Morocco plans $239 million plant to turn used cooking oil into jet fuel
A $239 million industrial project in Morocco aims to produce jet fuel from waste. The proposed plant near Nador could produce 200,000 tonnes a year. Its financing is under review.
Used cooking oil collected from kitchens and then turned into fuel compatible with today’s aircraft engines: that is the industrial chain Green Sky Capital wants to establish near the port of Nador West Med.
On a site covering some 88,000 square metres in the Betoya industrial zone, the facility would process used cooking oil, animal fats and other residues. The raw materials would be collected in Morocco, with imports used to supplement available volumes.
The project, named Manara, is featured in a report published on 14 October by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Its target capacity is 200,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel a year. The plant would also produce renewable diesel and other products for industry.
A $239 million investment, with a buyer already lined up
The estimated cost is $239 million. As Renewables Now reports, the EBRD is considering a loan of up to $105 million, comprising one tranche of $85 million and another of $20 million. The proposal is still under review.
One commercial element is already in place: according to the European bank, the project has a long-term offtake agreement with a private company.
The investment could also provide work for used-oil collectors in Morocco. Green Sky Capital plans to offer training and a scheme to involve local women-led cooperatives in supplying the plant.
The company is also considering an academy to train operators and technicians, as well as internships for young engineers from the Oriental region. According to Global Flow Control, commercial operations are expected to begin in August 2028, subject to financing, permits and construction.
