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- Africa’s fuel of the future has always been here
Africa’s fuel of the future has always been here
The line between renewable energy and waste management is blurring. Petrol stations of tomorrow draw from cesspits
Welcome to Green Rising – Africa’s waste systems have long been viewed through the lens of sanitation and disposal. But as pressure grows to decarbonise industries and modernise urban infrastructure, waste dumps and sewage pipes are beginning to attract attention as industrial feedstocks rather than simply environmental liabilities. The technology itself may still be nascent in some cases. But the shift in how municipalities, investors and operators see circular fuels is already here.
 | Waste-to-energy is gaining momentum across the continent as governments seek solutions to rising twin waste electricity problems. Announcements in Ghana, South Africa and Morocco this month point to growing efforts to turn waste into power, reduce pressure on landfills and diversify energy sources as intermittent renewables dominate investments. |
In cities especially, waste-to-energy will become an important part of the energy transition. Unlike solar and wind, it can provide stable power because waste is continuous, creating a steady feedstock for electricity generation.
Rural regions have additional options. Africa’s agricultural economies produce about 1 billion tonnes of waste annually. Some, like Ethiopia, are already harnessing such waste for electricity.
Our take: Policy support, especially waste sorting rules, is needed to improve feedstock quality and project economics… Read more (2 min)
 | Africa’s wastewater could soon play a growing role in industrial decarbonisation. Blended finance facility Climate Fund Managers is investing $4 million in a South African wastewater-to-methanol project expected to produce 14,300 tonnes of green methanol by 2029 while processing an estimated 90,000 tonnes of sewage sludge each year. |
Africa generates an estimated 125 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, much of which remains poorly managed, while rapid urbanisation continues to strain wastewater and sludge treatment infrastructure.
As African countries pursue industrial decarbonisation, wastewater and sewage sludge are increasingly being viewed not only as environmental liabilities, but also as potential feedstocks for low-carbon fuels and circular industrial systems.
Our take: Circular fuel projects could strengthen arguments for integrating waste infrastructure into national industrial and energy transition strategies… Read more (2 min)
 | Africa’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market is beginning to take shape as global decarbonisation policies create new demand for low-carbon aviation fuels. South Africa’s Sasol has secured certification to export SAF to Europe, while Egypt has attracted a $200 million Gulf-backed investment for a SAF project alongside an offtake agreement with Shell. |
SAF is produced from feedstocks such as used cooking oil, waste oils and biomass, offering a lower-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel.
Africa is emerging as a potential SAF supplier to global markets due to abundant waste and biomass feedstocks, though scaling production will depend on processing capacity, certification and reliable feedstock systems.
Our take: Questions remain around the long-term implications of scaling fuel production in regions already facing food security pressures… Read more (2 min)
Number of the week
…is the total that electric motorbike firm Spiro has raised in just eight months, including a record $215 million equity round led by Equitane with Danish pension funds this week. Spiro has deployed 100,000+ electric vehicles and 2,500 swap stations across seven markets.
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