Project overview
Al Mana Holding has committed two hundred million dollars to build a sustainable aviation fuel facility within the Suez Canal Economic Zone in Egypt. Operated by the newly formed Saf Fly Limited, the plant will convert refined used cooking oil into two hundred thousand tonnes each year of SAF, BioPropane, and Bio Naphtha starting in 2027.
Commercial foundations
Shell has signed an offtake contract covering one hundred percent of production, giving the project predictable revenue and strengthening credit terms with lenders. Long horizon purchase agreements
like this are emerging as essential accelerators that translate policy ambition into bankable infrastructure across the aviation sector.
A non-obvious insight
Because the fuel will load directly onto ships at Sokhna Port, the project effectively integrates manufacturing with export logistics. This close coupling can reduce transport costs for finished fuel by double digit percentages, an advantage often overlooked when analysing SAF project economics.
Strategic implications
- Egypt positions itself as a bridge linking Gulf capital with European decarbonisation demand.
- The economic zone incentives and ready access to renewable electricity make future capacity expansions straightforward.
- Regional airlines gain a nearby certified supply option that supports compliance with forthcoming international mandates.
Broader market signals
Investors are increasingly drawn toward assets that combine clear climate benefits with traditional industrial strengths such as port access, feedstock availability, and supportive regulation. The Sokhna development ticks each box, suggesting a template other emerging economies can replicate.
Conclusion
The Al Mana Egypt partnership demonstrates that strategic siting, long term offtake, and public policy alignment can turn sustainable aviation fuel from niche concept into scalable reality, advancing both economic growth and global climate goals.