Boeing, South African Airways to make jet fuel from tobacco

Chicago-based Boeing Co. and South African Airways are among a group of companies that today started a project to turn tobacco plants into clean jet fuel.

The companies, along with SkyNRG and Sunchem SA, will use the nicotine-free Solaris variety of tobacco plant to make clean fuel that South African Airways will test, they said in a joint statement. Test flights may begin next year.

The project "will benefit the environment and public health while providing new economic opportunities for South Africa's small farmers," said Miguel Santos, Boeing's managing director for Africa. "This project also positions our valued airline customer to gain a long-term, viable domestic fuel supply and improve South Africa's national balance of payments."