A Small Step with a Large Symbolism
In January 2025, Mabanaft began supplying Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Frankfurt Airport. On the surface, this might appear as just another small addition to Germany’s growing SAF landscape. Yet beneath the surface lies an evolving dynamic—a quiet shift that may redefine how energy firms position themselves in the transition to net-zero aviation.
Expanding Networks, Deepening Commitments
Mabanaft’s partnership with Skytanking marks more than just operational access. It signifies a deepening commitment to the aviation industry’s decarbonisation path. Although current supply volumes are modest—targeting 1,000 tonnes in 2025—this move integrates Frankfurt into Mabanaft’s existing fuel network, which already spans the UK and Norway.
Even at a fraction of the 350 million tonnes of jet fuel used globally in 2023, this initiative places Mabanaft in strategic alignment with the European SAF Mandate, which comes into force this year.
Decarbonising the Hard-to-Electrify: A Long Game
Mabanaft’s strategy is rooted in realism. Unlike sectors with feasible electrification paths, aviation faces stubborn constraints. The company’s choice to focus on blended fuels derived from hydroprocessed vegetable oils, fats and greases—offering up to 80% CO₂ reduction—is pragmatic, not idealistic.
By continuing to offer conventional fuel while scaling up lower-carbon alternatives, Mabanaft supports a necessary transition that doesn’t leave reliability behind. This hybrid model ensures airlines can access drop-in fuels with minimal disruption, while planning more ambitious emissions reductions.
Regulatory Winds Are Shifting
Under the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative, all fuel suppliers will be subject to rising SAF blend mandates starting this year. Beyond these mandates, there is growing interest in synthetic fuels like e-kerosene. Although over two dozen industrial projects aim to deliver nearly 1.7 million tonnes of e-kerosene by 2030, none has reached final investment decision.
Mabanaft’s approach—delivering SAF while watching the synthetic market mature—is a careful balancing act. It highlights the tension between ambition and implementation that defines Europe’s aviation decarbonisation roadmap.
Frankfurt’s Role in a Continental Conversation
Frankfurt Airport’s inclusion in this network is also symbolic. As Germany’s busiest air hub, Frankfurt plays a pivotal role in shaping the narrative around aviation sustainability. By welcoming SAF into its operations, it joins a growing league of European airports actively enabling climate mitigation from the tarmac up.
Even small volumes can drive larger change—by triggering new dialogues among stakeholders, creating pressure for infrastructure readiness, and demonstrating compliance leadership under emerging EU laws.
Conclusion: Momentum Is Measured in Milestones, Not Megatonnes
While 1,000 tonnes of SAF may be a drop in the aviation fuel ocean, it represents a deeper undercurrent. Mabanaft’s entry into the German SAF supply chain is a strategic signal—a firm laying roots where the next chapter of aviation decarbonisation will be written.
As energy firms evolve from conventional suppliers to transition enablers, and as regulatory frameworks turn ambition into obligation, such moves become milestones that inspire both realism and resolve.
Aviation’s low-carbon transition will not be defined by a single breakthrough but by the consistent, strategic choices made by actors across the value chain. This is one such choice, and it deserves attention—not for its size, but for its significance.