Boeing Co. and South African Airways are teaming up for a development project aimed at turning tobacco into clean jet fuel.
The two companies will collaborate with SkyNRG and Sunchem SA to produce fuel from the nicotine-free Solaris variety of tobacco plant which South African Airways will test in flight.
The first test flights could begin next year.
"It will benefit the environment and public health while providing new economic opportunities for South Africa’s small farmers," said Miguel Santos, Boeing managing director for Africa.
"This project also positions our valued airline customer to gain a long-term, viable domestic fuel supply."
"We are looking at between 400 to 500 million liters per annum, so it’s a fairly significant amount of fuel that we actually want to produce," said Ian Cruickshank, head of environmental affairs at SAA.
Sustainable jet biofuel produced from the plants can reduce carbon emissions by up to 75%.
Boeing is also working on several other biofuel development projects in the US, Europe and Asia.
