South African Airways and US aerospace giant Boeing on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate in the development and implementation of a “sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain in Southern Africa”, in the words of the joint press release. The MoU was signed at the ninth Biennial US-Africa Business Summit of the Corporate Council on Africa in the US city of Chicago.

The two groups are of the view that advances in technology will lead to a more sustainable means of converting biomass into jet fuel, without taking food and water resources from other sectors. The project will be monitored by the World Wildlife Fund-South Africa, which will ensure that it meets sustainability principles.

Biofuels, if produced in a sustainable manner, reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere because it is absorbed by the growing of their plant-based feedstock. Biofuels also perform as well, or even better, as conventional jet fuels, flight tests have shown. Aviation-standard biofuels have been approved for blending with conventional jet fuels in ratios of up to 50%.

“South African Airways is taking the lead in Africa on sustainable aviation fuels and, by setting a best practice example, can positively shape aviation biofuel efforts in the region,” affirmed company environmental affairs head Ian Cruickshank. “By working with Boeing’s sustainable aviation biofuel team, which has a history of successful partnerships to move lower-carbon biofuels closer to commercialisation, we will apply the best global technology to meet the unique conditions of Southern Africa, diversify our energy sources and create new opportunities for the people of South Africa.”

“Sustainable aviation biofuel will play a central role in reducing commercial aviation’s carbon emissions over the long term, and we see tremendous potential for these fuels in Africa,” stated Boeing Commercial Airplanes environmental strategy and integration MD Julie Felgar. “Boeing and South African Airways are committed to investigating feedstocks and pathways that comply with strict sustainability guidelines and can have a positive impact on South Africa’s development.”

This is Boeing’s first biofuel supply chain project in Africa. The group already has successful cooperative projects in this field with airlines, governments, research institutions and others in Australia, Brazil, China, the US and elsewhere.