On November 18, 2024, Zimbabwe's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAZ) announced plans to evaluate the country's potential for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The initiative aims to assess market opportunities and develop a framework for investment in SAF, which is seen as crucial for achieving carbon neutrality in aviation by 2050.
Nonkosi Ncube, Director General of CAAZ, emphasized the importance of this study in advancing sustainable aviation practices. Zimbabwe has the agricultural capacity to produce key ingredients for SAF, such as vegetable oils and sugarcane, with projections indicating a 1% increase in sugarcane production for the 2023/24 marketing season.
This move aligns with similar ambitions in other African nations, including Morocco and South Africa, which are also looking to establish themselves as significant SAF producers. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts a need for 450 billion liters of sustainable fuel annually by 2050, requiring substantial investment in production capabilities.
In corporate news, Rosenbauer reported strong third-quarter results on the same day. The company's sales increased by 28.6% year-over-year to €307 million, surpassing estimates due to higher vehicle deliveries and price increases. The order intake reached €489 million, marking a 35.3% increase from the previous year, resulting in a record order backlog of €2.2 billion.