ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 20. KazMunayGas (KMG, Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company) is considering the possibility of jointly implementing a project for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Kazakhstan with LanzaJet (US) and the Japanese Mitsui investment company, Trend reports.
This was stated during a meeting between KMG Chairman of the Board Askhat Khassenov and the management of LanzaJet and Mitsui.
A preliminary feasibility study (pre-feasibility study) of the project for the construction of the SAF production complex in Kazakhstan has already been successfully carried out on the joint initiative of KMG and Air Astana with the financial assistance of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The next stage is planned to develop a feasibility study for the project.
Notably, Air Astana is currently considering the prospect of using SAF in its fleet. According to the concept of low-carbon development at Samruk-Kazyna JSC, the share of SAF consumption by the air carrier will gradually increase: 5 percent by 2040, 15 percent by 2050, and 25 percent by 2060.
In addition to this, KazMunayGas' three large oil refineries are ready to produce Jet A-1 aviation fuel, which will allow it to be blended with SAF in the future.
Following the trilateral meeting, LanzaJet and Mitsui companies expressed their interest in jointly implementing the project with KMG.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan has a backup plan to speed up the transition to new fuel. Previously, Kazakh Air Astana Airlines and PetroChina International Kazakhstan (engaged in wholesale supplies of petroleum products) signed a Memorandum of Strategic Partnership. As part of the document, the parties intend to cooperate on the supply of jet fuel as well as work on creating infrastructure and transitioning to Jet A-1.
Due to the lack of production of this type of fuel in Kazakhstan, the parties also discussed the possibility of importing Jet A-1 and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) directly from oil refineries in China.