An agreement was signed for the development of a feasibility study (FS) for the construction of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production plant in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The document was signed by representatives of KazMunayGas-Aero LLP (a subsidiary of JSC NC KazMunayGas – KMG), the American company LanzaJet, Inc., and the leading Kazakh agro-industrial holding KazFoodProducts LLP (KFP).
Last year, the pre-feasibility study stage was successfully completed. The main feasibility study is expected to be prepared by the end of 2025.
The implementation of the project is of particular significance in the context of President Kassym-Jomart К.Tokayev’s directive to transform Kazakhstan into an international aviation hub with a developed transit potential. The signing of the agreement followed a meeting in the United States in March 2025 between KMG’s Chairman Askhat Khassenov and LanzaJet’s CEO Jimmy Samartzis, discussing prospects for cooperation in SAF production.
During the preparation of the feasibility study, the parties will conduct a thorough analysis of the project, including selecting the optimal region, determining production volumes, and other key aspects for making a final investment decision.
SAF is used globally to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as an additive to Jet A-1 aviation fuel. Three of KMG’s refineries have been ready to produce Jet A-1 since 2018. Airport fueling infrastructure is also being modernized to facilitate the gradual transition from the current TS-1 aviation fuel standard to Jet A-1.
This ambitious project brings Kazakhstan closer to achieving carbon neutrality under the Paris Agreement and offers unique opportunities to attract leading international airlines and cargo companies.
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SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) is an environmentally produced from renewable resources in accordance with ASTM International standards. World aviation leaders are actively adopting SAF: the USA plans to achieve 50% usage by 2050, the EU aims for 2% starting in 2025 with an increase to 63% by 2050, and the UK targets 10% by 2030.
LanzaJet is a global leader in SAF production technology from ethanol (alcohol-to-jet). The company has entered into long-term offtake agreements with aviation industry giants such as All Nippon Airways, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic. The uniqueness of LanzaJet’s technology lies in its ability to use ethanol from various sources (both biological and non-biological), which enables a 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a significant increase in energy efficiency.
KazFoodProducts LLP (KFP) is a major Kazakh agro-holding, including BioOperations LLP, which specializes in producing bioethanol from wheat. KFP is also implementing a project to build the Qostanay Grain Industry plant (with a processing capacity of 430,000 tons of wheat per year), which will become another source of bioethanol suitable for SAF production.
