ECCAS member states receive training on sustainable aviation fuels in Cameroon
Published: Wednesday, 10 April 2024 14:17
From 8 April to 11 April 2024, the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority Training School (CCAA-EFO) in Yaoundé has been hosting a training course organized by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) for member states of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), namely Cameroon, DRC, CAR and Gabon. 
DG's welcome address
Using sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) is proving to be a promising way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation industry. With this in mind, the UK CAA in collaboration with the CCAA and ECCAS, brought together participants from the Central African sub-region for this training workshop with multiple objectives.
These include:
- Share knowledge on the environmental benefits of SAF, and technical aspects of production and deployment strategies, in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) "No Country Left Behind" principle.
- Mobilize representatives of government administrations, airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, research institutes and refineries from ECCAS states to contribute to the ICAO's goal of zero net emissions by 2050.
Engaged trainnees
In her opening speech, Mrs. AVOMO ASSOUMOU KOKI, Director General of the CCAA, stressed the importance of working together to promote environmental sustainability in the aviation industry. She also thanked Mr ESONO Anguesomo Estanistao, Permanent Representative of Equatorial Guinea to the ICAO Council, for his dedication towards Cameroon, and urged participants to propose innovative solutions to their respective States to speed up the transition to SAF, which is already widely used abroad.
The training course also provided an opportunity for fruitful exchanges. For example, studies in Cameroon revealed the potential of jatropha as a raw material that can be grown throughout the country. However, biofuel derived from jatropha needs to be approved by ICAO/CORSIA to qualify as a sustainable alternative fuel and benefit from national policies to support its production and commercialization.
It should be noted that the successful implementation of SAF in the ECCAS region could generate numerous benefits, such as job creation through local production and positioning the region as a leader in the global transition to sustainable aviation.
Promoting SAFs as a team
The training also encouraged the ECCAS member states to set targets for using SAF by 2030 and to actively commit to achieving them. However, experts stressed the importance of basing these targets on ICAO-accredited feasibility studies for the aviation sector, taking into account the producers' and users' perspectives. Additionally, cost-effectiveness is essential for African countries, whose pollution levels are well below those of industrialized nations that have already set ambitious targets. By comparison, the UK aims for 10% SAF use by 2030, while the ICAO targets 5% for its member countries by the same date.
This training course is the second of its kind in the region, following the one organized in Malabo from 25 to 28 March 2024. It is important to note that international and domestic aviation currently contribute 1.3% and 0.7% respectively to greenhouse gas emissions.
MKG/ARO-PRU
