WGS24: Dubai Municipality, Global Companies Sign MoU To Produce Sustainable Aircraft Fuel

Dubai Municipality signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with N.V.Besix S.A., Marubeni Middle East and Africa Power Limited (MAMEA) and ENOC Marketing on Monday to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by mixing solid municipal waste, organic waste and green hydrogen generated from sewage treatment processes.

The MoU was signed in the presence of President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airlines Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Secretary-General of the Dubai Executive Council Abdulla Al Basti.

The MoU was signed by Director General of Dubai Municipality Dawoud Al Hajri, Group CEO at ENOC Saif Al Falasi, General Manager at BESIX Middle East Pierre Lembrechts and General Manager of the New Energy Business Development Department at MAMEA Wataru Ikushima.

Al Hajri explained this collaboration, signed at the World Governments Summit 2024, will help the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to cut down carbon from the aviation sector as well as assist in the waste management operations in Dubai.

Under the MoU, Dubai Municipality is required to supply a specific amount of municipal solid waste per day, which may include a combination of organic waste and green hydrogen produced from sewage treatment.

Further, the MoU aligns with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 initiative, the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2021-2031 and the 2031 National Hydrogen Policy.

"The success of the project under study, set for implementation in July 2025, hinges on having the necessary technology and essential materials within Dubai Municipality to produce SAF. These materials include waste and treat sewage water," Hajri said, WAM reported.

In addition, Al Hajri noted that the new project underscores the Municipality's commitment in developing comprehensive and sustainable waste management solutions alongside enhancing recycling and processing rates.

Al Falasi, on the other hand, stated that this collaboration will help UAE in achieving its objective to supply one percent of fuel to national airlines using locally produced SAF by 2031.

"[ENOC] will work closely with Dubai Municipality to transform sustainable feedstocks such as municipal solid waste to produce SAF at scale. In addition to reducing the aviation industry's carbon footprint, this collaboration will also help to promote a circular economy that focuses on recycling," he said.

Talking about the World Governments Summit, the event is expected to witness more than 4,000 participants from the public and private sectors, including 200 speakers from 85 international, regional and intergovernmental entities.