At the recent Africa Aerospace and Defence show in South Africa, Air bp demonstrated how its technical services offering and low carbon solutions can support aviation growth in Africa. Its complete aviation fuel consultancy service is tailored to customers' individual requirements and includes a range of services for airports covering design, build and operation of fuelling facilities to help customers protect their operations and manage risk.

Air bp is currently providing technical service agreements to customers in 13 African countries. Through the offer, Air bp has helped customers like Maputo International airport in Mozambique design and develop a new fuel system and into-plane operations, as well as developing bespoke training and inspection services for Vivo Energy in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Morocco, Kenya, Uganda, Cape Verde and Mauritius.

In June 2018, Air bp celebrated one year since it took over the management and fuel operations at Cape Town International airport. The airport has experienced double digit growth in international passenger numbers over this period, which Air bp has successfully managed without any safety incidents. Cape Town International complements Air bp's operations at OR Tambo International airport in Johannesburg, where it has managed a similar but larger scale operation since 2011.

General manager, southern Africa, Anthony Leon comments: “It is estimated that aviation in Africa will grow on average by five per cent per year over the next 20 years and that passenger traffic will grow by around 3.8 per cent annually up to 2032. With its proven track record of improving operations and reducing risk, our technical services offering is an ideal solution for those planning to develop their fuel facilities as the industry grows.”

Air bp's airfield automation technology is designed to enhance safety, reliability and compliance in airport fuelling operations and will start being rolled out to locations across the continent this year. This digital platform for operators and airports is the first commercially deployed system in the world to provide an engineering barrier to actively help prevent misfuelling.

Air bp also claims to be the first aviation fuel supplier to achieve carbon neutrality for its into-plane fuelling services across an international network of over 250 operated facilities in 2016, including operations at both OR Tambo International and Cape Town International. The company has made a 10-year commitment to retaining the accreditation through adhering to a carbon reduction plan that targets a five per cent reduction in carbon emissions by driving efficiency in technologies such as start/stop technology on vehicles; improving operational efficiency and stock management; and introducing projects and initiatives.

It has allowed the company to improve its supply operations planning and stock management at Cape Town International, with the introduction of additional offloading points in the depot. In addition, at OR Tambo International airport Air bp has recently worked with a technology partner to develop and install a bespoke engine start/stop system, which shuts the fuel dispenser engine down while refuelling the aircraft thereby reducing carbon emissions by over 20 per cent. Air bp is planning to deploy this technology globally.

In May this year Air bp's presence in Africa grew to almost 40 locations with the addition of six locations in Ivory Coast, Morocco, Cape Verde and Mauritius through a commercial services agreement with Vivo Energy. Air bp currently supplies commercial, general and military aviation customers at nine locations in South Africa, 10 in Egypt, seven in Tunisia, seven in Mozambique, two in Morocco, two in Cape Verde and one each in Mauritius and Ivory Coast. The company's operations in Africa are supported by around 180 employees.