As the aviation industry intensifies its efforts to cut emissions, sustainable aviation fuels—known as SAF—remain stuck on the runway. Despite rapid growth in production over the past three years, SAF still accounts for just 0.3% of the global aviation fuel mix in 2024, far from the levels needed to make a meaningful dent in carbon emissions.
But Morocco may be poised to break that deadlock. A recent report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), titled “Sustainable Aviation Fuels Need a Faster Takeoff,” highlights the country’s potential to emerge as a strategic hub for low-carbon aviation across Africa and beyond.
The kingdom boasts a powerful combination of assets: abundant renewable energy, a growing green hydrogen sector, a network of modern airports, and a geographic sweet spot between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. According to Émile Detry, managing partner of BCG’s Casablanca office, Morocco checks all the boxes to play a leading role in this transition.
While many countries and companies remain hesitant, Morocco stands out for its proactive approach to major industrial shifts. By betting on SAF now, the country could simultaneously support global decarbonization goals and fast-track the development of a green economy—bringing high-skilled jobs and greater energy independence along the way.
Yet the BCG study exposes a critical mismatch between ambition and reality. While 80% of surveyed companies say they’re confident they can meet their 2030 SAF targets, only 14% believe they currently have the tools to get there. The gap is largely due to uneven engagement: while fuel producers and technology developers move ahead, airlines and airport operators remain cautious, waiting for clearer incentives and stronger signals.
This disconnect could become an opportunity for agile economies like Morocco. By creating an investment-friendly ecosystem—with targeted tax breaks, green financing tools, and long-term industrial partnerships—the country could leapfrog its current limitations and establish a competitive edge in this emerging sector.
BCG outlines three key priorities for Morocco to capitalize on the SAF opportunity. First, build a unified roadmap by aligning public authorities and private stakeholders around clear goals, much like European policies that mandate minimum SAF use in aviation fuel. Second, launch pilot industrial projects near major logistical hubs, in collaboration with global tech leaders. And third, create a stable, attractive environment for investors, including long-term purchase agreements and easy access to climate finance mechanisms.
While e-fuel production—especially from green hydrogen and captured carbon—remains expensive in the short term, BCG argues that it will become essential in the long run. By moving early, Morocco could not only get ahead of regional competition, but also secure greater energy sovereignty and position itself as a forward-looking, climate-conscious innovator on the global stage.
