The aviation sector’s hunt for credible offsets is opening a rare window for African carbon projects, with Econetix securing one of the first African-origin supplies for CORSIA.
Seth Onyango, One Planet Agency
African carbon projects are beginning to break into the tightly regulated global aviation offset market, marking a shift from the largely voluntary carbon trade that has dominated the continent for more than a decade.
A newly executed supply agreement between carbon asset manager Econetix and SCB Environmental Markets signals that African‑origin credits are moving toward eligibility under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the framework overseen by the International Civil Aviation Organization to curb airline emissions growth.
The deal, involving credits sourced from projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reflects a broader push to position African carbon assets within compliance markets rather than the voluntary offset space, where prices have been volatile and scrutiny over environmental integrity has intensified.
It is also part of Econetix’s goal to originate, certify and commercialise high‑integrity carbon credits that fully comply with the requirements of the aviation reduction scheme.
“This deal marks the starting point for Econetix as a leading CORSIA supplier. We have demonstrated our ability to originate, certify and transact high‑integrity carbon assets at the level and integrity the aviation market demands,” said Jakob Zenz, founder of Econetix.
CORSIA, which enters a more demanding phase later this decade, is expected to generate demand for hundreds of millions of tonnes of eligible credits through 2035.
While much of that supply has historically come from Latin America and parts of Asia, African governments and project developers are increasingly seeking to align with Article 6 mechanisms under the Paris Agreement to ensure credits meet international compliance standards.
Market participants say the shift requires navigating complex authorisation procedures, including corresponding adjustments to prevent double counting and registry labelling processes that satisfy both host governments and airline buyers.
“For African countries, this is less about one transaction and more about building institutional capacity,” said one market adviser involved in the deal. “Compliance markets require a different level of governance.”
Econetix, which is active in 16 African countries, has been working with national authorities to structure projects capable of meeting CORSIA eligibility requirements. SCB Environmental Markets will distribute the credits to aviation buyers through its global network.
“For Africa, this is not just about carbon credits — it is about long‑term investment, institutional capacity building and predictable revenue streams for governments and local communities,” said Paul Nimmerfall, founder of Econetix. “Through this and upcoming CORSIA transactions, millions of dollars will flow directly into African project countries.”
Econetix has developed expertise in navigating the regulatory and certification processes required to bring African carbon credits to full CORSIA eligibility, giving it an edge in the market. This includes Article 6 authorisations, corresponding adjustment procedures and registry labelling.
The successful execution of this transaction shows that Econetix can originate high‑integrity African carbon assets and structure and close large‑scale international CORSIA transactions. It positions the company among a small group of global players with technical expertise and a commercial track record in the multi‑billion‑dollar aviation carbon market.
Analysts say the emergence of compliance‑grade supply from Africa could reshape how carbon finance flows into the continent. Voluntary carbon markets have often been criticised for unpredictable pricing and limited fiscal transparency.
By contrast, CORSIA‑aligned transactions require host‑country approval, potentially creating more stable revenue streams for governments.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, home to vast tropical forest reserves, has been positioning itself as a key player in Article 6 carbon markets, though implementation remains at an early stage across much of the continent.
If additional projects progress through certification, Africa could begin to occupy a more central role in the aviation carbon market, providing compliance‑ready supply at a time when airlines face tightening emissions obligations.
Whether that translates into sustained development gains will depend on governance, price stability and the integrity of credit issuance. For now, however, the transaction signals that African carbon assets are edging into one of the world’s most regulated offset markets.
OPA News
