Team of ICAO experts have joined the Director Air Transport Bureau, Mr. Mohamed Rahma; the ACT-SAF Project Coordinator at the Air Transport Bureau, Mr. Cesar Velarde and the ESAF Regional Officer on Environment, Ms. Chinga Mazhetese, to undertake a feasibility study for sustainable aviation fuel program in Uganda.
The experts hosted by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) are carrying out a feasibility study to outline a roadmap for the implementation of SAF programme in Uganda, the UCAA Director General , Mr. Fred Bamwesigye has stated.
“ This program builds on the adoption by the 41st ICAO Assembly resolution of a long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) of net-zero aviation carbon emissions by 2050, Mr. Bamwesigye explained.
He thanked the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and in particular the Air Transport Bureau for the support and guidance they have extended to Uganda in its concerted effort to meet the set timelines for the long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) of net-zero aviation carbon emissions by 2050.
The Director General who was speaking at the opening of the feasibility study workshop noted that Uganda has always committed to join the rest of the International community in implementation of these priorities to ensure global aviation is safe and secure.
“ when ICAO established a multilateral platform for cooperation on international aviation environmental protection, Uganda was not left behind. Uganda has always joined the rest of the ICAO member states in supporting the ICAO standards, policies and strategies set to limit and mitigate the impact of aviation carbon emissions on the global climate, “ Bamwesigye said adding that as an ICAO member state Uganda is prepared to take all the necessary action and advance initiatives on environmental protection including action on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).
He assured the experts that Uganda has made a choice to be part of the ICAO’s initiative on Capacity Building for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) programme.
This initiative is framed in the ICAO Global Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels (LCAF) and other Aviation Cleaner Energies adopted in the third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) in 2023.
Bamwesigye explained that ICAO and its member states, including Uganda, established the global collective aspiration to reduce aviation carbon emissions by 5% in 2030 through the use of SAF and cleaner energies.
During the two-day workshop, the ICAO experts provided information and materials that will strengthen Uganda’s familiarization with sustainable aviation fuels, its benefits, challenges and how SAF can be produced and promoted.
The Feasibility Study we are launching today also calls for our collective effort in assisting with information collection that should be provided to the ICAO experts in their endeavor to identify basic data that will inform Uganda’s potential in production and use of SAF.
Please, engage with them and provide contact information where possible so they will be able to follow-up with all relevant national stakeholders who could contribute to data collection to identify and promote opportunities for Sustainable aviation fuel programme in Uganda.
Bamwesigye thanked the government of the United Kingdom for funding the programme under the ACT-SAF project.
