Ethiopian Minerals Corporation Signs MoU with Sunbird Bioenergy to Boost Renewable Energy

Addis ababa: The Ethiopian Mineral Corporation and Sunbird Bioenergy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing the country's renewable energy and biofuel production capacity, aligning with its green economic transformation agenda. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the CEO of Ethiopian Minerals Corporation emphasized that the partnership marks a new chapter in Ethiopia's journey toward environmental resilience. According to Ethiopian News Agency, the CEO stated, "Today's event signifies far more than a corporate partnership-it represents a strategic collaboration in support of Ethiopia's national vision for sustainable growth, energy independence, and green transformation." With over 80 years of institutional legacy, the CEO underlined that EMC remains a cornerstone of Ethiopia's natural resource development, ensuring that the nation and its people fully benefit from the country's vast mineral, petroleum, and biofuel resources. The collaboration focuses on the development of an integ rated bioenergy project that will produce bioethanol from cassava, with a long-term vision to expand into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. The initiative is expected to contribute to Ethiopia's efforts to enhance energy security, reduce foreign fuel dependency, and create rural employment opportunities. Sunbird Bioenergy Africa CEO Richard Bennet stated that his company is the largest renewable fuel producer across Africa and plays a key role in driving the continent's net-zero energy transition. "Together, we will deliver a high-impact project for all stakeholders - creating jobs in agriculture, manufacturing, and energy production; enhancing energy security, reducing fuel imports, saving foreign exchange, and supporting environmental sustainability," Bennet elaborated. Ethiopia's biofuel need is on the rise, and Bennet pointed out that the national blending mandate of E10 can reach E20. Biofuel from Ethiopia could replace kerosene and help households transition to biofuel, easily replacing char coal and LPG. Stating that a 10 percent SAF blend target could reach 530,000 million liters per year by 2028-2029, he noted that the industrial-scale project could transform Ethiopia's biofuel landscape. Conveying a message through his advisor, Kedil Magist Ibrahim, Minister of Transport and Logistics Alemu Sime stressed, "This partnership reflects our shared vision to unlock Ethiopia's immense natural resource potential through innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration." Ethiopian Airlines Group Treasurer Temesgen Getaye, representing the airline's CEO, underscored the importance of the partnership in aligning the economy, ecology, and aviation sector with Ethiopia's national ambitions.