Alatau Plans Full-Cycle Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production

Kazakhstan plans to establish full-cycle production of sustainable aviation fuel in Alatau, from growing agricultural feedstock to processing it and refueling aircraft. The government and Hong Kong-based Full Vision Capital have signed a memorandum to develop the project, Orda.kz reports.

Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, is produced from non-petroleum feedstocks. It can be blended with conventional jet fuel to reduce the carbon footprint of air travel.

The government did not specify what agricultural feedstock could be grown for the proposed plant.

The first pilot project is planned for Alatau. Alongside fuel production, the parties will explore smart energy solutions and nickel-hydrogen energy storage systems.

The project remains at the planning stage. Its estimated cost, production capacity, location and launch date have not been disclosed.

The Green Kazakhstan memorandum was signed by the Alatau City Authority, the Energy, Agriculture and Transport Ministries, and Full Vision Capital. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed government agencies to assist with the pilot projects.

KazMunayGas, KazFoodProducts and U.S. company KBR are also designing a SAF plant in the Kostanay Region that would use bioethanol made from wheat. The two related production facilities are estimated to cost 151 billion tenge, with the fuel plant expected to produce 54,000 tons of SAF annually.

Original author: Alexander Zhdanov

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