Cameroon Formally Launches Study on Local Aviation Fuel Industry

Cameroon has formally launched a feasibility study to determine whether it can establish a domestic industry for the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel, potentially creating jobs and adding value to local resources. The study was officially launched on August 31, 2026, by the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority, CCAA, under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels, or ACT-SAF, program, with funding from the European Union.

According to information published by the CCAA, the assessment will examine the raw materials available in Cameroon, suitable production technologies, and the infrastructure, regulatory and investment conditions required to develop a national sustainable aviation fuel industry. The findings are expected to be used to prepare a roadmap aligned with ICAO standards. The study will determine whether production in Cameroon could be technically, economically and environmentally viable.

CCAA Director General Paule Avomo Assoumou Koki chaired the opening of a two-day workshop that marked the official launch of the assessment.

“The protection of the environment is one of ICAO’s major strategic priorities. Cameroon must anticipate changes in the needs of air transport. The objective is to explore the conditions under which a national sustainable aviation fuel industry could be developed so that airlines may eventually source their fuel locally,” she said.

Biomass, refining capacity under review

Following the workshop, experts and technical teams are expected to conduct field investigations at selected industrial, agricultural and infrastructure sites. The surveys will assess the availability of biomass and reusable waste that could serve as production inputs. They will also examine existing refining capacity and the ability of local infrastructure to support the processing, storage, certification and distribution of sustainable aviation fuel.

The review brings together focal points, experts and stakeholders from aviation, agriculture, industry and infrastructure. Workshop sessions covered regulation, certification, sustainability reporting and fuel life-cycle analysis under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, known as CORSIA. Experts are also examining possible production pathways, emerging conversion technologies and the geographical distribution of potential raw materials.

The sessions included experts from ICAO’s ACT-SAF program and technical consultants specializing in sustainable aviation fuel.

The CCAA said the proposed industry could generate employment and create additional value from locally available agricultural, industrial and waste resources. Local production could also give airlines operating in Cameroon access to sustainable fuel supplies within the country if the study confirms commercial viability.

Cameroon Part of EU-Backed SAF Program

An EU representative at the workshop said sustainable fuel development forms part of the European Green Deal and the Global Gateway initiative.

“The decarbonization of aviation is no longer a distant prospect. It is now a concrete agenda that requires investment and supportive partnerships,” the representative said.

Cameroon is among the African countries receiving EU-backed assistance through ICAO’s ACT-SAF program. The initiative is intended to support the development of local and regional value chains covering biomass, conversion technologies, infrastructure and certification.

ICAO officials also participated in the launch. The CCAA said the success of the assessment would depend on the active involvement of national stakeholders. The study requires data from businesses, agricultural operators, public institutions and managers of existing infrastructure to establish the availability and cost of possible production inputs.

At the end of the assessment, the findings will provide the basis for deciding whether Cameroon has sufficient resources and infrastructure to develop a sustainable aviation fuel value chain and supply airlines locally under international aviation standards.

Mercy Fosoh