “We are proud to collaborate with the African Development Bank in advancing Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Africa. By leveraging our experience in plant engineering and sustainable energy, we aim to contribute to Africa’s decarbonisation efforts while fostering local economic growth and innovation.”

The partnership marks one of the first formal Japan–Africa collaborations targeting SAF development, and could pave the way for wider investment in green aviation infrastructure across the continent — a crucial step if Africa is to keep pace with the global shift towards low-emission air travel.