Kenya Airways and Rubis Energy to develop first SAF refinery in the region
In Kenya, Kenya Airways and Rubis Energy Kenya, a subsidiary of Rubis Énergie, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the first dedicated sustainable aviation fuel refinery on the African continent. The project, based in Nairobi, establishes a framework for the joint engineering, financing, and operation of a facility designed to produce low-carbon fuel from local waste feedstocks.
The agreement was finalized in the presence of His Excellency Dr. William Ruto, C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya, and His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic. As the two heads of state observed the signing during the Africa Forward Summit, the event marked a shift in regional industrial cooperation. For the first time, this summit was hosted in a non-Francophone nation, highlighting a shared intent between Kenya and France to accelerate investments in green energy and technology.
The refinery will utilize Dragonfly’s modular technology to process primary feedstocks, including used cooking oils, waste animal fats, and other vegetable oils. By locating the facility near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the partnership aims to integrate production directly with existing infrastructure. The refinery is expected to have a production capacity of 32,000 metric tons, with a project investment estimated at €60–70M.
Category: Fuels
