Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas firm exploring SAF plant

State-owned oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) of Kazakhstan is exploring sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in the country, according to reports from local media.

A preliminary feasibility study of the project for the construction of the SAF production complex in Kazakhstan was carried out on a joint initiative of KMG and Air Astana with the financial assistance of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

In the next stage, the company is planning to develop a detailed feasibility study of the project.

The local media said that KMG Chairman Akshat Khasenov discussed the SAF potential with US-based alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) technology developer LanzaJet and Japanese investment firm Mitsui.

Meanwhile, the country’s national carrier Air Astana is currently studying the prospect of using SAF in its aircraft fleet. The carrier is likely to set an indicative SAF target of 5% by 2040, 15% by 2050 and 25% by 2060.

The reported noted that KMG’s three refineries currently produce Jet A-1 aviation fuel which can house the SAF production units.